Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsNovember 26, 2018

Senate President Bill Galvano is dubious about the greyhound industry’s chances for compensation now that its livelihood has been taken away by voters. A constitutional amendment aimed at ending live dog racing in Florida won at the ballot box earlier this month with 69 percent of the vote. Amendments need no less than 60 percent approval […]

Staff ReportsNovember 26, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On: House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee has appointed new deputy Democratic leaders: State Reps. Margaret Good, House District 72; Shevrin Jones, HD 101; Richard Stark, HD 104; and Barbara Watson, HD 107. Off: […]

Jacob OglesNovember 26, 2018

On the great swath of road known as Alligator Alley, a single fire station at mile marker 63 handles wrecks from Collier to Broward County. But since the Department of Transportation opened the facility in 2014, there has been debate over who pays to keep the lights on. A new bill (SB 72) filed by state […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 26, 2018

The new leader of the Florida Senate wants to afford more freedom to state universities wishing to rename buildings previously designated by the state Legislature. Senate President Bill Galvano, after assuming the chamber’s top spot last week, told reporters that he supports “a framework for universities to do their naming and having flexibility, instead of having […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2018

The days of “bundled” constitutional amendments would end under a bill filed by Sen. Rob Bradley. The measure (SB 74) offers a single-subject limitation for the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), a legislative fix for the grouping together of unrelated measures into the same amendment. Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who last chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted […]

Drew WilsonNovember 23, 2018

Just a couple weeks removed from the 2018 election, Florida lawmakers are already looking ahead to their 2020 re-election campaigns. Republican Reps. Clay Yarborough and Mike Beltran and Democratic Rep. Patricia Williams on Tuesday added their names to the list of two-dozen incumbent members of the Florida House who have opened campaign accounts for the […]

Jacob OglesNovember 23, 2018

Dane-Eagle-campaign-site-photo-e1542836860793-3500x1618.jpg

It would appear Florida lawmakers in both parties left recount season with election reform on the mind. State Rep. Dane Eagle, now the House Republican Leader, lists the issue among his own priorities this year. The Cape Coral lawmaker says changes to the state’s election laws will likely come up during the 2019 Legislative Session after […]

Peter SchorschNovember 22, 2018

A Thanksgiving poem dedicated to Florida’s legislative politics. Authored by Anonymous. I am thankful for my wife, my family, my health, and my friends, Of course, in today’s political process to name them may bring about their ends. But, no matter, it’s OK, for right this second they know who they are, They help me […]

Drew WilsonNovember 21, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis and Incoming First Lady Casey DeSantis helped spread a little Thanksgiving cheer Wednesday with a visit to Trinity Rescue Mission. The DeSantises spent the morning helping prepare Thanksgiving meals for the community before switching over to help serve lunch and read a Thanksgiving story to the children at mission’s Women and Children’s […]

Drew WilsonNovember 21, 2018

Sole proprietorships may not have the glitzy websites or decades of combined lobbying experience their high-powered peers boast, but they still manage to reel in solid numbers quarter after quarter. One of the top solo performers of the third quarter was Johnson & Blanton lobbyist Georgia McKeown, who pulled in an estimated $160,000 via her […]

Influence
Milton damage. Image via City of Tampa.

Top lawmaker skeptical of appropriation for greyhound industry

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Who pays for Alligator Alley’s lonely fire station?

Bill Galvano outlines path to rename FSU law school

‘Bundled’ constitutional amendments targeted in new bill

Incumbent House members start filing for 2020

Dane Eagle hopes both parties agree on election reforms

A Thanksgiving poem dedicated to Florida’s legislative process

Ron and Casey DeSantis help prep Thanksgiving meals in Jax

Solo lobbyists fare well in Q3