Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

A South Florida lawmaker is adding to the bills filed to regulate drones, with legislation making their owners and users liable for any injuries the remotely-piloted aircraft may cause. State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Coral Gables Republican, filed the bill (SB 642) on Monday. The legislation would ensure that any injury in which […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Lindsey Graham boggled at his competition Monday, wondering how he was trailing at 11th place in the polls. “How am I losing to these people?” he said, during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program, during which he also called former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush “whiny.” “Just look at Donald Trump‘s foreign policy. What […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

The Florida Senate’s second-ranking Democrat has filed five more plans for consideration in the ongoing Special Session to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The chamber’s redistricting web page shows that state Sen. Oscar Braynon II of Miami Gardens filed the maps Sunday. Braynon, the Democratic leader pro tempore, also is vice chair of the Reapportionment Committee. Its […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday joined 23 other states in opposing a federal government plan to reduce air pollution by further regulating the smoke from power plants. The “Clean Power Plan,” as enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “would result in dramatically higher electricity bills and significantly less reliable service,” according to […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

If Florida ever approves medical marijuana for sale in the state, expect to pay tax on it. Medical pot is “tangible personal property” that is “subject to sales and use tax,” a state economics panel has found. “Annual state and local government sales tax revenues could increase by an estimated $67 million after taking into account […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

When General Motors needs the Legislature to know its concerns, it turns to Marlene Williams. She’s the Southeast Regional Manager of Government Relations for the auto company, responsible for Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. Williams learned her trade in the capital, having been legislative affairs director for the Department of Management Services under Gov. Rick Scott. She began in lobbying at […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

The Florida Senate’s panel on redistricting on Friday narrowly cleared a new map resetting the boundaries of the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The committee’s recommended map (S9090) next will be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday. It was approved on a 4-3 party-line vote. Committee chair Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, said all senators will almost certainly be […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

Based on her work, Jodi Stevens might be described as the secret weapon behind Tallahassee’s Mayernick Group lobbying firm. The 28-year-old handles a plethora of behind-the-scenes duties, from coordinating meetings with lawmakers and monitoring legislative hearings to heading the firm’s research projects. She also “works on campaign and fundraising endeavors for several key legislators throughout the state,” she says. Stevens […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

When Florida’s cities need help on transportation issues before the Legislature, they turn to Megan Sirjane-Samples. That’s her specialty as a lobbyist for the Florida League of Cities, which represents the interests of Florida’s 411 municipalities. Before she joined the League in 2013, Sirjane-Samples lobbied at Tallahassee’s Pittman Law Group. There, she also represented “a multitude of local governments,” she says. Sirjane-Samples has […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

In what could be a losing move, Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster is asking the state Supreme Court to allow him to be a new party in the ongoing congressional redistricting challenge. Webster, who represents Central Florida’s 10th Congressional District, filed his motion to intervene Thursday. Webster’s filing says he “recognizes that generally intervention is […]

Jim Rosica

Miguel Diaz de la Portilla files drone bill

Lindsey Graham on MSNBC: ‘How am I losing to these people?’

Oscar Braynon files five more Senate maps

Pam Bondi signs on to clean power lawsuit

State panel: Medical pot can be taxed

Meet Marlene Williams, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Senate panel barely clears new redistricting map

Meet Jodi Stevens, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Meet Megan Sirjane-Samples, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Daniel Webster asks to enter congressional redistricting case

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.