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

Jim RosicaOctober 15, 2015

Two Tampa Bay-area lawmakers have filed legislation in both chambers to boost the state’s research and development, or R&D, tax credit. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, and state Rep. Ed Narain, a Tampa Democrat, filed the identical bills (SB 508/HB 311) earlier this week. The bill is a priority of the Florida Chamber of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 15, 2015

The second of two competing proposed constitutional amendments on solar-generated electricity has garnered enough signatures for state Supreme Court review. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar, which is behind what it calls the “Smart Solar Amendment,” announced Thursday it had “surpassed the goal of 68,314 verified petitions” needed for review. An initiative needs 683,149 signatures to get […]

Jim RosicaOctober 15, 2015

House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford has been named the new chief executive officer of Florida CHAIN (Community Health Action Information Network), a statewide advocacy organization for health care consumers. The hire was announced in a Thursday press release. He starts Nov. 1. Because of term limits, the 49-year-old Pafford is serving his last term as a state […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

A Seminole County woman says she was behind a small plane’s buzzing of the Capitol on Wednesday, trailing a “No Bear Hunt!” banner with the email address of Gov. Rick Scott‘s chief of staff. Connie Hedden de Haan of Longwood had AirSign.com, an aerial advertising company, fly the banner around the Capitol as Scott, other elected officials and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

Representatives of the Seminole Tribe of Florida have been meeting secretly with Gov. Rick Scott and his staff this week as the deadline grows near for a new deal for the tribe to continue offering blackjack and other card games at its casinos. The two sides met Tuesday, as first reported by the Miami Herald, and again […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford played the role of the not-so-loyal opposition Wednesday, floating ideas that are heretical to the controlling Republican caucus, including extending legislative term limits and prohibiting fundraising during committee weeks. “Boy, that would be charming,” he said with a grin. “That would change things.” Pafford, a Palm Beach County state representative, appeared before a group […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

The Florida Legislature on Wednesday released six proposed new maps for state Senate districts before the start of a three-week Special Session on redistricting. All of the staff-drawn maps, however, contain districts that cross Tampa Bay. That runs afoul of direction the Florida Supreme Court gave in a similar case involving congressional districts to “avoid crossing Tampa Bay.” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court wants to hear from both sides one more time as a congressional redistricting lawsuit draws to a close. The court on Wednesday ordered oral argument in the case at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2. The justices will consider the map recommended by a lower court judge as it wraps up the challenge […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, focused on the needs of Floridians with “unique abilities” in his remarks at Wednesday’s Associated Press legislative planning session. When later asked about what was arguably the most pressing issue of last session, paying for hospitals’ charity care, Gardiner – a hospital executive – largely took a pass. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday called the upcoming year “the year of the manufacturer,” calling for the Legislature to kill the state’s business tax on manufacturing this upcoming legislative session. Scott spoke during the yearly Associated Press Legislative Planning Session, held on the 22nd floor of the Capitol. “If we do this, we’ll see a dramatic growth […]

Jim Rosica

Lawmakers move to increase R & D tax credit

Another solar energy amendment triggers court review

Mark Pafford tapped to head health care group

Seminole County woman behind aerial bear-hunt protest

Seminole Tribe secretly meets with Rick Scott over blackjack

Mark Pafford calls Tallahassee ‘corrosive,’ ‘corrupted’

New maps for state Senate include districts crossing Tampa Bay

Supreme Court orders oral argument in redistricting case

Andy Gardiner punts on health care funding question

Rick Scott calls for more tax cuts at AP Day