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

Ryan RayJanuary 20, 2016

The Florida arm of the American Civil Liberties Union has harsh words for a new bill circulating in the Legislature that would make getting an abortion more difficult. HB 233 is a GOP-sponsored bill that would require abortion clinics to be near – and have admitting privileges to – a hospital. Similar proposals based on […]

Ryan RayJanuary 20, 2016

The office of CFO Jeff Atwater has elevated Joel Brown to the role of Press Secretary. The Republican staffer and campaign aide comes to the job via the Tampa Bay area, where he was a regional director of Atwater’s operations there. Previously Brown had served as campaign coordinator and district assistant to longtime Pinellas U.S. Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, and […]

Ryan RayJanuary 19, 2016

A House panel on financial issues got deep in the weeds of health care policy Tuesday as lawmakers took up a controversial proposal to change the way insurers are reimbursed by hospitals and other providers when patients receive care beyond their insurance network. The deceptively simple 11-page bill was the subject of over an hour […]

Ryan RayJanuary 19, 2016

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham began her 14-county “North Florida Farm Tour” Tuesday in Tallahassee with an announcement that nearly all of the counties in her Second Congressional District are now included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “StrikeForce” initiative. Graham brought some Washington, D.C., brass back to the newly redrawn district in the person of USDA Deputy […]

Ryan RayJanuary 18, 2016

State Senate hopeful Emily Slosberg made it official over the weekend, announcing her candidacy for the newly redrawn District 30 in northern Palm Beach County. The 34-year-old Democratic attorney and politico said in a statement confirming her run Sunday that she would bring “energy, fresh perspective and activism” to Tallahassee. “Public service has always been a […]

Ryan RayJanuary 15, 2016

Republican Rep. Mike Hill is hosting a reception after a “rally for unity” Friday night in his home district. The conservative “All Lives Matter” mantra is the theme of the event. The Herman Cain train is in town for the occasion, which coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend. The 2012 GOP presidential candidate will headline […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

A massive gathering of protesters shouting chants of “Enough is enough!” and “Our children are not for sale!” shook the walls of the Old Capitol Thursday as they expressed opposition to new education policy changes coming out of the GOP-led Legislature. Educators bused in from as far away as Miami convened to hear from union […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

It’s no secret Gov. Rick Scott, former health care CEO, has a newfound zeal for protecting Floridians from mayhem wrought by allegedly out-of-control hospitals and providers. Scott insists on more regulations, disclosure, and even criminal penalties for providers who charge “unconscionable” rates. He has even gone so as far to say a bill towards that end currently […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

A controversial new ethics proposal backed by the Gannett chain of newspapers has just scored an advancement in its quest to become law. The so-called “anti-corruption” bill that would hold government contractors to standards now applied to many elected officials has just been adopted as part of Sen. Don Gaetz‘s SB 686, an omnibus ethics reform […]

Ryan RayJanuary 13, 2016

A bill to “streamline” the process for minors to expunge their criminal records bill passed unanimously in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. A pair of Tampa Bay area Republicans – Rep. Chris Latvala of Clearwater and prime co-sponsor Rep. Chris Sprowls – filed the bill (HB 147) in September. The bill would cut a break to […]

Ryan Ray
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

ACLU calls new proposed abortion restrictions “dangerous”

Joel Brown steps in as CFO Jeff Atwater’s new press secretary

Balance billing measure moves ahead despite reservations

Gwen Graham kicks off North Florida farm tour, trumpets new “StrikeForce” USDA designation

Emily Slosberg officially running for SD 30

Mike Hill hosting “All Lives Matter” reception in Pensacola

Teachers use their “outside voices” to protest state education changes

Amid debate, FHA unveils new health care info site

Gannett public corruption bill now attached to broader Senate ethics package

House bill to expunge juvenile records OK’d unanimously by Judiciary panel