Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a wide-sweeping higher education bill, saying the legislation “impedes the ability of state colleges to meet the needs of the communities and families they serve.” The bill (SB 374) was a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron, who has made improving the State University System a cornerstone of his term […]

Staff ReportsJune 14, 2017

Companies will now be required to promptly notify the Department of Environmental Protection of a pollution incident under a bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The so-called spill bill (SB 1018) requires companies to submit a notice of a reportable pollution release to the Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours of the release. That […]

Jim RosicaJune 14, 2017

Chalk it up to “passion.” Or politics. Gov. Rick Scott, speaking to reporters after a Wednesday bill signing, explained away the open tension between him and House Speaker Richard Corcoran after the House this year tried to gut VISIT FLORIDA and do away with economic development organization Enterprise Florida, his two favored state agencies. By […]

Jim RosicaJune 14, 2017

A new state senator who is also a prominent trial attorney is telling Gov. Rick Scott to veto a contentious education policy bill, saying it’s a brew of “bad policy” and “a textbook example of a failure in government transparency.” Sen. Gary Farmer, a Parkland Democrat, wrote a 2-page letter to Scott Tuesday on HB […]

Staff ReportsJune 14, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Parker Aziz is no longer Special Master and attorney for the House Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee. Off: Nikolas Pascual has stepped down as a legislative assistant for the vacant House District 116 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

The sponsor of a bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment said he is confident the state would prevail if sued over the proposal’s smoking ban. “We believe we will win that lawsuit,” said House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who sponsored the House’s version of the medical marijuana implementing bill during both the […]

Jim RosicaJune 13, 2017

Kent Perez, chief of staff to Attorney General Pam Bondi and a veteran of the office, Tuesday said he’s accepted an offer to become the State Board of Administration‘s deputy executive director. Perez, who’s been with the state off and on since 1978, told FloridaPolitics.com he expects to start the new job by the end […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott isn’t showing his cards when it comes to a wide-sweeping and contentious education bill, despite rumblings he could sign the measure as early as this week. The Naples Republican said he is still reviewing the bill (HB 7069), which, among other things, creates a “Schools of Hope” charter school program backed by […]

Staff ReportsJune 13, 2017

Jose Mallea brought in more than $50,000 in his race to replace Rep. Jose Felix Diaz in House District 116. State records show Mallea, a Miami-Dade Republican, raised $50,640 between May 22 and June 8, bring his total raised to $140,156. Mallea faces Daniel Anthony Perez in the July 25 special primary to replace Diaz, […]

Staff ReportsJune 13, 2017

Greg Black is joining Gunster‘s statewide government affairs law and lobbying practice, the firm announced in a press release. Black joins the firm with an extensive background advocating for a wide range of clients in the financial services, insurance, health care, biomedical research, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. He previously represented the Florida Bankers Association where he […]

Influence

Rick Scott vetoes higher education bill, priority for Joe Negron

Rick Scott signs pollution notification bill into law

Rick Scott: No hard feelings between him and Richard Corcoran

Gary Farmer to Rick Scott: Veto ‘dreadful’ HB 7069

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Ray Rodrigues: ‘We believe we will win’ suit over medical marijuana smoking ban

Personnel note: Kent Perez departing Attorney General’s Office

Amid continued calls to veto HB 7069, Rick Scott says he is still ‘reviewing it’

Jose Mallea raises more than $50K toward HD 116 race

Personnel note: Greg Black joins Gunster