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

Jim RosicaSeptember 30, 2015

New polls show Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham losing a proposed redrawn 2nd Congressional District seat next election but leading other contenders in a hypothetical matchup for Marco Rubio‘s U.S. Senate seat. But the polls don’t show her standing in the district as currently drawn, which takes in a swath of north Florida roughly from Perry to Bonifay. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2015

Screen-Shot-2015-09-29-at-4.42.47-PM-1024x1024.png

The Republican Party of Florida on Tuesday announced that four presidential candidates will attend its Sunshine Summit in Orlando this November. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida have confirmed their attendance, state party chairman Blaise Ingoglia said in a […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott, normally a foe of business regulations, on Tuesday stood by his call to layer more regulations onto Florida hospitals in an effort to make health care costs more transparent. “This is all about patients and empowering patients,” he told reporters after a Florida Cabinet meeting. “They should know what (a procedure) costs […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2015

The activists behind a month-long sit-in at the state Capitol two years ago have declared a break from social media, saying “we have lost our way at times.” The Dream Defenders posted the announcement on their website last week. Since then, they’ve had no new updates on their official Twitter or Facebook pages. They will, however, continue blogging, they said. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 28, 2015

• Lawmakers will try to live on $17 a day: At least 18 Florida lawmakers plan to live on a minimum wage this week to draw attention to efforts to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Starting Monday, the lawmakers will live for five days on $17 per day. That figure represents what […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 28, 2015

Screen-Shot-2015-09-25-at-11.28.31-AM-1024x1024.png

Uber, the hired-car company seeking to secure its presence in Florida, has taken on former Florida-based lobbyist Stephanie Smith to oversee its public policy initiatives in the Sunshine State. Smith will leave her Atlanta-based post as AT&T’s director of public affairs for Florida and Georgia. As part of her job, she’ll have a hand in Uber’s media and public relations […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 28, 2015

Business leaders, experts and elected officials will gather starting Monday morning to discuss Florida’s future at the annual Future of Florida Forum hosted by the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The forum is Monday and Tuesday at the Omni Orlando Resort, 1500 Masters Blvd. in ChampionsGate. More than 300 participants are expected to attend. Registrations will still be […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2015

The chairmen of the Florida Legislature’s redistricting panels agreed to draw multiple “base maps” and record all meetings of map-drawers as they prepare for next month’s Special Session to redraw Florida’s state Senate districts. The agreement was spelled out in letters between state Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, and state Rep. Jose Oliva, a Miami Lakes Republican, that […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2015

Hours after telling supporters he had “not yet come to a decision” on whether he would run for speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida Congressman Daniel Webster called an audible: He’s in it to win it. Webster made the announcement during the Sean Hannity radio program Friday afternoon. Hannity asked, “Will you run for speaker?” “Yes, I […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2015

A bill filed Friday in the Florida Legislature would remove limits on how many bottles Florida’s craft distilleries can sell directly to consumers. The legislation (HB 4023) is sponsored by state Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who last year unsuccessfully tried to remove the requirement that retailers sell hard liquor in separate stores. The measure continues to […]

Jim Rosica

Gwen Graham’s political future mixed, polls say

Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio to attend Sunshine Summit, RPOF says

Rick Scott calls for transparent pricing at hospitals

Dream Defenders declare social media time-out

Monday morning roundup from the Tallahassee desk

Stephanie Smith to join Uber in Florida

Florida Chamber to kick off Future of Florida Forum

House, Senate agree on next redistricting procedures

Daniel Webster says he’ll run for House Speaker

Bill would delete craft distillery sales limits

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