Ryan Ray, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMarch 7, 2016

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A new poll released Monday by Monmouth University shows New York businessman Donald Trump continuing to lead Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in his own state. The poll shows Trump up by 8 points over Rubio, carrying 38 percent of Florida primary voters compared to 30 percent who favor Rubio. A review of the data points out that in fact, Rubio […]

Ryan RayMarch 7, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham cast her ballot in the Democratic presidential primary election on Monday while back in her home district in Tallahassee during the brief one-week Congressional recess. Her choice: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. “I believe she has the empathy, passion, experience, and desire to bring us together,” said Graham, hitting a […]

Ryan RayMarch 7, 2016

The ride-hailing firm Uber held a news conference Monday with two Florida officials to talk about how their services are “changing the mindset” of Floridians in terms of getting home after a night out. Tallahassee Police Chief Michael DeLeo and Miami Gardens Sen. Oscar Braynon joined with Uber Trust and Safety Lead Amanda DeSantis, who presented research that Uber conducted showing a […]

Ryan RayMarch 6, 2016

A key legislative budget committee met for the second time Sunday and hashed out previously unresolved conflicts on state education funding, including some $700 million in cash and bonding for construction for K-12 and higher education institutions. The inclusion of money from bonds is something Gov. Rick Scott – a budget hawk who loathes debt – opposes. […]

Ryan RayMarch 6, 2016

Senior legislative budget writers met Sunday afternoon to continue hammering out differences in Florida House and Senate appropriations proposals, still hundreds of millions of dollars apart. In keeping with their recent meetings since committee sub-chairs “bumped up” remaining budget issues to the at-large budget conference, Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran and Vice Chairman Sen. Tom Lee – their respective chambers’ […]

Ryan RayMarch 4, 2016

Legislative budget writers met Friday evening to take up another pair of unreconciled budget areas – Transportation & Economic Development and Civil & Criminal Justice – and came to a final agreement, closing out millions in funding items in a multibillion dollar move when the House and Senate accepted each others’ offers. Among the most […]

Ryan RayMarch 3, 2016

In a swift 15-minute meeting Thursday night, the full bicameral Budget Conference Committee closed out all remaining differences in the chambers’ massive health care and general government budget silos, swapping tens of millions of dollars and making significant progress towards reconciling their respective $80-plus billion proposals. “We could go huddle up for 30 seconds and […]

Ryan RayMarch 3, 2016

A proposal to stop law enforcement officials from wantonly confiscating Floridians’ property was amended and discussed in the Florida Senate on Thursday. The proposal – SB 1044 by Sen. Jeff Brandes – got a final tuneup before heading to the Senate floor for a full vote, which is scheduled for Friday. The St. Petersburg Republican introduced four […]

Ryan RayMarch 2, 2016

A day after Hillary Clinton won a majority of Democratic delegates up for grabs in last night’s Super Tuesday primaries – partly on the strength of her support in minority communities – about 100 African-American Florida elected officials came out in support the former Secretary of State’s bid for the White House. Among them were the Florida Legislative […]

Ryan RayMarch 2, 2016

The 2016 Session is quickly coming to its conclusion, and you know what that means. Well, yes, Solo cups on the chamber floor and green bottles emerging from bottom drawers in legislative offices up and down the Capitol tower but also: #CateSineDie. Here’s how the annual parlor game’s eponym put it Wednesday morning: “Before tomorrow […]

Ryan Ray
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Donald Trump leads Marco Rubio 38%-30% in Florida, new Monmouth poll shows

Gwen Graham votes early for Hillary Clinton in Tallahassee

Uber contends ride-hailing helps reduce DUIs

State budget writers settle up on school construction funding

Budget conferees agree on general government, prison funding issues; bump state radios funds

Budget writers close out TED, justice budget silos

House and Senate close out health care, general gov’t budget silos

Senate tees up civil asset forfeiture bill for floor vote

Florida Black caucus leaders, scores of African-American officials endorse Hillary Clinton

It’s time to play #CateSineDie and bet on when the Sine Die hankies will drop