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

Ryan RayJune 2, 2015

From the distance of his presidential cattle call in Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott issued his first veto of the year late Tuesday afternoon, scrubbing HB 1087, a bill supported by a coalition of South Florida Republicans and most legislative Democrats that would curb a practice of forcing policyholders to continually “opt-in” to their Citzens Property Insurance Corp. policies […]

Ryan RayJune 2, 2015

Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano of Bradenton filed two new amendments to the Senate’s health care proposal on Tuesday morning. One, the “timely-filed” barcode 852368, addresses the “sunset” provision that Rep. Cary Pigman took issue with yesterday during the House’s workshop on the so-called “FHIX 2.0” proposal to expand health care in Florida by expanding a […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

Health care committees in the House and Senate on Monday discussed the same proposal to expand health care access to the uninsured–SB 2A–in Florida. But it might not have sounded like it. In a “Tale of Two Cities”-esque tableau, the Senate discussed the bill for one hour before unanimously agreeing to pass it with sponsor […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

In a news release Monday, the law and advocacy firm Jones Walker announced that it’s continuing its growth into Florida markets, adding a Monroe Street office in Tallahassee, around the corner from the Capitol. Read the release below: Jones Walker announced today that the firm continues its expansion in Florida with the opening of a new office […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli set a brisk, all-business tone as the “people’s chamber” started the first Special Session since 2011. That was when a challenge to the body’s redistricting efforts brought the House back to Tallahassee in the summer for a quick cosmetic fix to a small number of seats. This Special Session is something else […]

Ryan RayMay 30, 2015

In the wake of Friday afternoon’s surprise 1st District Court of Appeal ruling to allow Entertainment Creek in the Gadsden County city of Gretna to move forward in implementing new slot machines, the Orlando-based anti-gambling advocacy group No Casinos issued a stern rebuke of the decision. “Today’s court ruling has far-reaching implications for the people of Florida. When voters […]

Ryan RayMay 29, 2015

On Friday afternoon, Florida’s 1st District Court of Appeal issued a sweeping 50-page ruling overturning a decision by Attorney General Pam Bondi that stood between Creek Entertainment and new slot machines licenses for their parimutuel facility in Gretna, approved by Gadsden County voters in a 2012 referendum. The ruling repudiated the basis of the state’s opposition to […]

Ryan RayMay 28, 2015

Conservative political group Americans for Prosperity-Florida told FloridaPolitics.com Thursday afternoon that it will target legislators supportive of a FHIX-style health care expansion plan with a new mail piece portraying the ongoing Senate-driven negotiations as a “game.” The mailers feature the number to Senate President Andy Gardiner‘s district office in Orlando and exhorts recipients to “Tell Andy Gardiner […]

Ryan RayMay 28, 2015

A hallmark of the White House pre-campaign of Jeb Bush has been a genteel, understated approach. Jeb, the most erudite of the Bushes and the proverbial “adult in the room” among the bomb-throwers and firebrands in the 2016 Republican field was not known for singeing his rivals, other than his Democratic bête noire Hillary Clinton. That’s changing as […]

Ryan RayMay 26, 2015

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham continued her district-focused work in Congress this morning with a visit with the Apalachicola Riverkeepers. The event doubled as an announcement of a new legislative initiative to help save the region’s threatened oyster beds, once known as especially fruitful but lately in evident decline. The freshman Democrat from Florida’s vexing 2nd Congressional District […]

Ryan Ray
Image via X (Duke Energy).

Rick Scott issues first 2015 veto, kills Citizens reform of opt-in letters

Bill Galvano files latest round of “FHIX” repairs

Dueling committee presentations on FHIX plan show merits of health care expansion all in the eye of the beholder

Jones Walker touts expansion in Florida, new Tallahassee office

Welcome (back) to the Florida House: Session 2015 A begins

No Casinos decries 1st District Court of decision

1st DCA rules in favor of Gretna slots, Gadsden voters, against Pam Bondi

First look: Americans for Prosperity chides Senate FHIX plan in new mailers

Jeb Bush sharpens elbows as GOP presidential field grows crowded

Gwen Graham announces Apalachicola Bay Restoration Act during workday on the river