Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Right out of the gate, the Florida House took several major steps toward statewide insurance reform during the first week of the 2018 Legislative Session. On Friday, lawmakers advanced a trio of House bills: repealing the state’s motor vehicle no-fault law and PIP insurance requirements, addressing “assignment of benefits” abuse and making significant changes in […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 15, 2018

Legislation expanding workers’ rights is being pushed by a pro-free market, limited government spending watchdog this Session. Americans for Prosperity-Florida recently launched a new direct mail piece encouraging Florida voters to support recent bills that would require unions to hold regular elections and obtain 50 percent of their actively paying dues members in order to […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 12, 2018

Aside from high-profile ‘sanctuary cities’ legislation, the Florida House on Friday also approved a bounty of bills on subjects including red-light cameras and insurance. Here are a few: — Red-light cameras (HB 6001): The bill “prohibits counties and municipalities from implementing red light camera programs by local ordinance,” according to a summary. It passed 83-18. […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 12, 2018

The Republican-controlled Florida House on Friday passed a bill prioritized by House Speaker Richard Corcoran that threatens local officials with fines and removal from office if they do not fully comply with federal immigration authorities. The proposal banning sanctuary cities in the state — even though there are none in Florida — is not a […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 12, 2018

“Good Americans” should start “a Twitter war” with President Donald Trump over his comment that the U.S. shouldn’t admit people from Haiti and other “shithole countries,” former Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner said Friday. Joyner, now a member of the state’s Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), appeared at a press conference of legislative Democrats to express their outrage […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 12, 2018

One of the state’s leading business lobbies is cheering the defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have expanded the right to bring environmental-related lawsuits. The Constitution Revision Commission‘s Judicial Committee on Friday unanimously voting against the measure (P23). “This unnecessary proposal would have opened up not only Florida businesses, but private citizens as well, […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2018

The message begins innocuous enough. “Hope this week has gone well for you! I do hope you can pull together the support we discussed and join me on (date redacted).” That’s the beginning of a text message from a Republican state Senator to a respected member of the lobby corps obtained by Florida Politics. The […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 11, 2018

Five amendments filed by Democrats were clobbered on Thursday by the Republican-controlled Florida House as the chamber considered a controversial bill banning so-called sanctuary cities and threatening local officials with fines and removal from office. The amendments would have added protections for DACA recipients, required federal immigration detainer requests to be accompanied by a judicial […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

The chair of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee, who’s also a candidate for state Agriculture Commissioner, is slamming a proposed constitutional amendment. Denise Grimsley, a Lake Placid Republican, wrote a letter Thursday to Bill Schifino, head of the Constitution Revision Commission‘s Judicial Committee. The panel is considering a proposed amendment that has caused angst among business interests because […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 11, 2018

A bill poised to be heard on the House floor Thursday is the target of a recent digital ad launch by Progress Florida because the legislation would fund anti-abortion pregnancy clinics. Progress Florida released the digital ad series this week, encouraging legislators to oppose the bill and educating voters on the caveats of anti-abortion clinics. […]

Influence

In first week of Session, Florida House took big steps toward insurance reform

AFP mailer: Support workers’ rights legislation

Fast and furious: House passes slew of bills

‘Sanctuary city’ ban bill passes House, but will be ‘nail-biter’ in Senate

It’s on: Former lawmaker declares ‘Twitter war’ on Trump

Thumbs down: Environmental constitutional amendment defeated

There’s little doubting what a Florida lawmaker meant in this message

Republicans swat Democrats’ ‘sanctuary city’ bill amendments

Denise Grimsley calls for opposition to constitutional amendment

Up for House hearing, ‘fake’ abortion clinics targeted in new ads