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

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

Despite some pushback from health insurance carriers, the Senate Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee approved a bill to reform children’s dental coverage by creating an independent program to administer it under the state’s Medicaid regime. The bill, SB 994, is sponsored by newly minted Senate President-to-be Sen. Joe Negron. Negron said the state’s participation levels in the program […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

Voter-approved term limits, perhaps even more than the advent of minority-access districts or the lobbyist gift ban, have radically transformed legislative business in Tallahassee. Their enactment during the Gov. Jeb Bush administration turned future election cycles into rigid leadership game theory boards and, some say, placed a limit on the institutional knowledge of lawmakers, who often become lame […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

An industry consortium supporting a bill to prohibit discrimination against workers based on sexual orientation gathered in the Capitol Tuesday morning, ahead of its first committee stop. Lawmakers joined with representatives of Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce in telling reporters the time for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Floridians to be considered equals in […]

Ryan RayJanuary 26, 2016

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U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham closed out her barnstorming North Florida Farm Tour on Monday with a patented Graham family Workday at Altha’s Crooked Creek Farm in Calhoun County. The tour took the first-term Democrat from a panel discussion at Florida A&M University in her hometown of Tallahassee, where she unveiled North Florida’s recent inclusion in the USDA’s […]

Ryan RayJanuary 25, 2016

State Sen. Darren Soto, flanked by members of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus at the Capitol, told reporters Monday that if legislators and policymakers ignore the demands of Florida’s nearly 5 million Hispanic and Latino votes, they do so at their own peril. Hailing the group’s support and opposition to a raft of bills alongside caucus President Vivian Rodriguez, […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2016

The only Democrat to serve on the Florida Cabinet in recent memory, former CFO Alex Sink, will appear at a fundraiser for Edward James‘ campaign for the state House in Sarasota this Sunday. Sink will join nearly a dozen current and former Democratic elected officials at the home of former county party Chairwoman Rita Ferrandino to help boost […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2016

A bill sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron to prevent state funding from flowing to organizations that boycott or have divested from Israel on human rights grounds unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday. The bill creates a state list of “scrutinized companies” that boycott Israel to be kept by the State Board of Administration responsible for investing funds from […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2016

A bill to outlaw discharging a firearm in more residential areas was advanced Thursday in the state Senate. In Capitol-speak, the proposal was considered and rolled over for third reading, meaning it is set for a final vote before the chamber as soon as next week. Senate Bill 130 by Naples Sen. Garrett Richter prohibits firing a gun […]

Ryan RayJanuary 21, 2016

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz made an appearance in the Tallahassee on Thursday to join legislators and activists in opposing a raft of controversial gun bills now circulating in the Capitol Remarks from Wasserman Schultz and longtime friend and fellow Broward Democrat Sen. Chris Smith seemingly were meant to shame GOP lawmakers into voting the bills down, […]

Ryan RayJanuary 20, 2016

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will speak to reporters and the public about a pair of controversial gun bills circulating in the Legislature at her old state Capitol stamping grounds Thursday. Broward Sen. Chris Smith will join the Democratic National Committee chairwoman in Tallahassee to oppose legislative proposals to allow Floridians to openly carry firearms and to strike […]

Ryan Ray
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Senate Health budget panel advances children’s Medicaid dental proposal

Senate panel approves term limits extension resolution

Boosters laud LGBT anti-discrimination bill; Jack Latvala predicts “tough slog” to passage

Gwen Graham wraps up North Florida farm tour

Darren Soto, Hispanic Democrats call for Puerto Rico assistance, economic reform

Alex Sink to campaign for Edward James in Sarasota this weekend

Senate unanimously passes pro-Israel legislation

Bill to curb backyard gun ranges advances in Senate

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, state Dems decry gun proposals

Chris Smith to appear with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to address state gun measures