Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolJanuary 11, 2019

Senate Democrats are attempting to preemptively push back again any potential changes to Medicaid put forward by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the GOP Legislature. Democrats have long criticized the previous administration for declining to expand the state’s Medicaid system under the Affordable Care Act. Now, Senate Dems are criticizing DeSantis’ choice to head the administration […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 10, 2019

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Brittany Dover, who last was Deputy Finance Director for Republican Matt Caldwell‘s campaign for Agriculture Commissioner, now is Legislative Affairs Director for Secretary of State Mike Ertel. Her rise over her short years in politics and The Process has been nothing short of meteoric. She worked her way from the Republican Party of Florida, where […]

Michael MolineJanuary 10, 2019

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Through two straight years of political stalemate over assignment of benefits reform, legislative leaders have declared it would take a crisis to deliver a bill to the Governor’s office. Finally, according to state Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, “I think we’re there.” Stevenson, the new chairwoman of the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee, spoke Thursday following the panel’s […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 9, 2019

The Florida Transportation Commission will soon submit to Gov. Ron DeSantis a shortlist of three candidates to lead the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The nine-member panel met in person and by phone on Wednesday to discuss 12 applicants who had sought the state agency gig. Commission members whittled the list to five and will attempt […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 9, 2019

Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation validating same-sex marriage in Florida, the same day equality advocates criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for failing to address LGBTQ rights in a new non-discrimination order. The oversight added urgency to legislation formally repealing Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1997 statute declaring Florida only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 9, 2019

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With Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday appointing appellate judge Barbara Lagoa to fill a vacancy on the state’s Supreme Court, leaders in law, politics and business reacted: — Attorney General Ashley Moody: “As the first Cuban-American woman to serve on the 3rd District Court of Appeals and the author of more than 300 majority opinions, her […]

Michael MolineJanuary 9, 2019

Members of the House Ways & Means committee hankered openly Wednesday to collect potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in sales taxes on online sales. What wasn’t clear is whether Florida’s new supermajority requirement to raise revenues would allow them to do that. “That’s going to be a policy call for you guys,” staff director […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2019

Rep. Kim Daniels, a Jacksonville Democrat known for championing legislation that brings religion into public schools, filed legislation Tuesday mandating high school-level Bible study electives. That is, her bill (HB 195) would require — rather than just permit, as is the case now — high schools to offer an “objective study of religion.” Such courses include: […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 9, 2019

Rep. Brad Drake filed a bill Wednesday that would redirect settlement money from the BP oil spill into a new economic development fund in Northwest Florida. HB 191 would create the Northwest Florida Rural Inland Affected Counties Recovery Fund, which would receive 5 percent of all payments the state receives from BP after July 1, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 9, 2019

Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Barbara Lagoa, chief judge of the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami, to be the newest justice and first Cuban American woman on the Florida Supreme Court. DeSantis announced his selection Wednesday morning at the Freedom Tower on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard. Her “proven commitment to upholding the rule of law, unparalleled legal […]

Influence

Senate Democrats warn against changes to Medicaid program

Personnel note: Brittany Dover starts at State

‘I think we’re there’ on AOB reform, House insurance chairwoman says

Panel to interview five candidates to lead Department of Transportation

Democrats seek repeal of law defining marriage as only between man, woman

Newsmakers react to Barbara Lagoa’s Florida Supreme Court appointment

House tax committee opens debate over taxing online sales

Bill would mandate Bible study classes in public high schools

Brad Drake bill would bring BP money to inland Northwest Florida

Ron DeSantis picks Barbara Lagoa for state Supreme Court