Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayApril 7, 2015

As she portrayed her SB 840 as a mostly technical bill that simply clears up a legal conflict currently circulating in the courts, Sen. Eleanor Sobel probably was not prepared for the maelstrom of criticism from both parties that befell her effort. Following an easy and perfunctory confirmation process for a score of various agency officials — a process that […]

Peter SchorschApril 7, 2015

Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 742. As Sen. Nancy Detert pointed out, “ticket wars” happen session after session. The battle has traditionally been viewed as a power struggle between Ticketmaster and StubHub. This year, things have changed. Sen. Wilton Simpson amended his bill in committee and stated that with the changes, this […]

Gary FineoutApril 7, 2015

A push to bring Las Vegas-styled resort casinos to South Florida is once again being rejected by the state Legislature. The idea was a long shot from the start, but a top House Republican on Tuesday filed a revamped gambling proposal that drops any mention of casinos. House Majority Leader Dana Young kicked off the […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

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With the 2016 presidential race off and running, the growing controversy over Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton’s prohibited use of a private email account and server to conduct her official business as Secretary of State is certainly not going away soon. Initially, the controversy centered around whether Clinton set up the account and intentionally violated the […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is, in the words of Einstein, the definition of insanity. Unfortunately for Floridians, so too are the calls today to expand our state’s Medicaid system under the Affordable Care Act. After decades of failed reforms, this $450 billion federal healthcare system remains woefully […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2015

Can it matter that a famous actress will play a drone pilot on stage in New York and play it as a troubled murderer with an updated effort to wash out the damn spot of blood on her famous hands? With permanent war declared the norm and entirely acceptable, only a generation removed from wisdom […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

A Senate committee on Tuesday OK’d a bill amendment to provide for financing the shutdown of the Crystal River nuclear plant to save Duke Energy Florida customers more than $600 million. SB 288 was a bill that primarily strengthened ethics requirements for the Florida Public Service Commission. But Sen. Jack Latvala, a Clearwater Republican and […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 7, 2015

Health care has been extremely partisan in the Legislature these days but on Tuesday there was an unusual bipartisan concern expressed over a bill that would limit taxing districts authority to levy ad valorem taxes if they have too many outstanding unpaid claims. The bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee but Republicans and Democrats both […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorApril 7, 2015

More news on Florida’s war on potheads. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee unanimously approved a “blunt wrap” tax Tuesday. The type of rolling paper used to wrap cigars (or giant marijuana joints) would be subject to tobacco taxes under the proposed law. Here’s the deal: Lawmakers really, really wants to tax your blunt wrappers. But they’ve […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 7, 2015

On a humid Tuesday afternoon in Jacksonville at the Baseball Grounds, Republican Rob Schoonover formally endorsed Democratic Sheriff’s candidate Ken Jefferson. Schoonover finished sixth in March’s First Election. Mark Kerrin, who opened a campaign account but did not actually run, also appeared. Along with Jimmy Holderfield, who endorsed Jefferson last week, the joint appearance of the four created […]

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Ron DeSantis. Image via Rumble.

Write-in residency requirements bill goes down in bipartisan flames

Peter Schorsch: Florida ticket-buyers need consumer protection

Dana Young unveils new, retooled House gaming proposal

Steve Kurlander: Hillary Clinton makes the case for government secrecy

Chris Hudson: Florida needs better alternative to Medicaid expansion

David Swanson: Can Anne Hathaway's 'Grounded' ground war drones?

Panel OK’s Duke Energy deal; Jack Latvala says he couldn’t “find holes” in it

House bill would make hospital taxing districts liable for unsettled claims

Legislature wants to tax your blunt wrappers

2 more GOP apostates endorse Democrat Ken Jefferson