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

Jim RosicaApril 16, 2018

A proposed constitutional amendment is headed to the ballot that would, among other things, enshrine a crime victims’ bill of rights in the state constitution. “Revision 1” (P6001) was OK’d Monday by the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) on a 34-3 vote; it needed at least 22 votes for ballot placement. Now, the amendment must get […]

Jim RosicaApril 16, 2018

The passage rate for first-time Florida Bar winter exam takers continues to stay in a ditch. Of 637 first-time takers in the February examination, 369 passed the bar, or 57.9 percent, according to a Monday release from the state’s Board of Bar Examiners. That’s only a 0.2 percent uptick from this time last year, when […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2018

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Senate President-designate Bill Galvano on Friday said there was no “agreement (on) or recommendations” for a Special Legislative Session on gambling. Legislative leaders, who failed to agree on comprehensive gambling legislation this past Regular Session, have been considering a Special Session after House Speaker Richard Corcoran raised concerns over the potential loss of revenue share from the Seminole […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2018

Calling it a “blue sky opportunity,” the state’s chief medical marijuana regulator opened a rule-making workshop Friday with a twist: No rules. Agencies usually issue draft rules weeks in advance of a workshop, so there’s something to comment on when interested parties arrive. Many attendees were lobbyists for marijuana providers. But Christian Bax, head of the […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2018

A Tallahassee judge has ruled in favor of Tampa strip club mogul Joe Redner in his fight against the state to grow and make juice out of his own medical marijuana. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ order was released Wednesday. The state immediately filed a notice of appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal. The […]

Jim RosicaApril 9, 2018

Gaming industry lobbyist Marc Dunbar is asking No Casinos head John Sowinski whether he’s “ready to end the games.” Dunbar’s latest “open letter” to Sowinski, released Monday, is the third in an exchange between the two over the proposed “Voter Control of Gambling” constitutional amendment, also known as “Amendment 3.” It’s backed by Voters In Charge, a political committee that […]

Jim RosicaApril 9, 2018

If a pesticide is good enough for organic crops, it’s good enough to be used on medicinal pot, a Florida medical marijuana provider says. Liberty Health Sciences, a Canadian concern operating in the U.S., last week filed an administrative challenge over a Florida Department of Health proposed rule on marijuana pesticides. Within days, however, both sides agreed to a ceasefire, Division […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2018

There’ll be no “toilet-to-tap” in Florida this year. Gov. Rick Scott on Friday vetoed a water-related measure (HB 1149) from the 2018 Legislative Session, which includes a contentious provision that’s come to be known as “toilet-to-tap.” The proposal would have allowed chemically treated, recycled water to be pumped into the state’s underground aquifer, an effort supporters say will […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2018

The war of words between gaming industry lobbyist Marc Dunbar and No Casinos head John Sowinski continued Friday. Sowinski, the organization’s president, released an “open letter” admonishing Dunbar that he won’t “fool Florida voters” about a gambling-related constitutional amendment on November’s ballot. Sowinski also chairs Voters In Charge, the political committee behind the proposed “Voter Control of […]

Jim RosicaApril 6, 2018

A deaf South Florida man is suing the Legislature because it doesn’t provide closed captioning for its “online live streaming and archived videos of legislative proceedings.” The National Association Of The Deaf and Eddie Sierra filed a federal lawsuit this week in Miami against the state, the Florida Senate and House, Senate President Joe Negron and […]

Jim Rosica
Image via the Associated Press.

Crime victims’ bill of rights OK’d for ballot

Low going: Florida Bar exam results again under 60 percent

Bill Galvano: No deal on Special Session for gambling

Dumpster diving for pot? State continues rule-making for medical marijuana

Tampa’s Joe Redner wins ‘home grow’ marijuana suit

Marc Dunbar fires back after latest John Sowinski salvo

Marijuana provider: State’s pesticide regulation too ‘stringent’

Rick Scott vetoes ‘toilet-to-tap’ measure

No Casinos won’t fold ’em: Letter skirmish with lobbyist continues

Lawsuit: Legislative videos’ lack of captions discriminates against deaf