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

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

Even as some lawmakers have questioned its necessity, legislative and executive branch lobbying firms were again randomly selected Wednesday for audits of their compensation reports. The firms picked for legislative lobbying audits are: — Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney — Buigas & Associates — David R. Custin & Associates — Ericks Consultants — Hopping Green & […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

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Craft brewers can thank Chance the Rapper for getting this year’s beer bill over its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Wednesday cleared the measure (SB 554) on a 6-3 vote. Democrats Perry Thurston and Randolph Bracy joined Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto in opposing the bill. But Oscar Braynon, the chamber’s Democratic […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

The sponsor of the Senate’s 2017 gambling bill has filed a 134-page strike-all amendment, a day before the bill is scheduled to be heard by the Appropriations Committee and a House version to be heard by its first panel. Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican expected to be Senate President in 2018-20, filed the amendment early Wednesday. On a first […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

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A House bill that would abolish the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, eliminate a throng of business incentive programs, and strip the VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency down to a barebones $25 million budget cleared its second and final panel Tuesday. That means the measure (HB 7005), OK’d by the House Appropriations Committee on an 18-12 vote, is ready to […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

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Michelle Gajda, the Florida chapter leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, spoke to reporters in the Capitol’s rotunda Tuesday as the group’s members met with lawmakers about gun-related legislation. Monday’s story about the organization is here. A Periscope video of Gajda’s remarks to news media is below: Gun control press conf. https://t.co/8Yf1FVAw3N […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

Matt Galka, an on-air reporter for Mike Vasilinda‘s Capitol News Service, has left Tallahassee to join the FOX affiliate in Phoenix. Galka, a member of the SaintPetersblog “30 Under 30” Class of 2015, will be a general assignment reporter at KSAZ starting Monday, Feb. 27, according to FOX spokeswoman Claudia Russo. He’s originally from Southington, Connecticut, where he lost […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

The board responsible for writing the state’s bar examination is looking for two more volunteer members. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners now is seeking “two public members” for three-year terms each, it announced in a Tuesday press release. “A public member volunteer should possess education or work-related experience such as educational testing, accounting, statistical analysis, medicine, psychology […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

A measure to increase the ban from two years to six years on former lawmakers and statewide elected officers lobbying their colleagues after leaving office is now cleared to be considered by the full House of Representatives. The House Rules and Policy Committee OK’d the measure (HJR 7001) unanimously on Tuesday. As its second and final review […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 20, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran offered a compromise Monday in his plan to kill the public-private VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency, but Gov. Rick Scott rejected it as a “massive cut.” One day before a bill (HB 7005) aimed at eliminating the organization gets its second and final committee review, an amendment to be offered by GOP state Rep. Paul Renner would save […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 20, 2017

The Florida Lottery, now being sued by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Monday said it had reached “another record – $1 billion in contributions to education for the 15th consecutive year.” On Friday, Corcoran – a Land O’ Lakes Republican – filed suit against the state agency for “wasteful and improper spending” for signing a multiyear, $700 million deal for new […]

Jim Rosica

Firms randomly picked for lobbying compensation audits

Craft beer debate includes … Chance the Rapper?

Senate adds bingo, doping, ADW to its 2017 gambling bill

Bill to kill business incentives, Enterprise Florida cleared for House floor

VIDEO: Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense takes the Capitol

Personnel note: Matt Galka departs for Phoenix

Bar exam board now seeking public members

House lobbying ban extension cleared for floor

Florida House, Rick Scott again at loggerheads over VISIT FLORIDA

Lottery says it’s generated $1 billion for education this year