Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 5, 2017

Charlie Crist is reporting more than $717,000 raised in the first quarter of 2017, a record-breaking amount for any freshman lawmaker during the first months in office. “I’m humbled by this historic outpouring of early support and honored that so many people are rallying behind the people of Pinellas County,” Crist said in a statement. “This is a part […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is breaking from the gate with $765,000 raised for his Democratic gubernatorial campaign in the first few weeks. Gillum’s campaign is reporting Wednesday morning that he has raised that much and has $635,000 on hand at the time of his first-quarter 2017 campaign finance report, through the end of March. Gillum […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2017

Adam Putnam is poised to have another record fundraising month, laying the groundwork for his likely 2018 gubernatorial run. Florida Grown, the political committee that will fuel Putnam’s likely 2018 run, raised at least $872,841 in March, according to contribution data posted on the committee’s website. That sum is expected to rise to nearly $1.1 […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Orlando Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King introduced himself to Florida Tuesday evening as the “progressive entrepreneur” promising to bring bring a head for hard work, return on investment and financial stewardship but also a heart to Tallahassee. King, a 38-year-old Winter Park businessman with no experience in politics, kicked off his campaign for the state’s […]

Michael MolineApril 4, 2017

The reservoir system that Senate President Joe Negron hopes to build south of Lake Okeechobee is about to get smaller but deeper. Negron announced plans Tuesday to possibly scale back the project’s acreage while still storing between 100 billion and 120 billion gallons of water by increasing the reservoirs’ depth to 14 feet. “An amendment […]

Associated PressApril 4, 2017

Dry weather has caused the water level in Lake Okeechobee drop below the minimum range targeted for South Florida’s drinking water supply. The Sun Sentinel reports that if the dry spring becomes a summer drought, water restrictions could follow. On Monday, officials said the lake was at 12.46 feet (3.8 meters) above sea level, which […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is seeking to extend Medicare low-income prescription drug subsidies to resident of Puerto Rico, with a bill he filed today. Nelson’s office estimated that the bill could help an estimated 400,000 low-income seniors in Puerto Rico afford the cost of prescription drugs. While low-income seniors living in the continental […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Vacation rental home marketing giant Arbnb has signed agreements with the state’s two most populous counties, Miami-Dade and Broward, in its efforts to coordinate tax collection from participating property owners, the company announced Tuesday. The agreements mean that Arbnb will collect tourist taxes from the vacation rental homes it is booking and turn those over […]

Associated PressApril 4, 2017

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Several men painfully recalled being beaten and sexually abused at a north Florida reform school as the state begins the steps to formally apologize for the horrors they endured more than 50 years ago. A Senate bill to recognize the abuse at the now-shuttered Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna was unanimously approved […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2017

An appellate court’s ruling promises to further muddy the legal landscape of gambling in Florida. A 1st District Court of Appeal opinion released Tuesday reversed the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and ordered the reinstatement of a South Florida casino’s application for a new “summer jai alai” permit. The department regulates gambling. Pari-mutuels, particularly in Broward and Miami-Dade […]

Headlines
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Charlie Crist finds footing in Congress, raises record $717K in 1st quarter

Andrew Gillum raises $765K in first report for governor’s race

Adam Putnam political committee brings in big bucks in March

Chris King vows to bring ‘progressive entrepreneur’ spirit to Governor’s office

Joe Negron’s Lake Okeechobee plan undergoing another revision

Lake Okeechobee water level drops below targeted range

Bill Nelson seeks to extend prescription drug subsidies to Puerto Rico seniors

Airbnb signs up Miami-Dade, Broward for vacation rental tax collection

Reform school horrors relived as Florida prepares an apology

Court ruling could result in explosion of gambling permits