Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

For the second session in a row, Jerry Holland, the outgoing Supervisor of Elections, sits in with Sam Mousa and the budget “swat team.” 9:04: Ron Littlepage is in the house for the T-U. 9:07: Holland discusses the cyclical nature of the SOE budget. Going from three elections to two elections in a year cuts the SOE budget. […]

Peter SchorschJune 16, 2015

It’s a great day in Tampa Bay. Aided by a last-minute infusion of cash that went to projects backed by the state’s Republican leaders, Florida legislators late Monday night reached a deal on a nearly $80 billion budget for the state. Included in the budget is money for several key projects in the downtowns of […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

The second day of Sam Mousa‘s review of Jacksonville municipal departmental budgets continues with a half hour sojourn through the Property Appraiser budget. And we are blogging this and every session today. For a recap of Monday’s action, go here. 8:30: We are the only media here. As ever, we appreciate the opportunity. 8:35: Incoming Property Appraiser Jerry […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2015

Good morning again from the Parkway Inn in Miami Springs, where the sun has yet to rise … Big late-night news out of Tallahassee, where we apparently have a budget deal. With that $80 billion budget comes the announcement of a number of local projects receiving funding. For officials in Tampa, their fears were partially […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2015

For those looking for a peek behind the curtain of a municipal budget process, there is no better place to be than City Hall in Jacksonville for the next three days, as Sam Mousa will go through the budgets of every department in Jacksonville government. After a period when it seemed like these meetings might […]

Julie DelegalJune 15, 2015

State Rep. Mia Jones tried. In the spirit of compromise, the Democrat from Jacksonville moved right to embrace the health care-expansion plan backed by the Florida Senate: the Florida Healthcare Affordability Insurance Exchange, aka FHIX. Jones told The Jacksonville Times-Union that she had set aside her doubts about the plan and would “stand on the […]

Sally SwartzJune 15, 2015

Don’t try to control or shut off public comments at Martin County Commission meetings, residents told commissioners at a workshop last week. Commissioners had planned the workshop — a discussion with no official action — away from TV cameras to talk about new “rules of procedure,” which commissioners adopt each year at a November organizational […]

Guest AuthorJune 15, 2015

Let’s list the reasons why the Florida A&M University board of trustees’ is a total farce. No, it’s too much labor. Better to say the infestation of egos has made that board the laughingstock of state university boards of trustees. Or should. Chairman Rufus Montgomery again has found a way to interject his sexist machismo […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2015

The fourth and final section of Monday’s Transition Task Force budget review was a romp through the Public Works budget. For any of the previous three budget liveblogs, check our site’s Local tab. The Transition Task Force has three more days of this, as the Lenny Curry team begins its budget process on a departmental review […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2015

Hours before Jeb Bush was to go before thousands of supporters and formally declaring his candidacy for president, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and a few local progressive activists assailed Bush as nothing more than a right-wing Tea Party-following member of the Republican Party. “Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush are fully embracing the entire […]

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Jax Transition budget review: Supervisor of Elections

With funding directed to major downtown projects, Tampa Bay waking up to exciting news in state budget

Jax Transition budget review: Property Appraiser

Mitch Perry Report for 5.16.15 — USF downtown medical plans get partial OK

Day 1 of Sam Mousa’s budget review is over. What’s next in day 2?

Julie Delegal: Health care defeated by politics of personal resentment

Sally Swartz: County commission’s new rules fall flat with residents

Chris Timmons: FAMU trustees’ egos fail school’s best interests

Jacksonville Transition Task Force Budget Review: Public Works

Debbie Wasserman Schultz says Jeb Bush only looks out for himself and people like him