Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 24, 2015

Legislation being debated in Tallahassee — SB 728 — will raise costs for the state’s employers, consumers and public programs, while offering no clinical benefit to patients. In an effort to lower prescription drug abuse, the bill forces health plans to cover the most expensive brand name opioids even when more affordable generics are available. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 24, 2015

The Florida Senate has not backed off its position that working uninsured Floridians need to have access to health insurance and that the Medicaid supplemental program known as Low Income Pool should remain intact. In a counteroffer to the House’s offer to put $200 million into health care financing the Senate held firm on its […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2015

When it comes to legalizing medical marijuana, it may once again rest in the hands of Florida voters. With only days left in the regular 2015 Legislative Session, a new email from United for Care says legislators are seemingly satisfied with running out the clock on comprehensive medical marijuana laws. The legislative session ends May 1, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2015

Lenny Curry has pulled ahead of incumbent Alvin Brown in the Jacksonville mayoral race, a poll by Curry’s consulting firm indicates. As Melissa Ross reported Friday afternoon, “a polling document” provided to FloridaPolitics.com by Curry’s consultant Data Targeting Research contends that the Republican’s “positive name recognition continues to steadily increase and for the first time – in our […]

James CallApril 24, 2015

Patricia Nelson, director of the Florida Office of Compassionate Use, spent most of her Friday morning on the defensive. What kept her busy was justifying the plan to regulate the state’s nascent marijuana industry. For three hours and 10 minutes, attorneys for Baywood Nurseries of Apopka grilled Nelson about licensing requirements to grow marijuana and […]

Melissa RossApril 24, 2015

Choosing the classic Avondale café The Fox to illustrate the point, Mayor Alvin Brown joined the restaurant’s owner Ian Chase for a news conference touting his support for an increase in the local minimum wage. Denying the move was an electioneering strategy, Brown told reporters he supports raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, saying it […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 24, 2015

District 8 Councilwoman Denise Lee is a loyal Democrat, but she has a message for Alvin Brown regarding his recent radio ad, heard exclusively on local black radio: It’s “race-baiting” and “should be pulled.” “It is race-baiting,” Lee said in a telephone interview Friday afternoon. “I understand that a campaign is war,” but these “race-baiting tactics” are […]

Bruce RitchieApril 24, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi forwarded to the Florida Supreme Court on Friday a proposed constitutional amendment that would promote solar energy use. Floridians for Solar Choice proposes a constitutional amendment that would promote local, small-scale solar energy production and prohibit barriers to solar energy. The group collected enough petition signatures for Florida Supreme Court review but […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign will be kicking off a major grassroots organizing effort starting next week, sending staffers to all 50 states in the country to begin building up a network of volunteers to start getting selling the message on a Clinton candidacy. It’s being called the “Ramp up Grassroots Organizing Program,” and will be led […]

Associated PressApril 24, 2015

A University of Florida fraternity has expelled three of its members after allegations that they spat at a group of disabled military veterans at a Panama City resort. Zeta Beta Tau Executive Director Laurence Bolotin said in a statement on Friday that the group made the expulsions after finding that its members behaved inappropriately. The […]

Uncategorized

Mark Merritt: Legislation would raise costs, fail to reduce prescription drug abuse

Senate counters House with Medicaid expansion; other health care items may be in play

Email insights: For medical marijuana legalization, there’s always 2016

Poll: Lenny Curry ahead in Jax mayoral race

Compassionate Use director grilled 3 hours on Charlotte’s Web rule

Alvin Brown calls for minimum wage increase

Denise Lee: Alvin Brown radio ad is “race-baiting,” should be pulled

Pam Bondi sends solar amendment to FL Supreme Court

Hillary Clinton campaign about to ramp up in Florida

Univ. of Florida frat expels 3 over insults to wounded vets