Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2018

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Gambling regulators on Tuesday again said they were “renewing” an emergency rule that allows them to continue testing racing greyhounds for drugs, including cocaine. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which regulates gambling through its Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, posted a “notice of renewal” in Tuesday’s Florida Administrative Register. The emergency rule on “Procedures for Collecting Samples from Racing Greyhounds” […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 18, 2018

Christy Daly Brodeur, formerly Secretary of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice under Gov. Rick Scott, has joined the Ballard Partners influence firm in Tallahassee. The move was first reported in Tuesday’s SUNBURN. “Christy’s successful track record of partnering with key stakeholder groups to achieve favorable outcomes for all parties is a tremendous asset for our firm, our […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 17, 2018

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Meredith Beatrice is now Communications Director for the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), Chairman Blaise Ingoglia announced Monday. Beatrice, who most recently handled media for GOP Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s unsuccessful run for governor, “will be focused on Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign,” Ingoglia said. “Understanding the importance of this election cycle, Meredith will be a […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 17, 2018

Gulf Breeze Republican Alex Andrade and St. Petersburg Democratic Rep. Ben Diamond filed paperwork this week to seek re-election to the Florida House in 2020. Andrade is the soon-to-be Representative for House District 2, which covers parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He defeated late entrant Greg Merk by 20 points in the Republican […]

Danny McAuliffeSeptember 17, 2018

Correction: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized the intention of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. The group is wholly supportive of eventually transferring unused school security funding. School superintendents backing the transfer of unused security money concurred with legislative leaders this week that numbers should be finalized before the Legislature amends any funding set […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerSeptember 15, 2018

The Florida Board of Education on Friday advanced a $21.8 billion request for public school funding in the next budget year, including a $200 boost in per-student funds and increased funding for school safety initiatives. Highlights of the 2019-20 budget proposal include: — An overall $673 million, or 3.5 percent, increase, compared to the current […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 14, 2018

Republican state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen will hold a fundraiser benefitting her re-election campaign on Sept. 24 in Fort Myers. The event will be held at Society restaurant in the Bell Tower Shops, 13499 Bell Tower Dr., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those looking to drop by can sent an RSVP to Brittney Metzger at […]

Michael MolineSeptember 14, 2018

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A leading Senate budget writer claimed vindication Friday in a lingering dispute with House leaders over whether to allow local school boards to capture all of the value of rising property values when setting local tax rates. Rob Bradley, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, underscored the point during a presentation on the state’s three-year fiscal […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2018

The state constitution “creates a procedural right to seek treatment with smokable marijuana,” according to a new filing in an appeal by patients seeking to light up medicinal cannabis. Attorney Jon Mills filed a 48-page answer brief late Thursday, in response to the state’s 57-page brief last month arguing that the smoking of medical marijuana […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 14, 2018

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has put out its third wave of endorsements for state legislative seats, giving the nod to 16 more candidates, including a pair of incumbents running for re-election in South Florida. A handful of the Florida Chamber’s new endorsements are revisions reflecting a handful of surprise victories in the Aug. 28 […]

Influence
U.S. Rep. Cory Mills delivering Starlink systems to Florida Highway Patrol. Image via Mills.

Regulators renew emergency rule on race-dog drug testing

Personnel note: Christy Daly Brodeur joins Ballard Partners

Personnel note: Meredith Beatrice lands at Florida GOP

Ben Diamond files for re-election in 2020

Florida school superintendents: School security transfer a must

Education board backs $673 million boost for schools

Heather Fitzenhagen announces Fort Myers fundraiser

Deal on local property tax rates helped stabilize Florida’s budget

Marijuana smoking ban case smolders in appellate court

Florida Chamber endorses 16 more legislative candidates