Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Erin ClarkMarch 15, 2017

A dispute between South Florida’s NPR-affiliate and the Miami-Dade County Public School Board has raised questions about fiscal mismanagement and the role of the school system in moderating WLRN’s news content. Normally, a school board wouldn’t have any say in what a local news station produces. But in the case of WLRN, the school board […]

Phil AmmannMarch 14, 2017

The University of Florida would get about $2.5 million to study the effectiveness of medical marijuana under a bill that cleared the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. HB 3159 by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle is aimed at the compassionate use bill lawmakers approved in 2014, which legalized low-THC, high-cannabidiol marijuana for the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

For a second consecutive week, the Florida Lottery broke its own record, with total sales of more than $141 million, the game’s chief announced Tuesday. This record for the Sunshine State’s 29-year-old lottery comes despite a nasty lawsuit that pitted Florida Gov. Rick Scott against the state’s headstrong House Speaker, Rep. Richard Corcoran. For the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

A Florida Senate committee unanimously passed a proposal Tuesday giving electric utilities the opportunity to invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup money from customers. The legislation would allow any Florida power company using natural gas for 65 percent or more of its electricity generation to explore out-of-state for natural gas using residential ratepayer’s money. The bill from Fernandina […]

Les NeuhausMarch 14, 2017

A bill seeking to reduce the number of patients visiting hospital emergency rooms repetitively from drug overdoses passed Tuesday unanimously in its first hearing in the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. Rep. Larry Lee Jr., the sponsor of HB 61, drafted the measure as a means for hospitals to gain more control when dealing with the […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2017

A bill that would roll back all local ordinances and regulations of vacation rental houses to 2011 codes got a split-vote approval Tuesday from the House Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee. The issue was fashioned as one pitting property rights — those of people or companies that buy houses and convert them into short-term vacation […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2017

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Sterling Ivey, a veteran of state government communications, now has joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a communications coordinator. FDLE communications director Gretl Plessinger announced the move Tuesday. He’ll “serve as an FDLE spokesperson and will be responsible for coordinating news releases, interviews, news conferences and internal communications,” she said. Ivey, most recently […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

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The American Action Network has begun a new $1.5 million issue advocacy campaign to persuade a group of GOP lawmakers to fight for passage of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The ad highlights key elements of the plan and encourages lawmakers to deliver on their health care promise. Over the next two weeks, the ads […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

Legislation to provide statewide regulations for transportation network companies (TNC’s) advanced in its latest committee stop in the Florida Senate Tuesday. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes‘ bill (SB 340) received only two votes in opposition in clearing the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, though there were substantial concerns expressed about funding for paratransit that animated the debate. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 14, 2017

A British company could begin releasing genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys sometime this year, a scientist with the company said. Simon Warner, the chief scientist at Oxitec, said the company is hopeful it can begin its genetically modified mosquito trial in Monroe County this year. The trial, which has been in the works […]

Headlines
Mario Cristobal. Image via AP.

South Florida NPR station staves off takeover by school board

House bill advances to give University of Florida $2.5M for medical marijuana study

Despite lawsuit, Florida Lottery sees record sales; tops $100M for 2nd week

Bill permitting Florida PSC to allow natural gas investments passes Senate committee

Bill to stop repeat ER overdose visits moves through first House committee

Vacation rentals de-reg bill passes House committee

Personnel note: Sterling Ivey joins FDLE comm’s team

American Action Network targets Carlos Curbelo in new ad

Bill regulating ride-sharing in Florida advances in Senate Committee

Genetically modified mosquito trial in Keys could begin this year, company scientist says