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

Jim RosicaDecember 26, 2017

Spoiler alert: If you’re a regular of this site, and reading this story, you can guess what the #1 pick is. Otherwise, 2017 still offered a bounty of material to Tallahassee’s reporting ranks. We still chuckle at the uninitiated who ask, “What do you write about when the Legislature isn’t in session?” Without further ado, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 22, 2017

An administrative law judge has struck down the state’s greyhound drug testing program, according to an order released Friday. Judge Lawrence P. Stevenson ruled that state regulators’ use of procedures in a “2010 Greyhound Veterinary Assistant Procedures Manual,” “even after being ordered to cease” doing so, was “invalid” and in violation of state law. The case […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

Sen. Jack Latvala used his outsized influence to grope and otherwise sexually harass women in The Process, and intimidate them and others into keeping quiet about it, according to the latest report released Wednesday into misconduct claims against the longtime lawmaker. The report was released just minutes before Latvala’s decision to resign from the Senate […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

In the face of two damning reports this week on his alleged serial sexual harassment, state Sen. Jack Latvala on Wednesday resigned from elected office. The 66-year-old Clearwater Republican said in a statement to Florida Politics he “never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate.” He first served in the Senate 1994-2002, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2017

In a 4-3 decision Tuesday, the Florida Supreme Court handed over a constitutional challenge to a contentious education law to a local court to handle. Without explanation, the Supreme Court transferred the matter (SC17-1996) to the 2nd Judicial Circuit, headquartered across the street from the Capitol. School Board of Alachua County v. House Speaker Richard […]

Jim RosicaDecember 19, 2017

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The Pennsylvania law firm suing the Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan law firm on a false advertising claim is asking a federal judge to postpone a hearing in the case. The Rosenbaum & Associates personal injury firm, which filed suit in Philadelphia, wants more time for its expert to review copies of Morgan & Morgan’s television commercials. (A […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2017

A Tallahassee judge will hear argument on whether to throw out Orlando attorney John Morgan‘s lawsuit over the ban on smoking medical marijuana. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers scheduled a Jan. 25 hearing on the state’s motion to dismiss, court records show. The suit originally was filed in July by People United for Medical Marijuana, the political committee behind […]

Jim Rosica
A state investigator, right, works with a Florida resident to look out for fraud after Hurricane Helene. Photo via Florida Chief Financial Officer,.

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories of 2017

Judge strikes down Florida’s racing-dog drug testing program

‘Quid pro quo’ mentioned in second Jack Latvala sexual harassment report

The end: Jack Latvala resigns from Florida Senate

Rick Scott on Jack Latvala: It’s ‘time to resign’

Attorney: Jack Latvala was blindsided by bribery allegation

Jack Latvala won’t allow sexual harassment report ruin holidays

Florida Supreme Court decides to punt away HB 7069 challenge

Delay sought in Morgan & Morgan false advertising case

Judge sets hearing in ‘no smoke’ medical marijuana case