Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressMarch 23, 2015

President Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton met privately at the White House Monday afternoon. The White House says the former rivals-turned-colleagues met for about an hour and discussed a range of issues. Obama and Clinton have met occasionally since she left the administration in 2013 after serving as secretary of state. Monday’s meeting comes […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2015

Staff problems in Florida prisons are bad, but parole officers might have it even worse. Although Florida state prisons have received a lot of attention lately, slashed budgets in the Department of Corrections probation and parole divisions have a potential to cause bigger problems. WTSP/10 Investigates is reporting on a months-long study that found probation […]

James CallMarch 23, 2015

One Monday in Florida politics the Senate had the Capitol to itself while the House traveled back to Tallahassee. As Senate committees considered three separate tax-cut proposals, Gov. Rick Scott started a “Cut My Taxes Week” by setting up a booth in the state Capitol where an average Florida family can calculate its savings from different […]

Peter SchorschMarch 23, 2015

Sometimes, the little bills are the good ones. Sometimes, the bills that don’t involve eye-catching headlines or involve hot-button issues like guns on campus, how to use Amendment 1 money, or who should check the genitalia of folks using the bathroom, often get little notice. It’s that way with the effort to ban Palcohol. On one hand, […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2015

Sen. Jeff Brandes‘ SB 934, which preempts local governments from creating labor agreements with contractors containing certain wage, residency or diversity requirements, found an unlikely “No” vote in Senate Community Affairs this afternoon: Brandes himself. The vote was part of a legislative maneuver undertaken by Brandes to bring his bill back from the dead. After […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 23, 2015

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On Saturday evening, we broke the story of Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown having what euphemistically can be called an animated discussion with members of the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC. Today, we’re breaking the story of a shakeup within the PAC, as one of its founding members, Ben Weaver, stepped down amidst a disagreement with the group […]

Marc YachtMarch 23, 2015

Joseph Nye Welch was the head counsel for the United States Army under investigation during Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s, Army-McCarthy hearings. McCarthy had just grilled a young Harvard lawyer when Welch commented to McCarthy: “Until this moment, Senator, I think I have never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness…. Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 23, 2015

A measure that would allow school employees and volunteers to carry guns on school campuses was approved by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice on Monday. The measure is being sponsored in the House by Sarasota Republican Greg Steube, as HB 19, and in the Senate by Greg Evers from Baker, as as SB 180, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 23, 2015

A bill aimed at shining a light on human trafficking breezed through the Senate Criminal Justice Subcommittee Monday with unanimous approval. Clearwater Sen. Jack Latvala’s bill requires that signs including the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline and text numbers be posted throughout the state. Those locations include rest areas and welcome centers, airports and […]

Melissa RossMarch 23, 2015

Facing strong challenges in Tuesday’s election, incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown said he’s confident — and that he’s fulfilled the campaign promises from four years ago that made him a come-from-behind winner in Jacksonville’s 2011 mayoral race. “I made a promise that I would streamline government, that we would live within our means, put Jacksonville back […]

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Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton meet privately at White House

WTSP: Probation officers outline “dangerous” staffing crisis at DOC

The day that was in the Florida politics — March 23

Powdered alcohol … the next date rape drug?

Local government labor contracts bill narrowly cheats death

Shakeup in NE FL LGBT Leadership PAC: Ben Weaver steps down

Marc Yacht: 47 Senate signatures defy President Barack Obama

Senate panel OKs bill to allow school workers to carry guns on campus

Jack Latvala’s anti-human trafficking bill moves in Senate panel

Alvin Brown’s final argument: “The key is keeping your promise”