Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressMarch 25, 2015

Guns, gun rights and gun owners are getting plenty of attention in the Florida Legislature this year, including what may be some nice tax breaks. A tax cut package proposed in the state House would exempt gun and skeet shooting club membership fees from sales taxes and provide a tax holiday July 4 for camping […]

Phil AmmannMarch 25, 2015

To bring much-needed pain relief to Floridians who suffer from a variety of ailments, medical marijuana supporters must first navigate a “snake pit” of state politics, according to Bill Day‘s latest editorial cartoon. Let’s hope Florida residents will not be the ones to get bit. The Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, signed by Gov. Rick Scott […]

Gary FineoutMarch 25, 2015

Amid continued backlash over Florida’s testing regimen, the state may stop holding back third grade students who fail the state’s standardized tests. If Florida lawmakers agree to the change, it would mark a major departure from a policy pushed into law by then-Gov. Jeb Bush who decried “social promotion” when he campaigned for governor. Bush […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 25, 2015

Budget chief Sen. Tom Lee said on Wednesday that tax cuts and member projects will be put on hold in the Senate until there is a resolution of whether Florida will receive additional Medicaid supplemental funding to help pay hospitals, federally qualified health centers and Medicaid HMOs. After a marathon seven-plus-hour meeting where the committee […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

Wednesday at the state Capitol we learned that when the House and Senate begin talking to each other about a state budget what the focus of the discussion will be. We’ve watched the respective leaders draw lines in the sand. And we’ve seen the positions harden. And now, as we approach the midpoint of the […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

A Senate budget amendment that would have provided $350 million for land-buying was withdrawn Wednesday but the senator who sponsored it said it could come back. In November, 75 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative called Amendment 1 that provides an estimated $741 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation. The proposed Senate budget […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2015

We were the first to report that Republican Jimmy Holderfield, who lost narrowly in Jacksonville’s First Election Tuesday to Mike Williams and Ken Jefferson, is holding off on endorsing either of his opponents at the present time. That said, endorsements now are starting to fall into place. To no one’s surprise who saw their convivial interactions at forums, Lonnie McDonald has […]

Shannon NickinsonMarch 25, 2015

It’s almost time to let the tilt-a-whirl of state standardized testing spin anew. Next week, Escambia County students will begin Florida Standards Assessment testing in reading and mathematics. Santa Rosa students will start their testing in April. Third- and fourth-graders will take the tests on paper. For fifth-graders on up, the tests will be online. […]

Sally SwartzMarch 25, 2015

A controversial $1.6 million customs facility business owners wanted Martin County to build and operate at Witham Field is dead. The facility would have allowed aircraft and boat owners to pay to clear customs at Martin’s airport instead of checking in for free at federal facilities in West Palm Beach or Fort Pierce. Last week, […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 25, 2015

While they are far apart on Medicaid funding, both the House and Senate budgets have money enough to fund more residency slots to train physicians to help abate a looming shortfall in specialties such as psychiatry, general surgery, thoracic surgery and rheumatology. The House budget appropriates nearly $3.8 million in total funds for graduate medical […]

Uncategorized

House bill would give tax break to gun buyers, club members

Bill Day’s latest: Charlotte’s Web and the political snake pit

Florida may promote 3rd graders who fail standardized tests

No supplemental Medicaid dollars? Then no tax breaks says Senate budget chief

The day that was in Florida politics — March 25

Budget amendment for land-buying withdrawn but may be back, senator says

Lonnie McDonald endorses Mike Williams for Jax sheriff

Shannon Nickinson: High-stakes testing thrill ride ready to resume

Sally Swartz: Customs facility at Witham Field 'fails at the starting gate'

House, Senate budgets take baby steps to funding additional doctors’ residencies