Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 15, 2015

Try as we might, there is no way to hide from two guarantees in life: death and taxes. In the digital age, Internet advocates say Florida lawmakers are taking on death, to make sure privacy rights die with you. NetChoice — a trade association of online businesses and consumers — Wednesday announced its latest Internet […]

Melissa RossApril 15, 2015

St. Augustine’s 450th commemoration this fall may include a visit from Felipe IV and Letizia, the King and Queen of Spain. Not only that, the organizers are seeking a papal designation for the event. “We are celebrating the Spanish founding of America,” said Dana Ste. Claire, director of the 450th Commemoration. “The King and Queen of Spain are very […]

James CallApril 15, 2015

Lawmakers are blazing at least three trails in an attempt to make medical marijuana available in Florida. The latest effort comes Wednesday when Rep. Matt Gaetz will try to amend HB 269, the Right to Try Act, to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana under certain conditions. The measure filed by Rep. Ray Pilon […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

Six Republicans in Florida’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the acing director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on April 14 saying that supplemental Medicaid funding should not be held “hostage” for a statewide expansion of Medicaid. The letter — singed by US Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Gus Bilirakis, Congressman Curt […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

It was eight years ago today, April 15, 2007, when Barack Obama made his first appearance ever in Tampa. Obama appeared at the Cuban Club in Ybor City on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, giving a speech from the outdoor plaza after the famed Florida A&M marching band opened the program. But according to Tampa City […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 15, 2015

If conservative activists got together, held a Frank Luntz style focus group, and created a candidate from a prototype, he would look a lot like United States Representative Ron DeSantis, who looks very much like he’s going to run to replace Marco Rubio in the Senate. Check the boxes. Young. A telegenic wife. An Iraq War veteran. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The session-long drama over health care and Medicaid expansion may peak today when a Senate panel considers the confirmation of Liz Dudek, the head of the agency that oversees Medicaid. Dudek rolled through a previous committee stop, but a flurry of finger-pointing regarding negotiations between the federal government and the state over the last two […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida is the only state with more than 600 black bears that doesn’t allow bear hunting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff said in opening remarks during a commission meeting Wednesday in Tallahassee. And 32 of the nation’s 41 states with black bears allow hunting, said Diane Eggeman, director of FWC’s Division of Hunting […]

Mitch PerryApril 15, 2015

Although David Jolly has now publicly stated that he won’t make an official decision about leaving his congressional seat to run for the U.S. Senate until the Fourth of July holiday, you can bet he and his advisers are weighing the pros and cons of such a decision right now. One of his calculations simply has to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 15, 2015

March fundraising numbers for Jacksonville campaigns show surprises in the mayoral race and PAC accounts. Though the most interesting narrative is that of Alvin Brown‘s fundraising, there are other strands worth mentioning. The big story for some observers, such as David Bauerlein with the The Florida Times-Union, was Shad Khan dropping $100K into Brown’s Taking Jacksonville […]

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Florida leads iAWFUL list with bill to end privacy rights after death

Visit by Spain’s royal couple foreseen for St. Augustine’s 450th birthday

Rep. Matt Gaetz makes move on medical marijuana

Congressional Republicans send letter to to Feds: Don’t hold LIP hostage

Tampa City Council poised to vote on requesting city hosts U.S.-Cuba signing ceremony

Ron DeSantis: NE Florida’s best hope for the Senate?

Florida’s health care chief on hot seat as Senate considers her confirmation

Dramatic increase in conflicts led to bear hunting proposal, FWC chairman says

How CD 13 race might shake out if David Jolly runs for U.S. Senate

March fundraising in Jacksonville campaigns reveals surprises