Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJuly 17, 2017

A Tallahassee judge sided with life insurance companies Monday, restricting preliminary information-gathering by the state in defense of a new law requiring insurers to track down beneficiaries. The outside lawyer for the Department of Financial Services, which advocated for the measure, said he plans to appeal the decision that allows only limited discovery. “We believe, respectfully, […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

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Peebles & Smith is now Peebles Smith & Matthews. The firm announced Monday that Ryan Matthews, who most recently served as the interim secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, has joined as a principal. Peebles and Smith is a well-regarded boutique lobbying firm whose list of clients heavily tilted toward local government clients. On […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

Jose Mallea is bringing in some star power — Florida politics, style — in the final days of his special House District 116 primary campaign. On Monday, Mallea campaign released a Spanish-language radio advertisement featuring former Gov. Jeb Bush. The ad comes just one week before the special Republican primary in the race to replace Rep. […]

Staff ReportsJuly 17, 2017

The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy has tapped Mark Kaplan to serve as the chairman of the board. The organization announced recently that Kaplan, the vice president of public affairs at Mosaic, will serve as chairman of the 2017-18 Board of Directors. Kaplan, according to the literacy organization, brings extensive legal and policy background […]

Jim RosicaJuly 17, 2017

Life insurers will be in court Monday in their lawsuit against the Department of Financial Services over a law requiring them to track down insurance beneficiaries. Circuit Judge Terry Lewis is set to hear argument in the Leon County Courthouse about their request to cancel planned depositions of their employees, which they call “burdensome, harassing and irrelevant.” The […]

Associated PressJuly 16, 2017

The federal government is giving the state $3 million for drug court programs in the wake of an opioid epidemic. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Friday the funds will bolster drug court programs for those in the criminal justice system with substance use disorders and mental health problems. The programs have […]

Staff ReportsJuly 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed a former aide to the State Board of Education. Scott announced Friday that Ben Gibson, a Tallahassee attorney, will join State Board of Education for a term ending Dec. 31, 2020. Now in private practice, Gibson has held positions in the Governor’s Office, House of Representatives and with with Republican […]

Jim RosicaJuly 13, 2017

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Former state Rep. Tom Grady will take Jimmy Patronis‘ place on the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday evening. In picking Grady, a Naples attorney and a friend of Scott’s, the governor passed over the three alternates he previously selected to fill an empty seat on the commission, which will review the state’s governing document […]

Staff ReportsJuly 13, 2017

Rep. Matt Caldwell has the unanimous backing of his colleague from the Panhandle for Agriculture Commissioner. Caldwell’s campaign announced that the entire Panhandle House delegation — Rep. Brad Drake, Clay Ingram, Mel Ponder, Frank White, Jay Trumbull, and Jayer Williamson — has endorsed him for Agriculture Commissioner. The endorsements were billed as the first wave of […]

Staff ReportsJuly 12, 2017

Sen. Bill Nelson brought in another $2 million during the second quarter of 2017. The Orlando Democrat’s campaign announced Wednesday it will report raising more than $2.1 million between April 1 and June 30. The $2.13 million haul, according to the campaign, comes on top of raising nearly $2.1 million during the first three months […]

Influence
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

CFO’s office largely loses fight to get info from insurance companies

Personnel note: Peebles & Smith becomes Peebles, Smith & Matthews with hire of Ryan Matthews

Jose Mallea releases ad featuring Jeb Bush ahead of HD 116 primary

Personnel note: Mark Kaplan named chair of Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy 2017-18 board

CFO’s office back in court over insurance benefits case

Feds give Florida $3 million grant for treatment drug courts

Personnel note: Rick Scott appoints Ben Gibson to State Board of Education

Rick Scott names Tom Grady to constitutional review panel

Panhandle House delegation unanimously backs Matt Caldwell for Ag Commish

Bill Nelson campaign says it raised more than $2.1M in Q2