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Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott appointed six new judges on Thursday, less than a month before he leaves office and joins the U.S. Senate. Topping the list of appointments are two new names for the Third District appellate bench. Eric Hendon will replace retired Judge Richard Suarez on the Third District Court of Appeal. Significantly, this is […]

Jacob OglesDecember 13, 2018

New legislation filed by state Rep. Will Robinson looks to restore inspection requirements on septic tanks that were eased at the height of the Great Recession. “I heard about nothing else more than red tide during the course of my campaign,” Robinson said. “Even at my victory party, a supporter said to me, ‘Will, do […]

Ryan NicolDecember 13, 2018

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Senate President Bill Galvano on Thursday said his chamber won’t act on Broward County Elections Supervisor Brenda Snipes‘ suspension by Gov. Rick Scott. The reason: Not enough time. Galvano also points to a 1934 Florida Supreme Court advisory opinion that suggests Snipes’ rescinding her resignation doesn’t count. Under the state constitution, the Senate is responsible for […]

Drew WilsonDecember 13, 2018

Five incumbent Republicans and one Democrat opened campaign accounts for their 2020 re-election campaigns this week. Tallahassee Rep. Ramon Alexander joined 21 of his Democratic colleagues in taking the first step toward re-election by filing his paperwork on Dec. 10. Alexander holds House District 8, which covers all of Gadsden County and part of Leon. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 12, 2018

A healthy but also fragile economy led the Senate’s budget chief to tell fellow lawmakers they need to be “very, very conservative” in writing the state’s next yearly budget. Indeed, with chief legislative economist Amy Baker saying the state needs roughly $6 billion in new money over the next three years just to keep up, Sen. Rob […]

Michael MolineDecember 12, 2018

Governors of Florida’s last-resort property insurer voted Wednesday to seek an 8.3 percent average premium increase for 2019, amid calls for the Legislature to finally act on assignment of benefits abuse and litigation widely blamed for rising rates. Actuarial data would justify increases of 25.9 percent for residential coverage and 54.2 percent for commercial lines, […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 11, 2018

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis is enlisting the aid of five people with close ties to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting to help shape the new administration’s public-safety policy. The panel names as advisers Andy Pollack and Hunter Pollack, respectively father and brother of Meadow Pollack, who was killed during the Feb. 14 massacre in Parkland. Ryan […]

Scott PowersDecember 11, 2018

Republican state Rep. Thad Altman filed a bill Tuesday to require employers to check the citizenship and immigration status of potential employees through E-Verify before hiring them, with the prospect that the state could then investigate complaints. Altman introduced HB 89, the Verification of Employment Eligibility Bill, saying it is intended to prevent the hiring of […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 11, 2018

Republican Mike Watkins is emerging as a definite candidate and likely frontrunner to replace outgoing GOP state Rep. Halsey Beshears. Watkins told Florida Politics on Tuesday that he “absolutely” will run in the anticipated forthcoming special election in House District 7 to replace Beshears, who earlier on Tuesday was tapped by Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis to lead the […]

Ryan NicolDecember 11, 2018

State Sen. Perry Thurston has filed a new bill (SB 138) which would alter the makeup of judicial nominating commissions (JNC) starting in 2019. The bill would reduce the Governor’s control over the commissions, reverting the nominating process to the one that existed before 2002. Currently, the Governor is allowed to make five appointments to […]

Influence

Not-so-lame duck: Rick Scott makes six judicial appointments

Will Robinson looks to restore septic inspections

Bill Galvano says Senate won’t act on Brenda Snipes suspension

Six more state Representatives launch re-election bids

Rob Bradley says next budget needs to be ‘very, very conservative’

Rates likely to rise for almost all Citizens customers

Parkland names pad Ron DeSantis’ public safety panel

Thad Altman files E-Verify bill

Mike Watkins will run to replace Halsey Beshears

Perry Thurston files bill to reform Judicial Nominating Commission