Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2017

Although Florida Democrats failed to improve their numbers in the state Senate in 2016, Jeff Clemens is very optimistic that in two years their power will increase. “It just so happens that the way it plays out, the Democrats that are up for election in 2018 are in safe Democratic seats, so with the Republicans having to go defend […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s vow to accelerate construction of a “contiguous, physical wall” along the Mexican border is slamming into a Washington reality — who’s going to pay for it and how? Not us, say the Mexicans. Instead, U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill, starting with money already in the Department of Homeland Security account that […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2017

A federal grand jury returned a 22-count indictment against the man accused of a shooting rampage at a South Florida airport that left five people dead and six wounded. The indictment Thursday charges Esteban Santiago, 26, with 11 counts of causing death or bodily harm at an international airport, five counts of causing death during […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2017

The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times EST): 4:50 p.m. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer now says slapping a 20 percent tax on imports from Mexico is just one of several options on the table for paying for a wall along the southern border. Spicer says President Donald Trump has yet to make […]

Michael MolineJanuary 26, 2017

Tourism business owners flocked to a Senate committee room Thursday to plead the case for Visit Florida, the state’s embattled tourism promotions agency. Representing both large operations and independent hotels and restaurants, they urged members of the Appropriations Committee to let the agency continue to sell Florida to potential tourists in the United States and overseas. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2017

Last September, Governor Rick Scott ordered new public notification rules and legislation to ensure the public is kept informed of incidents of pollution that may cause a threat to public health and to Florida’s air and water resources. He made that announcement following the sewage spill in St. Petersburg and Mosaic’s sinkhole in Mulberry the sent toxins in the drinking-water […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2017

Members of the Florida House Subcommittee on Children, Families and Seniors heard from five different speakers on Thursday regarding the process by which refugees are resettled in Florida. However, Democrats on the committee only heard from four, as they walked out en masse in disapproval to hear from Mark Krekorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration […]

Scott PowersJanuary 26, 2017

On Friday, the South Florida Regional Transit Authority will consider awarding a deal to run the state’s largest public commuter railroad, Tri-Rail — worth up to $511 million — after tossing all competing bids, including some asking far less money. The SFRTA’s board of trustees is being asked Friday to award Tri-Rail’s operations and maintenance contract, […]

Michael MolineJanuary 26, 2017

The percentage of the Florida Supreme Court’s caseload still pending after 180 days doubled after the U.S. Supreme Court upended the state’s death penalty system last year, a court representative told a House panel looking into court delays on Thursday. In Hurst v. Florida, the justices in Washington invalidated Florida’s death penalty because the law […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2017

Miami-Dade County shouldn’t be considered a “sanctuary city” because it cooperates with federal law enforcement when detaining immigrants, officials said Wednesday. Michael Hernandez, a spokesman of Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, said they don’t know yet whether the county will be deprived of federal funds under a new order signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump that seeks […]

Headlines

Jeff Clemens bullish on Senate Democrats chances in 2018

Analysis: Donald Trump’s border wall faces reality check

Florida airport shooting suspect indicted on 22 counts

Sean Spicer says 20 percent tax on Mexican imports just an option

Visit Florida defenders swarm Senate Appropriations Committee hearing

Bill Galvano files “spill bill” strengthening notification requirements

Florida Democrats walk out of committee discussing refugees resettlement

Tri-Rail’s half-billion dollar, single-proposal deal raises questions

House subcommittee looks into state courts’ caseload backlogs

Miami-Dade uncertain after Donald Trump goes after sanctuary cities