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

Jim RosicaSeptember 16, 2015

The body that oversees the state’s Department of Transportation has picked a new leader, according to a Wednesday news release. Brad Swanson will be the Florida Transportation Commission’s new executive director, replacing Bob Romig. Romig heads back to the private sector after 35 years in state government. “The Florida Transportation Commission is an appointed body that […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 16, 2015

There was a battle of arithmetic Wednesday between state senators and the head of the state’s economic development agency as he argued for millions in new funding. Bill Johnson, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, appeared before the Senate’s Commerce and Tourism committee. It was his first appearance since Senate President Andy Gardiner took his […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2015

The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation will consider five proposed “local bills” that touch on the operations of “transportation network companies,” such as Uber and Lyft, according to an email sent to members Tuesday. The 14-member delegation of state representatives and senators from both parties will go over the proposed legislation at its meeting next week, Senate […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2015

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will have at least seven proposed maps to sort out as he determines the best way to fix Florida’s congressional district boundaries. As of Tuesday, those maps include the House’s original “base map,” unchanged since last month’s Special Session, and two from the Senate, one of which puts the southern flank of eastern […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2015

Enterprise Florida is finally hanging up the tie. The state’s public-private economic development organization raised hackles a couple of years ago when it debuted a new logo that used a tie in place of the “i” in Florida. A slew of commenters took to the agency’s Facebook page to lambaste the logo as sexist. “I think […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2015

A Jewish holiday is causing a delay in filing replacement maps in the ongoing congressional redistricting court challenge. Last week, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis gave parties in the lawsuit until Monday to turn in their proposed versions of how to draw boundary lines for Florida’s 27 congressional districts. But Monday also is Rosh Hashanah, which began sundown Sunday. Plaintiffs’ spokeswoman Lisa Hall reminded […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday defended his chamber’s position on funding the state’s business incentives, three months after Florida’s economic development czar complained lawmakers were starving him of money. “(W)e need to change how we fund economic development,” Gardner said in a memo to senators. “A business would not set aside the total funds needed […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2015

A Tallahassee-based advocacy group led by veteran lobbyist Barney Bishop has had a mass exodus of board members in recent weeks, including one who accused Bishop of being motivated by “self-aggrandizement and personal gain.” As of Monday, group founder and former chairwoman Lori Costantino-Brown and members Pamela Alvarez, Catherine Craig-Myers, Jim DeBeaugrine and Mary Lynn Ulrey had all turned […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 11, 2015

U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster‘s former chief of staff has been named the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of government affairs, the Chamber announced in a Friday press release. Frank Walker III also worked for three other U.S. lawmakers: Former U.S. Sens. George LeMieux and Mel Martinez of Florida, and U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington state. “After […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 11, 2015

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis has given parties in the ongoing congressional redistricting case until Monday to submit their final versions of how to draw boundary lines for those districts. At a brief hearing on Friday, Lewis set the date for all competing maps to be submitted. A final hearing on the matter still is set for Sept. 24, court […]

Jim Rosica
Kristen Arrington, Anna Eskamani, Jason Brodeur, Keith Truenow, David Smith, Geraldine Thompson at Tiger Bay. Image by Jacob Ogles

State transportation commission selects new leader

Enterprise Florida and lawmakers still disagree over funding

Uber-friendly legislation tops Hillsborough politicians’ wish list

Maps come in for congressional redistricting challenge

Enterprise Florida drops tie from logo

Whoops: Rosh Hashanah means no maps in redistricting case

Andy Gardiner defends decision on economic development funding

Criminal justice reform organization led by Barney Bishop bleeding board members

Chamber taps former Daniel Webster aide as new influencer

Judge gives redistricting parties extra time for maps