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

Jim RosicaNovember 2, 2017

As much as he perhaps would have liked to avoid it, House Republican Leader Ray Rodrigues fielded a “sex” question at Thursday’s AP Day at the Capitol. Rodrigues, filling in for previously scheduled House Speaker Richard Corcoran, was asked about Corcoran’s comment on a “wall of silence” in the Senate to news that Democratic Sen. […]

Jim RosicaNovember 2, 2017

Talking about the future and reminding the audience of his past, Rick Scott appeared one last time as Florida’s governor at the annual Associated Press planning session at the Capitol. Scott did not present a proposed state budget Thursday, as he has at previous AP events, but began with a recap of recent hurricane recovery, then […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

The main backer of a proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically restore some felons’ voting rights after they complete their sentences says his group now has collected over 750,000 signatures. Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, also said on Wednesday that he’s confident the amendment will have a million signatures by year’s end. […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

As expected, Constitution Revision Commissioner Tom Lee has filed a constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Lee, a state senator from Thonotosassa and a previous Senate president, filed the 2-page proposal late Tuesday, the deadline for commissioners to submit proposed amendments for the state’s governing document. Lee last month said he had been considering filing such […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

The Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation, the state’s public records and open meetings watchdog, is giving a thumbs down to a proposed Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) amendment on “privacy” for the 2018 ballot. Foundation President Barbara Petersen, in a letter this week to Lisa Carlton, chair of the CRC’s Declaration of Rights Committee, said her group […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2017

A Florida nursery is suing the state over its preference in granting medical marijuana licenses to companies with underused or shuttered citrus factories. Tropiflora LLC of Sarasota filed suit against the Department of Health‘s Office of Compassionate Use—now the Office of Medical Marijuana Use—in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Friday, court records show. The […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2017

Beer distributors and independent liquor stores are lining up to oppose a proposal for high-tech beer and wine vending machines in South Florida. The Beer Industry of Florida, the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, and the Florida Independent Spirits Association filed separate motions to intervene in the case last Thursday. A newly-formed Miami-Dade company is seeking an OK from the state’s Division of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment would ensure that future governors could appoint new judges and justices up to their last day in office. But John Stemberger, the member of the Constitution Revision Commission who filed the amendment Thursday, said he was temporarily withdrawing the proposal to correct a drafting error. The amendment would make certain that judicial terms […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday told the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) “to work with other state agencies, Florida ports, law enforcement and fuel retailers to begin examining ways to increase fuel capacity during emergencies such as hurricanes,” according to a press release. The department’s report will be submitted next January and “will include recommendations […]

Jim RosicaOctober 25, 2017

The Florida Commission on Ethics is moving against lobbyist Justin Sayfie and another firm for problems arising from random audits of their compensation reports, according to a Wednesday press release. But Sayfie called the problem “a simple math error.” The commission also dropped cases against three other executive-branch lobbying concerns. The ethics board, which said it […]

Jim Rosica
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Awkward: Ray Rodrigues on sex and the Capitol at AP Day

Coda: Rick Scott’s last stand at AP Day at the Capitol

Voting restoration amendment has 750,000 signatures

Tom Lee files greyhound racing ban in Florida

Open government watchdog barks at privacy measure

Orange you mad? Citrus language leads to marijuana lawsuit

Booze from vending machines? No way, beer and liquor groups say

Proposal would assure governor’s power to name justices

Rick Scott wants more gas for Florida

Ethics board cites Justin Sayfie, Capitol Group for reporting violations