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

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2017

Congressman Charlie Crist also wants Frank Artiles gone. “The racial slurs used by Sen. Artiles are deeply offensive to me and the community I represent,” said the St. Petersburg Democrat and former Republican governor in a short statement on Thursday. “He should restore the dignity of the Florida Senate by immediately removing himself from it.” […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2017

The Florida House approved tough new ethics legislation Thursday barring members of the Legislature and statewide elected officials from lobbying their former colleagues for six years after leaving office. The measure also would prevent officials from leveraging their authority to seek jobs from or going into business with lobbyists. CS/SB 7083 passed on a vote […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2017

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Jobs and the economy drove the discussion Wednesday when Vern Buchanan met with a group of nearly a dozen restaurant owners from Sarasota and Manatee counties. The Sarasota Republican congressman listened as the entrepreneurs discussed some of the financial challenges facing their businesses during the meeting at the Holiday Inn Sarasota-Airport. Buchanan’s meeting comes on […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran thanked Florida State President John Thrasher for returning money from a now controversial appropriation. The university got part of an appropriation for Florida Psychological Associates, a firm operated by friends of Sen. Aaron Bean, a Fernandina Beach Republican. “I recognize that the lack of direction … placed FSU in a situation it […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

Equality Florida, the state’s LGBTQ-advocacy organization, Wednesday called for Republican Frank Artiles “to resign … or be removed” from the state Senate. “Once again, Frank Artiles’ bigotry is all over the news, this time because of racist, sexist, and homophobic slurs used against his Senate colleagues and lobbyists in Tallahassee earlier this week,” Public Policy […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

An emotional and eye-opening display featuring about 1,000 shoes worn, decorated and submitted by sexual assault survivors of all ages from across the state of Florida – with accompanying stories – are decorating the Capitol rotunda through Friday of this week. They commemorate National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

Florida animal welfare activists are calling Gov. Rick Scott to appoint a non-hunter to a vacancy on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). On Wednesday, the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) ran an advertisement in the Tallahassee Democrat urging Scott to appoint either a nature photographer, a bird-watcher, or an individual with […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

A South Florida Democrat has announced he plans to run for Agriculture Commissioner in 2018. Daniel Sohn announced Wednesday he was throwing his hat in the race to replaced Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam in two years. In a 2 minute and 30 second video announcing his intentions, Sohn he plans to meet with Floridians, business […]

Staff ReportsApril 19, 2017

Alex Burgos, one of Sen. Marco Rubio’s longest serving aides, is leaving Rubio’s office to join the tech industry. TechNet, a network of technology CEOs and executives, announced Wednesday that Burgos would serve as its vice president of federal policy, government relations and communications. The move was first reported by POLITICO Florida. “As a seasoned […]

Staff ReportsApril 18, 2017

Brian Ballard‘s lobbying shop now has been retained by the Socialist Party of Albania to “provide consulting and advocacy services in a bid to improve U.S.-Albanian bilateral relations” at a rate of $20,000 a month, according to a news release. Ballard’s star continues to shine as he snags another international client: He was an early […]

Staff Reports

Charlie Crist adds voice to those calling for Frank Artiles’ resignation

House approves six-year lobbying ban for former lawmakers, elected officials

Vern Buchanan talks jobs with restaurant owners

Richard Corcoran thanks FSU for returning controversial appropriation

Equality Florida calls Frank Artiles to be ousted from office

Shoes are stark reminders of sexual abuse

Newspaper ad calls on Governor to appoint non-hunter to state wildlife agency

Daniel Sohn announces Agriculture Commissioner bid

Personnel note: Alex Burgos departing Marco Rubio’s office, joining TechNet as VP

Ballard Partners latest federal signing: The ruling party of Albania