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

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

A fantasy sports advocacy group is emailing supporters, asking them to write to Florida lawmakers to “keep fantasy sports in the Sunshine State.” Fantasy Sports for All, backed by FanDuel, provides multiple pre-written calls to action their customers can send to legislators. Members of the House and Senate plan to meet in conference Thursday to […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Surrounded by fellow black and Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Perry Thurston announced Wednesday he had filed a complaint to remove fellow Sen. Frank Artiles from the Senate. In a move sure to send chills through the Capitol’s lobbying corps, he suggested influencers who were within earshot when Artiles went on his tirade in the private Governors […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Florida senators passed a bill Wednesday that would allow advertising by beer companies in the state’s theme parks. The measure (SB 388), sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, received only one ‘no’ vote from Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican. It eases the state’s “tied house evil” law by allowing ads, which could include a […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Democratic Sen. Perry Thurston on Wednesday said “there will be consequences” for fellow Sen. Frank Artiles after he spouted insults and used a form of a racial epithet in front of Thurston and Sen. Audrey Gibson Monday night. “We’ve got a (Legislative Black) Caucus meeting” later today, Thurston said. “After that, I’m sure there will […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon says fellow Sen. Frank Artiles‘ apology for using racial epithets and obscene insults is “not enough” and “the Senate must be compelled to act.” Braynon, who is black, issued a statement Wednesday after news that Artiles, a Cuban-American Republican, hurled insults at African-American Democratic Sens. Perry Thurston and Audrey Gibson at […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Florida bars and restaurants could be gifted with free branded beer glasses under a bill that’s now ready for the House floor. The legislation (HB 853) was OK’d Wednesday morning with no debate by the Commerce Committee, its last panel of reference, on a largely party-line vote. It would allow distributors to give to bars […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2017

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The House of Representatives has released a new “explainer” video to explain its proposed 2017-18 state budget. And—fun!—it’s a cartoon. “Don’t have time to read hundreds of pages?” it starts. “That’s OK, because we’ve got the Florida House budget in under a few minutes.” The nearly three-minute video explains that the House, led by Speaker […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott went once more unto the breach Tuesday, pressing his case for full funding of the state’s VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency. The Republican governor—surrounded by VISIT FLORIDA’s CEO Ken Lawson, board chairman William Talbert, and others—spoke with reporters outside his Capitol office. The GOP-majority House of Representatives, which at first wanted to eliminate […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2017

A bill that would allow advertising by beer companies in the state’s theme parks is ready for a final vote in the Senate. The measure (SB 388), carried by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, was heard on the floor Tuesday and placed on the third reading calendar. It eases the state’s “tied house evil” law […]

Jim RosicaApril 17, 2017

A bill that would do away with a cap on how many trauma centers can open in Florida cleared its latest committee Monday. The bill (HB 1077), sponsored by GOP state Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City, was OK’d on a 10-5 party-line vote in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health Care. He said the motivation for the bill […]

Jim Rosica

Fantasy sports interests making late legislative push in Florida

Black lawmaker seeks to remove Frank Artiles from Senate

Senate votes to allow beer ads in theme parks, ‘merlot to go’

Perry Thurston says ‘there will be consequences’ for Frank Artiles

Oscar Braynon to Frank Artiles: Apology not accepted

Cheers: House ‘beer glass’ bill clears last committee

House PR machine turns to its version of state budget

Rick Scott pushes ahead for VISIT FLORIDA funding

Booze bill ready for vote in Senate

Bill to remove limit on number of trauma centers moves in House