Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 2, 2017

There are a number of pieces of unfinished business for the Florida Legislature this month; among them: agreeing on rules for medical cannabis. The regular Legislative Session ended without complete agreement from the Senate and the House, especially on caps for retail dispensaries for licensed growers. While the Special Session announced on Friday by Gov. Rick […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

Laura Cassels, a veteran journalist and public relations professional, will become the managing editor at Tallahassee-based Rowland Publishing, publisher of Tallahassee, Emerald Coast and 850 magazines. Cassels joins the company on June 12. As managing editor, she will oversee “editorial processes, edit copy and produce stories” for the magazines and the two dozen other publications that […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

Metz Husband & Daughton is adding lobbyist Doug Bell to its team of Tallahassee-based government consultants. “With many years of in-depth experience focusing on government affairs and administrative law, and specializing in a myriad of areas, including insurance and health care, we know Doug is uniquely positioned to help our clients achieve their legislative goals,” […]

Peter SchorschJune 1, 2017

Ballard Partners is continuing to expand its Capitol Hill footprint with the addition of veteran policy professional Rebecca Benn. Benn joins the Florida-based firm’s recently opened Washington, D.C. office. She brings more than two decades of Congressional and corporate experience. “We are pleased to welcome Rebecca to our growing team in the nation’s Capital,” said […]

Associated PressJune 1, 2017

Florida will become the first state to issue what’s essentially a birth certificate to women who’ve had miscarriages. Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Wednesday that will allow the state to start issuing “certificates of nonviable birth” beginning July 1. Under the Grieving Families Act, the state will issue the certificates only if parents request […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

The voting record report is out. Associated Industries of Florida released its 2017 Voting Record report. Published for more than four decades, the annual report is considered one of the definitive legislative scorecards for the business community. This year, the organization calculated more than 208,966 votes on 1,955 bills with 848 legislators. “This session, AIF […]

Phil AmmannMay 31, 2017

Among the five bills signed Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott is HB 865, an omnibus measure that reforms several areas in the Florida Department of Transportation. LobbyTools reports that the bill, in part, mandates the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority to get DOT approval on contracts before receiving department money. The department must also submit a […]

Staff ReportsMay 31, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed five bills into law Wednesday, including legislation providing birth certificates in cases of miscarriage and punishing the desecration of graves. Scott did not explain his reasons in his transmission letter to the secretary of state. HB 101, the Grieving Families Act, would give parents the option of receiving a state-issued certificate […]

Mitch PerryMay 31, 2017

Sarasota Republican Vern Buchanan wants the Department of Justice to begin paying the victims of Bernie Madoff‘s multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme with some of the recovered funds. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Buchanan points out that the victims of Madoff’s crime have yet to receive a penny from the $4 billion victim fund […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2017

In Jacksonville Wednesday for the JAXUSA quarterly luncheon, Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson described the 2017 Legislative Session as a “mixed bag.” “Things in Tallahassee are fairly predictable,” Wilson said, though “frustrating.” Urging those on hand to “have faith in the long-term,” Wilson said that while there’s a “period of time we need to band together […]

Influence

Medical marijuana push continues for Rob Bradley

Personnel note: Laura Cassels joins Rowland Publishing

Lobbyist Doug Bell leaves Buchanan Ingersoll for Metz Husband Daughton

Ballard Partners continues D.C. expansion, adds public policy veteran Rebecca Benn

New Florida law will provide certificates for miscarriages

Associated Industries releases 2017 Voting Record report

Rick Scott signs DOT reform bill

Rick Scott signs Grieving Families Act, plus four other bills, into law

Vern Buchanan tells Justice Department ‘pay up’ for Bernie Madoff victims

Florida Chamber CEO discusses ‘frustrating’ Legislative Session