Peter Schorsch, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2018

There’s more than a few key races heating up among Florida’s congressional seats, but for every true competitor in a 2018 battleground district there are a dozen head-scratchers who’ve mounted hopeless House campaigns. No, none of these candidates have sacrificed a goat as part of a pagan ritual, but it likely wouldn’t make their long-shot […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2018

Conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Florida released its priority list for the 2018 Legislative Session, giving favorable marks to legislation that would cut “corporate welfare” and regulations and voicing strong opposition to proposals that would add new regulations or incentives silos. “We believe that Florida lawmakers have an unprecedented opportunity to push through policy objectives that […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2018

Today, the Senate Health Policy Committee will take up Senate Bill 8, from Fort Myers Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto, which seeks to give medical professionals further training in ways to stem Florida’s worsening opioid crisis. The American Board of Medical Specialties, the leading not-for-profit organization overseeing physician certification in the U.S., is applauding the measure. In […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2018

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. Another week, another House member wants to be Florida’s chief legal officer. Today at 11 a.m., state Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat, “will hold a news conference outside the Florida Supreme Court to […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

A bill to repeal the state’s tobacco bond cap is moving in the Florida House. Whether it’s fair is another story. The measure (HB 6017), carried by GOP Rep. Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach, cleared its first committee last week by a unanimous 14-0 vote and moves to Appropriations. A companion bill (SB 124) is in the Senate. The […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Top Republican lawmakers posted big fundraising reports for their political committees in December, with future Senate President Wilton Simpson leading the pack at $427,000 raised last month. Simpson’s committee, Jobs for Florida, took in 31 contributions from Dec. 1 through New Year’s Eve and a pair of committees chaired by Ryan Tyson – Floridians for […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

The Tampa Bay area will have three Senate seats and 14 House seats on the 2018 ballot; while most of the Pinellas and Hillsborough delegations will be the same when the 2019 Legislative Session rolls around, a few races are starting to heat up. First, the sure things. Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young is still […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Rick Baker is leaving The Edwards Group. The former two-term mayor of St. Petersburg is resigning his job as president of the company owned by entrepreneur Bill Edwards. Baker has worked at Edwards Group since 2012, joining after serving two terms in City Hall. The resignation is effective Jan. 31. In a text message obtained […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Right out of the gate, the Florida House took several major steps toward statewide insurance reform during the first week of the 2018 Legislative Session. On Friday, lawmakers advanced a trio of House bills: repealing the state’s motor vehicle no-fault law and PIP insurance requirements, addressing “assignment of benefits” abuse and making significant changes in […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. Florida lawmakers will address two of the year’s most pressing issues in the second week of the annual 60-day Legislative Session. A House committee to improve the state’s hurricane preparedness, set up in the […]

Peter Schorsch
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

New crop of not-ready-for-primetimers launch congressional campaigns

Americans for Prosperity-Florida releases priority list for 2018 Legislative Session

ABMS urges Senate committee to pass bill fighting Florida opioid crisis

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 1.16.18

Tobacco bond cap bill clears House panel—but is it fair?

Top Republican lawmakers added major cash in December

Here’s where Tampa Bay legislative races stand heading into the 2018 Legislative Session

Rick Baker resigning as president of The Edwards Group

In first week of Session, Florida House took big steps toward insurance reform

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 1.15.18