Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

A GOP House member seemingly is taking a swipe at House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a fellow Republican, with a bill that bans sitting lawmakers and family members, including “siblings,” from working for lobbying firms. Corcoran’s brother Michael is a lobbyist. State Rep. Kathleen Peters of Treasure Island, who filed the bill (HB 1325), had been “ousted […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 11, 2018

There are a number of bills this Session that would shift control from local governments to the Legislature, making some elected officials — like Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum — unhappy. In the House, one of those bills is being expedited during week one of Session. House Speaker Richard Corcoran voiced his […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

Legislation to replace a statue of a Confederate general representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol is heading to the Senate floor. The bills (SB 472, SCR 184), which cleared their final committee Thursday, would replace the likeness of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith with educator and civil-rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. “Dr. Bethune received the unanimous vote of the members […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2018

Jacksonville Republican Rep. Jay Fant is in his last Legislative Session, and he’s carrying and co-sponsoring a number of hot-button bills. Fant, one of a group of candidates running for Attorney General, discussed those bills with Florida Politics this week; among them, a bill he’s co-sponsoring that prohibits sanctuary jurisdictions — a priority of House Speaker Richard […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2018

A team of House Democrats Thursday rolled out a legislative package to combat the state’s opioid abuse epidemic. The bills included putting addiction warning labels on prescription bottles, charging a new court fee to help smaller counties deal with the problem, and an application to the feds for more money to expand treatment, among other […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 11, 2018

Florida senators could soon be required to complete one-hour mandatory sexual harassment training every year as part of a new policy change advanced Thursday that came amid calls for overhauling the chamber’s handling of sexual harassment complaints. Intensifying bipartisan talk to improve the Senate’s sexual harassment policy began last year after two former senators, Jeff […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 11, 2018

Brian Ballard continues to cement his status as Master of the Universe. The veteran Tallahassee lobbyist, Republican fundraiser and friend of President Donald Trump Thursday announced his firm’s hiring of James P. Rubin, Assistant Secretary of State under former President Bill Clinton. “Our firm is positioned to expand on last year’s dramatic growth in international business, […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 10, 2018

Members of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday advanced bills that would have different outcomes on Florida’s felon population, which prompted one Democrat to call arguments on one of the bills “flat out stupid.” The bills before the House panel would create third-degree felonies for inmates who bring cellphones into county jails, a separate […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2018

A key Senate panel said “beer me” on Wednesday, as it cleared legislation to allow ads for brewskis in Florida theme parks. The bill (SB 822), backed by GOP Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, won over the Regulated Industries Committee by a vote of 7-2. Republican Sens. Greg Steube of Sarasota and Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange voted […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 10, 2018

A bill that would allow police to pull over and ticket drivers who are texting cleared its second Senate panel Wednesday, with a unanimous vote from the Senate Committee on Transportation. Texting while driving is currently a ‘secondary offense’ in Florida, meaning law enforcement can tack on an additional charge for texting motorists who are […]

Influence

Shot fired: Kathleen Peters gets in dig at Richard Corcoran

Pitted against an overreaching House, few fight for more local power

Rebel yell: Confederate statue bill moves to full Senate

Jay Fant expects Senate to have to move on sanctuary cities bill

On optimism and legislation: House Democrats push opioid package

Sexual harassment training mandate for senators heads to Senate floor

Personnel note: Foreign policy pro James P. Rubin joins Ballard Partners

In criminal justice debate, House member calls cell phone bill ‘flat out stupid’

King of … ads? Bill would OK beer promotion in theme parks

Texting while driving ban clears second Senate panel