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

Jim RosicaDecember 4, 2017

A change to the state’s “lost and found” law could help needy Floridians, its sponsor says. State Rep. Bobby Olszewski, a Winter Garden Republican, filed a bill (HB 851) to allow “lost or abandoned personal property” at a “theme park or entertainment complex” to be donated to charity. Specifically, his measure—which also includes zoos, museums and aquariums—allows […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2017

More text messages from the Senate staffer accusing Sen. Jack Latvala of sexual misconduct show her describing her dream of a younger, thinner Latvala and calling him “mo betta.” The exchange between Rachel Perrin Rogers, top aide to Trilby Republican and future Senate President Wilton Simpson, and Lillian Tysinger, then a Senate Republican Office legislative analyst, was obtained […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment to end greyhound racing in the state unanimously cleared its first committee Thursday. That was right after its sponsor, Commissioner Tom Lee, delivered a fiery speech on the power of—and oncoming peril to—his proposal. Mira, a 7-year-old greyhound and former racing dog, lay a few feet away. “You haven’t heard from […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

A member of the Constitution Revision Commission says he’s become the victim of a “smear campaign” after proposing a constitutional amendment creating a “bill of rights” for nursing home and assisted living facility residents. On Wednesday, Conwell Hooper, head of an Atlanta-based group called the American Senior Alliance, issued a press release that he had […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

The “hot mic” has gone cold. In a one-sentence order, the Florida Supreme Court denied Gov. Rick Scott’s request to disqualify Justice Barbara Pariente from a pending case over his judicial appointment power. “The respondent’s motion to disqualify Justice Pariente is hereby denied,” it said, without elaboration. Scott “expects all judges to be fair and impartial,” […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

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Candidates for legislative office would have to live in their districts when they qualify to run under a constitutional change cleared Wednesday. The Constitution Revision Commission‘s Legislative Committee OK’d the proposal (P50), filed by Commissioner and former state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, unanimously and without debate. Diaz also chairs the committee. The constitution now says a […]

Jim RosicaNovember 29, 2017

The main backer of a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore some felons’ voting rights after they complete their sentences told Florida Politics his effort now has collected over 900,000 signatures. “Knowing that we set the goal of collecting 1 million, the fact that we are less than 100,000 petitions away from our goal […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday announced he had ordered flags at half-staff to honor the late David Hobbs, Sheriff of Jefferson County in north Florida. Hobbs, who had cancer, died after being hospitalized Monday. He was 58. According to a news obituary in the Tallahassee Democrat, he was elected sheriff in 2004 after serving as a Florida Highway Patrol […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

“There is no there there” in Gov. Rick Scott‘s complaint that Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente is biased against him, say the plaintiffs in a case over his judicial appointment power. The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida responded Tuesday to Scott’s motion for disqualification against Pariente. It was filed earlier this month by […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

Business interests brought out a panoply of former state officials, judges and others Tuesday to heap criticism on a proposed state constitutional amendment to expand the right to bring environmental-related lawsuits. But one environmental advocate countered there was no potential for a “parade of horribles” to come out of the amendment. The Florida Chamber of […]

Jim Rosica
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Bill tweaks state law on theme parks’ ‘lost and found’

Text messages: Jack Latvala accuser dreamed of him as younger, skinnier

Greyhound racing ban clears first CRC committee

Brecht Heuchan says ethics complaint is part of ‘smear campaign

Barbara Pariente to stay on Rick Scott judicial appointments case

Constitutional change on candidate residency OK’d by panel

Voting restoration amendment has 900,000 signatures

Flags at half-staff for Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs

Plaintiffs pooh-pooh Rick Scott’s bias concern in judicial appointments case

Business interests lambaste environmental amendment