Staff Reports, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMarch 9, 2018

Trump follows through on tariff pledge This week, much of the country and the world is talking about tariffs. That is because President Donald Trump said he would levy a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent surcharge on aluminum. The media and a number of Republican politicians rang alarm bells saying […]

Staff ReportsMarch 9, 2018

Billion-dollar budgets … education … gambling. These are but three of the dozens of earth-shattering critical issues debated during the 2018 Legislative Session. Who cares? Session is also about the tangential and the trivial, but it’s tangential and trivial which drives the Florida Capitol. That’s why Florida Politics is excited to announce the return of TallyMadness — an online voting competition […]

Staff ReportsMarch 8, 2018

State Rep. Joe Gruters is setting his sights on the Florida Senate. The Sarasota Republican announced Thursday he is filing for Senate District 23, which covers Sarasota County and parts of western Charlotte County. Incumbent state Sen. Greg Steube is vacating SD 23 to mount a bid for Tom Rooney’s Congressional seat. Gruters, 40, has […]

Staff ReportsMarch 8, 2018

A youth advocacy group is launching digital campaign ads urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign a higher education bill that includes a provision that would end so-called “free speech zones.” Generation Opportunity-Florida sent an email expressing particular support of a provision in Senate Bill 4 that would end so-called “free speech zones.” ‘By signing Senate […]

Staff ReportsMarch 8, 2018

Hospitals serving large numbers of the state’s Medicaid patients “applauded” funding in the 2018-19 budget they say “puts patients before profits.” In a Thursday press release, the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida thanked budget writers for maintaining funding. The Legislature agreed to fund another $319 million—including the federal share—in the upcoming year’s budget, as they did […]

Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2018

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Florida lawmakers will extend their annual session for several days to pass a new $87 billion-plus state budget, which will include a $101.50 increase in per-student funding in public schools. House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced early Wednesday afternoon that legislative leaders had reached agreement on the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

After an hours-long floor session, in which a series of Democratic attempts to change a controversial school safety bill failed, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday readied the proposal for a final vote. Before that could happen, dozens of amendments sponsored by Democrats were killed. One by Rep. Jared Moskowitz would have removed a ‘guardian program’ […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

On a day when most of the attention of Florida political watchers is on the debate in the Florida House on school safety measures, Gov. Rick Scott rolled out $22 million from the Job Growth Grant Fund. The $85 million fund has now dispersed $57 million. “I’m proud to announce the nearly $22 million in awards […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

For one night, Trump trades tweets for stand up comedy While Twitter is President Donald Trump‘s communication tool of choice, he used the podium to zing friends, opponents, and himself on Saturday night. Judging by the content of his comments at Saturday night’s Gridiron Club dinner, we could use more of these. Trump mingled with what […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

Former University of Miami President Donna Shalala is running to replace retiring Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, according to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission. Shalala, a Democrat, served as Health and Human Services secretary under President Bill Clinton. Well-known in the region, Shalala, 77, is considered a top choice for the Democratic nomination. With access to the Clinton family’s big-pocketed donors, […]

Staff Reports
Angie Gallo

Delegation for 3.9.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Get ready for the return of TallyMadness!

Joe Gruters sets his sights on Florida Senate

Youth advocacy group urges Rick Scott to end ‘free-speech zones’

Safety net hospitals take a win in 2018-19 budget

Legislative leaders reach budget deal, Session extension looms

After marathon floor session, House poised to approve school safety bill

Rick Scott doles out $22 million from job growth grant fund

Delegation for 3.6.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Donna Shalala files to run for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s House seat