Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2017

A federal judge has turned down a request by a North Florida race track to alter his ruling allowing the Seminole Tribe of Florida to keep blackjack at its casinos. But the loss turned out to be a win for the track’s own card games. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued his order Wednesday. Gretna Racing in Gadsden County had moved to intervene last […]

Gary FineoutJanuary 5, 2017

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Possibly showing its hand on the future of capital punishment in Florida, the state Supreme Court by a 5-2 vote on Wednesday forbid the state from imposing the death penalty in pending prosecutions, only to withdraw the order hours later as “prematurely issued.” The highly unusual move was made necessary by an “internal error,” according […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 5, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is fighting for local rights, announcing this week he’s launched a statewide campaign to “defend local solutions.” A rising star in the Democratic Party, Gillum has been mentioned as possible 2018 gubernatorial contender. He announced today he’s launched the Campaign to Defend Local Solutions, a nonpartisan, grassroots effort aimed at bringing […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 4, 2017

A climatic quirk seems to be slightly shielding the U.S. coast during busy hurricane seasons, often weakening major storms just as they approach America’s beaches, a new study finds. That could help explain why it’s been more than 11 years since a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph has hit the United […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

A House bill would require judges to make specific findings before they can award attorney fees in public records lawsuits. State Rep. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican and lawyer, filed the measure (HB 163) on Wednesday. It would require a judge to determine that a public agency “unlawfully refused to permit a public record to be […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2017

The race for the Florida Democratic Party Chair position gets more contentious by the day. On Tuesday, thirteen members of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee filed a complaint to the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) regarding the special election held on December 20th during which Stephen Bittel was voted as Miami-Dade State Committeeman, defeating former state Senator […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2017

Of the many Cabinet choices made by President-elect Donald Trump, some of the strongest opposition centers around the nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Wednesday morning in Tampa, a group of activists spoke with officials in Sen. Bill Nelson‘s district office, calling on him at the very least to call for a delay a vote […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2017

On Thursday, the GOP-led House of Representatives will vote on a resolution sponsored by Polk County Republican Dennis Ross that disapproves of President Obama and his administration’s refusal to veto a United National Security Council resolution criticizing Israel for building settlements in the Palestinian territories. Five days later, Secretary of State John Kerry defended that decision, […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 4, 2017

Florida has asked the federal government for a five-year extension of a waiver that allows it to provide Medicaid services through a managed care program. Gov. Rick Scott filed the state’s application on Friday, seeking to extend the program through June 30, 2022. The program would remain essentially the same. “The demonstration objectives and the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2017

The battle to be the next chair of the Florida Democratic Party is becoming increasingly crazy – and intense. Two of the five candidates have had to move to different counties to be eligible for the position and one of them, Alan Clendenin, has been hit with a complaint regarding his election as state committeeman in Bradford County last month. […]

Headlines

Judge says no to Gretna track in gambling dispute

Florida’s high court takes puzzling turn on death penalty

Andrew Gillum, possible 2018 governor candidate, launches ‘Campaign to Defend Local Solutions’

Quirk may shield U.S. coast during busy hurricane seasons

House bill would affect public records lawsuits

13 members of Miami-Dade DEC file complaint over Stephen Bittel’s election as state committeeman

Activists want Bill Nelson to delay confirmation hearing on AG nominee Jeff Sessions

House poised to vote on Dennis Ross-backed proposal rebuking Obama, UN for ‘anti-Israel’ vote

State asks feds to extend Medicaid managed-care waiver

Alan Clendenin dismisses complaint filed against him as ‘baseless’