Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossApril 15, 2015

Appearing in front of a fire station on the city’s Northwest Side, Mayor Alvin Brown touted the endorsements of the city’s Brotherhood of Police Officers and Firefighters, saying he’s got the better plan to improve Jacksonville’s public safety. The organizations primarily represent African-American police and fire personnel. As recently as December, their blessings were not […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida’s wildlife commission voted Wednesday to move forward with a rule to allow bear hunting in response to bear attacks and other encounters in urban areas. Florida had nearly 3,000 black bears in 2002, and they were removed from the state threatened species list in 2012. Bear hunting was banned by the state in 1994 […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

One day after receiving a letter from the federal government advising that uncompensated care pools were not a wise use of federal tax payer dollars, Florida’s leading Medicaid official fired off a letter Wednesday to the Department of Health and Human Services accusing the federal government of coercing Florida into expanding its Medicaid program. The […]

Phil AmmannApril 15, 2015

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Will Weatherford is the latest Florida Republican who will not run for Marco Rubio‘s U.S. Senate seat in 2016. Citing family obligations, the former House Speaker made the announcement Wednesday afternoon on Facebook: “There are many good candidates looking at a run for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat next year but I will not be […]

Phil AmmannApril 15, 2015

After 100 days of the 114th Congress, where Republicans control the Senate, three GOP senators, each presidential hopefuls — including Marco Rubio – have begun White House bids. As the campaign trail heats up, NextGen Climate scrutinized Rubio’s record on environmental issues, as well as that of recently announced presidential candidates Sens. Ted Cruz of […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

On Tax Day, Marco Rubio and Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Lee appeared at the Heritage Foundation in Washington to discuss their much-hyped tax reform package, called the Economic Growth and Family Fairness Tax Reform Plan. “This is not a middle-class tax hike, this is a middle-class tax cut,” Lee said in his opening remarks, streamed […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

As the House met in full session Wednesday morning, patient advocates were abuzz about a new amendment allowing terminally ill patients to use medicinal marijuana. Rep. Matt Gaetz tried to attach it to the bill that would create the Right to Try Act, which would allow patients to use experimental drugs and devices that have completed […]

Ryan RayApril 15, 2015

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A lengthy debate over a lobbying ethics reform bill ended with with former Senate President Don Gaetz moving to TP his own bill. The proposal — Gaetz’s SB 1372 — would tighten many restrictions on lobbying in Florida. Most notably, it would hold Gov. Rick Scott‘s brainchild — Enterprise Florida Inc., housed within another Scott innovation in […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

A new poll published by Public Policy Polling shows Florida Republicans Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio need to do a lot of work to become competitive in New Hampshire, the site of the first Republican Presidential Primary election, next January. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is looking very strong, leading with 24 percent support. That’s 10 percent […]

Associated PressApril 15, 2015

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio launched his Republican presidential campaign this week with a promise to reject “the leaders and ideas of the past.” It was a not-so-subtle jab from a 43-year-old fresh-faced senator at his likely 2016 competitors, Republican Jeb Bush and Democrat Hillary Clinton, whose families cemented political dynasties in the 1990s. A closer […]

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Jacksonville’s black firefighters, police endorse Alvin Brown

FWC OKs bear-hunting proposal, final vote in June

Top Medicaid official warns feds not to “coerce” state into expansion

Will Weatherford not running for Marco Rubio’s Senate seat in 2016

NextGen Climate blasts Marco Rubio on climate change record

Marco Rubio defends his tax plan at Heritage

House joins medical marijuana debate this session

Lobbying ethics bill stumbles in Senate Rules

New PPP survey shows Jeb Bush in trouble in New Hampshire

Marco Rubio draws from past despite future focus