Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

The House and Senate are $5 billion apart on Medicaid spending but they appear poised to give an additional $2.6 million to the state Agency for Health Care Administration to cover increased litigation costs. Both the House and Senate budgets contain $2.73 million to hire outside legal counsel in lawsuits. It was exactly what the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio took to the Senate floor Thursday afternoon to lash out at President Barack Obama for failing to congratulate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after his Likud Party victory in Israel’s elections on Tuesday. “In March of 2012, he was among the first to call Putin in Russia,” Rubio said. “Or that […]

Ryan RayMarch 19, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed legislation that will move Florida’s 2016 presidential primaries back two weeks, from March 1 to March 15. Scott’s approval of HB 7035, shepherded by Melbourne Republican Rep. Ritch Workman and Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican of Naples, in their respective legislative chambers, puts Florida in position to take advantage of new […]

Ryan RayMarch 19, 2015

Attorney Erin Grall has announced that prominent Republican lawmaker Sen. Joe Negron has endorsed her candidacy for House District 54. “It is very exciting to launch our campaign with the endorsement of Senator Negron,” said Grall in a Thursday statement. “It is truly an honor to earn the endorsement of a public servant we know so well […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2015

Anthony Pedicini is taking it on the chin right now. The Tampa-based political consultant is being dragged through the mud he otherwise expertly throws because he — let’s be honest here — is doing what almost every other successful political consultant in the state does. As Chris O’Donnell of The Tampa Tribune details, mailers touting […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

Stephen R. Wise served 25 years as a lawmaker, first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989 and term-limited out of the Senate in 2014. Wise was a skillful lawmaker in the area of education, as chairman of both education appropriation and policy committees he would hold up bills until he thought them ready […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

An administrative law judge has scheduled a hearing for April 14 on a rule challenge for the state’s Charlotte’s Web law. Judge Elisabeth W. McArthur has scheduled the hearing for 9:30 a.m at the DeSoto Building in Tallahassee. It’s the second legal challenge filed against the Department of Health over proposed regulations to grow marijuana […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 19, 2015

Environmental groups supporting Amendment 1 on Thursday criticized a Senate chairman’s spending proposal that provides $22 million for land acquisition. Amendment 1, approved by 75% of Florida voters in November, provides an estimated $741.8 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation programs. Sen. Alan Hays, chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

The Tampa City Council has an election every year to choose a new chair. The majority has chosen the status quo in recent years, continuing to choose longtime member Charlie Miranda as their leader, with nary a vote for the board’s other six members. That lack of leadership diversity has bothered a few members of […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 19, 2015

At a media availability Thursday with a group of supporters on Jacksonville’s Northbank Riverwalk in the recently revitalized Brooklyn neighborhood, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown unveiled a list of 100 accomplishments during the the last four years in Jacksonville. He argued strenuously that he has been a nonpartisan mayor who has put Jacksonville first, a “conservative Democrat” […]

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Image via AP.

House, Senate agree to hire more lawyers to defend more Medicaid lawsuits

Marco Rubio lambastes Obama for failing “to respect” Benjamin Netanyahu

Rick Scott signs presidential primary date push-back into law

Erin Grall announces Joe Negron support for her House race

A defense of my friend, political consultant Anthony Pedicini

4th Floor Files talks with Steve Wise about shoes, spaghetti, and Ronald Reagan

Charlotte’s Web hearing scheduled for April 14

Environmental groups criticize “hostility” in Senate Amendment 1 spending proposal

Tampa Council argues diversity vs. status quo in who will lead

Alvin Brown touts his 100 accomplishments and thanks Bill Bishop