Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosJanuary 26, 2018

A Senate panel on Thursday pushed forward a redraft of a bill that would allow people to bring guns to churches with attached schools as long as there are no school-sponsored activities going on. Before changes to the bill were approved, two Republicans in the Judiciary Committee expressed concern that the Republican sponsor of the […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 25, 2018

In a move praised by Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida House on Thursday passed a measure that would make it harder for legislators to raise taxes and fees in the future. The proposal was pushed through on an 80-29 vote. Under the bill, any future tax or fee hike would have to be approved by […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 25, 2018

A Democratic push to expand affordable health care coverage in Florida has a unique selling point: it could save the state more than $500 million. At a news conference on Thursday, Rep. Lori Berman, a Lantana Democrat, said a resolution she’s sponsoring to expand Medicaid coverage would significantly cut costs from other health spending areas […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 25, 2018

State government can’t count on continued money from Seminole Tribe of Florida casinos, a roundtable of state economists decided Thursday. After taking a pass on the issue earlier this month, the Revenue Estimating Conference agreed to label the money—over $200 million a year—”nonrecurring.” In other words, not likely to repeat. Lawmakers can still decide to count the expected funds […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 25, 2018

The Florida House on Thursday unanimously passed a bill banning the state from doing business with companies that benefit President Nicolas Maduro‘s “ruthless gang” in Venezuela. “We continue to stand strongly with the Venezuelan people and their battle to restore democracy in the face of this brutal dictator,” said Rep. Jeanette Nunez, a sponsor of […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 25, 2018

It’s been 30 years since the Legislature last increased the amount a person has to steal in order to face a felony theft charge and the bipartisan effort to do so this year could potentially hit a brick wall in the Senate. The measure sponsored by Sen. Randolph Bracy has been moving ahead in the […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2018

As the nation faces another aggressive flu season in 2018, potentially one of the worst in several years, a Florida lawmaker wants to allow testing and treating influenza right at the pharmacy counter. As those of you who follow me on Twitter, I went down with the flu Tuesday night. The flu sucks under normal […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2018

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More than 150 mental health advocates visited the Capitol Wednesday to urge lawmakers to pass a slate of bills and approve funding requests covering a wide range of mental health issues, including the opioid epidemic. “Behavioral Health Day at the Capitol allows, peers, caregivers, friends and family to unite to talk about mental health issues […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 24, 2018

As Florida voters prepare to decide whether to automatically restore the voting rights of about 1.5 million felons, the state is grappling with how to handle its lengthy backlog of clemency cases. More than 10,000 felons are currently waiting for their applications to be reviewed by the Florida Commission on Offender Review, which has to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 24, 2018

A controversial bill that opponents call “union busting” was denounced in a conference call just hours before it was scheduled to be debated in the Florida House of Representatives later this week. The proposal by Longwood Republican Scott Plakon (HB 25) has been introduced for several years now without success in the Legislature. After passing the House […]

Influence

Some Republicans wary of Dennis Baxley after gun bill redraft

House approves measure to make it harder to raise taxes in future

Medicaid expansion could save state $500M, lawmaker says

‘Risky money’: Gambling dollars unlikely to repeat, forecasters say

Florida House unanimously passes Venezuela divestment bill

Easing state’s felony theft law faces Senate roadblock

House considers bill allowing flu tests, treatment at pharmacy counter

Mental health advocates urge lawmakers to pass slate of bills during Behavioral Health Day

Senate proposes $500K to tackle backlog of clemency cases

Labor slams Scott Plakon ‘union busting’ House bill