Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsAugust 7, 2017

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Monday announced in a press release he had named Ryan West his new Chief of Staff, effective later this month, taking over for the retiring Robert “Budd” Kneip. “Ryan has been a trusted member of my team since day one, and there is no one better suited to serve as my […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerAugust 6, 2017

Florida state colleges this year are expected to have their first modest rise in enrollment since 2010. A new state forecast projects a 1 percent growth rate in enrollment in the 28 colleges during the 2017-18 academic year, representing the equivalent of 324,109 full-time students. Each “full-time equivalent” actually represents about 2.5 students, reflecting the […]

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2017

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio got a pat on the back from the Florida League of Cities for filing a bill that would protect communities that receive FEMA funds from claw backs years after a disaster strikes. The Post-Disaster Fairness to States Act puts a three-year cap on the FEMA seeking refunds for money handed […]

Staff ReportsAugust 4, 2017

A baby’s death and a flying extension ladder, both happening in the late 1990s, resulted in two of the many claim bills already filed for the 2018 Legislative Session. The first, filed by Democratic Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, is for $2.4 million for the death of 5-month-old Nicholas Patnode, who was seen at the Martin County Health […]

Peter SchorschAugust 4, 2017

Two Florida Democrats filed claims bills for the 2018 Legislative session this week, one of which would pay a Franklin County company for trees destroyed in a prescribed burn and another that would compensate a Miami-Dade man for a shaky rape and robbery conviction. Tallahassee Sen. Bill Montford’s SB 34 seeks to compensate Shuler Limited […]

Staff ReportsAugust 4, 2017

Robert “Budd” Kneip, chief of staff to state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, will retire Aug. 31, the office announced Friday. Kneip will be retiring after nine years of public service, with “an announcement on the transition to a new Chief of Staff (to be) made in the coming days,” a press release said, suggesting that […]

Jim RosicaAugust 3, 2017

State gambling regulators this week shot down a request by a South Florida gambling permitholder who wanted sell the permit and allow the next operator to build on a new location in Broward County. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Monday said both sales of permits and any relocation of gambling—both time-consuming processes—have to be OK’d […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2017

National Republicans are targeting Democrats in several states over single-payer healthcare. The National Republican Congressional Committee released a digital ad Thursday in eight states, including Florida, asking Democrats whether “they’ll support Nancy Pelosi’s vision for a European-style single-payer healthcare plan.” “European-style single-payer healthcare is the new litmus test in the Democratic Party,” said Matt Gorman, […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2017

Annette Taddeo is officially in the spotlight. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced Thursday it had named the Senate District 40 race as a “Spotlight Race.” Jessica Post, the committee’s executive director, also announced the DLCC has committed $150,000 to Democrats’ efforts to carry the district in the September. Taddeo will face Rep. Jose Felix […]

Jim RosicaAugust 2, 2017

VISIT FLORIDA CEO Ken Lawson is telling tourism industry leaders he “want(s) to earn (their) trust” in a Wednesday post on the public-private tourism marketing agency’s blog. “As you know, I have been traveling the state, engaging with our partners, board members, legislators and other stakeholders to listen, learn, and offer VISIT FLORIDA’s support at […]

Influence
We may be wrong but that looks like a full-on 72"x30" check ... nice!

Personnel note: Ryan West named CFO’s chief of staff

State college enrollment sees uptick

Florida League of Cities applauds Marco Rubio for FEMA claw back bill

Government negligence from the ’90s leads to claim bills

Pair of claims bills filed for 2018 session

Personnel note: Robert ‘Budd’ Kneip retires from CFO’s office

Dania casino shut out in gambling permit case

NRCC launches ad targeting Democrats over single-payer healthcare

DLCC designates SD 40 as ‘Spotlight Race,’ commits $150K to help Annette Taddeo

Ken Lawson to tourism industry: ‘I want to earn your trust’