Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday appointed Circuit Judge Robert J. Luck to the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami. Luck, 37, of North Miami Beach, has served as a circuit judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit since 2013. He previously was an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed Alan Abramowitz as head of the state’s child advocates program. The Governor’s Office announced the appointment Wednesday night for a term of Feb. 8, 2017-Feb. 8, 2019. Abramowitz, 54, of Tallahassee, has been Executive Director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program since 2010. Guardians ad litem represent the interests of children in court proceedings, especially […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 8, 2017

Senate Bill 2, the Florida Excellence in Higher Education Act, and Senate Bill 4, Faculty Recruitment, both sponsored by Sen. Bill Galvano Wednesday passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education. “As these key bills continue to move through our committee process, I am encouraged by the feedback from and focus on our college and […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

Democrats skeptical about President Trump‘s repeated claims of voter fraud in last November’s election are now challenging him to add voter suppression and disenfranchisement to his administration’s pending investigation. On Super Bowl Sunday, Trump told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly that Vice President Mike Pence will be in charge of a commission to probe what he believes was voter fraud in the election, despite a […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 8, 2017

Four-term state Rep. Ben Albritton is launching a bid for Florida Senate. Albritton, the Wauchula Republican who represents House District 56, filed Wednesday for the Senate District 26 seat. SD 26 covers a wide swath of Central Florida from Charlotte and Glades counties through southern Polk County. Currently holding the seat is Denise Grimsley, the Lake Placid Republican […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

In its first week in office, the Trump administration froze new scientific grants at the Environmental Protection Agency. That fueled concerns amongst some in the scientific community that it will be a rough four years in Washington. Since the presidential election, more than 5,000 scientists, including many Nobel Prize winners, have signed an open letter urging President Trump and Congress […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

A Florida House committee advanced a bill Wednesday to implement statewide regulations on ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Sponsored by Republicans Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor and Jamie Grant of Tampa, HB 221 addresses issues that have been vexing state lawmakers for the last three Sessions. If passed, drivers would need to carry insurance coverage worth $50,000 for […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 8, 2017

National Republicans, in an effort to boost their majority for the midterms, are targeting top House Democrats over the next two years – including Florida’s Charlie Crist and Stephanie Murphy. POLITICO first reported on the list of 36 lawmakers coming from the National Republican Congressional Committee, with a particular focus on “blue-collar parts of the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

Patients, caregivers and activists offered emotional – and often searing – testimony Wednesday in a Tampa workshop held by the state office that regulates medical marijuana. In a standing-room-only meeting for the Office of Compassionate Use, they discussed proposed rules on medical marijuana that could go into effect later this year. The agency’s rule-making workshop […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 8, 2017

Florida sugar workers are the latest to come out strongly against Joe Negron’s Senate proposal to create a $2.4-billion, 60,000-acre reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee for Everglades water storage. In a joint letter sent Wednesday from Sugar Labor Management Committee, IAMAW District 166, Florida State Council of Machinists, and Local 2152 (Osceola & Okeelanta), union […]

Headlines

Robert J. Luck elevated to appeals court judge

Alan Abramowitz reappointed head of Guardians ad Litem

Senate advances Excellence in Higher Education legislation

Charlie Crist wants Trump administration to look into voter suppression, disenfranchisement

Ben Albritton launches campaign for Denise Grimsley’s Senate seat

Bill Nelson says any attempt to intimidate scientists ‘must be stopped’

House advances bill for statewide ride-sharing regulations

Charlie Crist, Stephanie Murphy among top GOP targets for 2018

At medical marijuana hearing in Tampa, citizens blast proposed rules

Florida Sugar Union blasts Joe Negron’s ‘job killing’ Lake O reservoir plan