Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 23, 2015

Once again, the leadership of the Florida Legislature has decided to play politics with women’s health. Case in point, the “mandatory abortion delay” bill. If this bill becomes law, even when a woman has already received state-mandated counseling and made a deliberate and fully informed decision, she will still be forced to wait 24 hours […]

Bruce RitchieApril 23, 2015

A Senate bill amendment to bar legislators from being on the Public Service Commission within two years of leaving office was withdrawn Thursday. Sen. John Legg, a Republican from Lutz, had filed the amendment to SB 288, a PSC bill that was brought up on second reading Thursday. The amendment was withdrawn because of a […]

James CallApril 23, 2015

A potential Florida medical marijuana grower is getting every opportunity to make its case in court. Baywood Nurseries of Apopa insists the proposed rule to enact the 2014 Charlotte’s Web law by the Florida Department of Health is unfair to smaller nurseries: Blocking it from applying for one of five licenses to grow marijuana. The DOH […]

Bruce RitchieApril 23, 2015

Language from a comprehensive House water bill was added on Thursday to other environmental legislation in the House over objections from Democrats. The water bill language lacks key components of the Senate bill that are important to that chamber’s leadership, raising questions about whether the move represents gamesmanship between the two chambers. Some environmentalists say […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Attempting to build up positive momentum in the lead-up to next week’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing on same-sex marriage, a new group has been formed to show the growing bipartisan backing for gay marriage in the Sunshine State. It’s called, Florida Republicans for the Freedom to Marry, a joint effort between Equality Florida and Freedom […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner isn’t making any promises that the Senate will confirm Gov. Rick Scott‘s appointments for agency heads. Gardiner said he couldn’t make any assurances that the Senate will confirm any of the governor’s appointments, including Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek, who transformed the state’s Medicaid program into a mandatory […]

Melissa RossApril 23, 2015

As a conservative Democrat in GOP-leaning Duval County, Mayor Alvin Brown has always had to triangulate. It’s a skill most Florida political observers think he learned from his years Bill Clinton‘s orbit (arguably the most skilled Democrat in history at swimming upstream in the South). Perpetually walking a knife’s edge on taxes and spending, not to mention […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Political science professor Judithanne McLauchlan endured a rough-and-tumble campaign in her first bid for political office in 2014, but the Madeira Beach-based Democrat says her continued frustration with the Florida Legislature is prompting her to seriously consider a run for the Legislature in 2016. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg teacher is looking to run […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

The Senate voted 56-43 Thursday to approve the nomination of Loretta Lynch as U.S. attorney general, ending a more than five-month-long political impasse that had stalled her bid to become the first black woman to lead the Justice Department. Three Republicans senators running for president next year — Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz […]

Phil AmmannApril 23, 2015

Political author Peter Schweizer is already feeling the heat over his much-anticipated book, Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich. The New York Times called Clinton Cash the most “feared book of a presidential cycle still in its infancy.” Schweizer is now becoming […]

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Image via AP.

Julie Hauserman, Laura Goodhue: Florida's legislative leaders don't trust women

PSC/Duke Energy bill teed up for Senate vote after amendment withdrawn

Charlotte’s Web hearing to enter 2nd day; glitch bill still on calendar

House water bill language finds new home as Session winds down

GOP “Freedom to Marry” group forms for SCOTUS same-sex hearing

Rick Scott’s executive appointments may be in trouble after all

LGBT issue forces Jax mayoral candidates to walk political tightrope

Judithanne McLauchlan gives serious thought to HD 69 run

Loretta Lynch loses Marco Rubio’s AG vote over civil forfeiture stance

After Clinton book, author will feel new heat from Jeb Bush exposé