Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2017

Traffic gridlock is the present for major Florida cities, but does it have to be the future? A bill (“the Florida Smart City Challenge Grant Program”) filed Monday in the Florida Legislature would offer state grant money, via the Florida Department of Transportation, as incentive for local solutions to transportation challenges. The House iteration, HB 633, was […]

Staff ReportsNovember 13, 2017

Get your checkbooks ready, PAC chairs and Tallahassee uber-lobbyists for a handful of fundraisers for legislative candidates planned for this week. — On Monday, Nov. 13, Plantation Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book will be holding a fundraiser beginning 5:30 p.m. at Old Fields Plantation, 396 Booth Lane in Monticello. Book is seeking a second term […]

Peter SchorschNovember 13, 2017

Brevard County Republican Rep. Randy Fine added $23,000 between his campaign and committee accounts last month, giving him with $86,573 on hand at the end of October. Fine raised $20,500 of the money through his re-election campaign in House District 53. Making the donor roll for October were Anheuser-Busch, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Southern […]

Ana CeballosNovember 13, 2017

The attorney representing a woman who filed a sexual harassment complaint against Sen. Jack Latvala says she has not discarded the possibility of taking the case to court if a conflict of interest arises in the Senate investigation. “Anything could happen at this point, it is still very early to tell,” Tallahassee-based attorney Tiffany Cruz […]

Ana CeballosNovember 10, 2017

A day after the Agency for Health Care Administration was criticized for erroneously claiming in a press release that five nursing home facilities had not met a key deadline in Gov. Rick Scott’s emergency generator rule, the agency said it prompted an “excellent result” with facilities submitting their information. The Florida Health Care Association, though, […]

Staff ReportsNovember 10, 2017

The cost to buy worker’s compensation insurance is going down in the Sunshine State. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier on Thursday issued a final order granting approval to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) for a statewide overall rate level decrease of 9.5 percent and premium level decrease of 9.8 percent, according to a press release. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 9, 2017

The Florida Senate is about to tackle gaming issues again. Sen. Travis Hutson‘s latest bill (SB 840) is less ambitious in scope than previous efforts, focusing on four topics: fantasy contests, greyhound and horse racing decoupling, slot machine taxes, and designated player games at pari-mutuel card rooms. “I am excited to take the lead on gaming for […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

If you ask Sen. Jack Latvala questions about the sexual harassment allegations against him, he’ll tell you no lies — at least according to a lie-detector test he took Wednesday. Latvala’s attorney, criminal defense attorney, Steve Andrews, told Florida Politics that the Clearwater Republican took and passed a polygraph performed by a former chief examiner for […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

As Sen. Jack Latvala faces an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him, not much is clear, including specifics about a complaint filed with the Senate Rules Committee. This much is known: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, the chair of the committee, at first confirmed a complaint had been filed with her committee in a Capitol News Service interview […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 9, 2017

Darryl Rouson reintroduced the Competitive Workforce Act in the Senate Thursday, a bill that seeks to ban discrimination statewide based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The St. Petersburg Democrat said the legislation makes clear that LGBTQ discrimination will no longer be tolerated in Florida housing, employment, and accommodation decisions. The bill, SB 66, and its House companion, […]

Influence

‘Smart Cities’ grant would incentivize local transportation innovation

Get your checkbooks ready for this week’s legislative fundraisers

Randy Fine raises $23K for HD 53 re-election in October

Attorneys in Jack Latvala probe start building strategies

After generator rule deadline passes, AHCA’s tactic draws confusion

Workers’ comp costs going down

Senate gaming bill promises ‘attainable reform’

Jack Latvala says he passed polygraph over harassment claims

Senate privacy rules shield details on Rules Committee complaint

Darryl Rouson reintroduces LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill