Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 2, 2018

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A barrage of Republican advertising in state Senate District 14 offers input on Democrat Mel Martin’s political agenda — whether real or imagined. Mailers picture comparisons of Martin’s platform to government funding for cougars in treadmills, and assign views on term limits Martin never stated. But one thing largely absent from political discourse in the […]

Drew WilsonNovember 2, 2018

Everytown For Gun Safety, a gun-control group co-founded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has poured $455,000 into a direct mail campaign according to a newly filed campaign finance report. The national branch of the org, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, funneled $465,000 to its state-level PAC, Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund Florida, on […]

Drew WilsonNovember 1, 2018

The political committee behind a proposed constitutional amendment to let voters decide on future gambling expansions in the Sunshine State picked up another seven-figure check from the Seminole Tribe of Florida on Wednesday. Voters in Charge, the committee sponsoring Amendment 3, has been heavily backed by the tribe as well as Disney Worldwide Services. With […]

Jacob OglesNovember 1, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday called on law enforcement in Florida to assess the security at religious institutions in Florida, the same day an accused shooter entered a not-guilty plea in federal court to charges he killed 11 at a Pittsburgh synagogue. He also called on the Florida Legislature to double Jewish Day School security […]

Staff ReportsNovember 1, 2018

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As expected, Harris Corp. is taking a battle over a major state law-enforcement radio contract to an appeals court. The Melbourne-based company Thursday filed a notice of appeal of a decision by the Department of Management Services (DMS) to award the contract to Motorola Solutions, according to the 1st District Court of Appeal website. DMS Secretary Erin Rock last month […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2018

Following the feds’ lead, Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday issued an emergency rule allowing a new drug for child epilepsy patients that contains CBD, a ‘non-euphoric’ chemical from cannabis. Bondi’s filing with the Secretary of State notes there are now about “64 patients in the state of Florida who are legally using an FDA-approved […]

Jacob OglesOctober 31, 2018

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A photograph of Republican state House candidate Anthony Sabatini in blackface made its way to media inboxes around the state, the week before voters decide whether to send him to Tallahassee. The 30-year-old Howey-in-the-Hills Republican, running for House District 32, said the picture dates back to his sophomore year in high school, when he was […]

Michael MolineOctober 31, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has asked the Florida Supreme Court to reconsider allowing him to begin screening replacements for three of its justices, arguing the court may have “misapprehended” his arguments that he holds that authority. The court issued an order Oct. 15 declaring that only the next Governor has the authority to replace Justices R. Fred Lewis, Peggy A. […]

Drew WilsonOctober 31, 2018

The witching hour is upon us. Ghosts and ghouls fill the streets. Zombies walk side-by-side with princesses and superheroes. Their mission the same: Spook and scare their neighbors in hopes of scoring enough candy to sustain them for the next year. Florida Retailers are expecting their tills to be flush thanks to the most frightening […]

Staff ReportsOctober 31, 2018

It’s that time of year to be frightened — not by ghosts or goblins, but by Florida’s tax rules on candy. Every year, Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog, uses Halloween to demonstrate the state’s boggling rules on what gets taxed and what doesn’t. “Groceries are generally exempt from Florida sales tax, but candy can get confusing,” the […]

Influence
Image via X (TECO).

Attacks step up on Mel Martin, but little promo for Tommy Wright

Everytown for Gun Safety spends $450K on last-minute mail campaign

Seminole Tribe puts another $1M behind Amendment 3 push

Rick Scott calls for security improvements at Jewish Day Schools

Harris appeals state’s radio contract decision

Cannabis chronicles: Pam Bondi OKs new marijuana-based drug

Anthony Sabatini ‘blackface’ picture from high school surfaces

Rick Scott seeks another shot at screening Supreme Court nominees

Halloween is brought you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations

Florida TaxWatch says Halloween treats taxed trickily