Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMarch 12, 2015

A Mason-Dixon poll publicized by the Florida Greyhound Association finds that nearly seven out of 10 Floridians are opposed to turning increasingly out-of-fashion dog racing tracks into casinos — at least without a referendum. “Floridians are sending a loud message to the Legislature: Don’t turn greyhound tracks into casinos on your own,” said Jim Blanchard, president […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 12, 2015

A strike-everything amendment awaits the House telehealth bill in the House Health Quality Subcommittee on Thursday. The amendment, offered by bill sponsor Rep. Travis Cummings, does not make the bill identical to the Senate measure, CS/SB 478. But the amendment does address a new issue in the telehealth debate: regulation of telehealth products. The House strike-all […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 11, 2015

Former Rep. Jimmy Patronis wants senators to know he can serve on the Florida Public Service Commission and still help run his restaurant in Panama City Beach. PSC Commissioner Julie Brown wants you to know that last fall she didn’t vote for gutting utility energy conservation goals. Both commissioners are going through Senate confirmation for […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 11, 2015

A recurrent criticism of Jacksonville City Council President Clay Yarborough is that he has played politics with the Police and Fire Pension deal that Mayor Alvin Brown and his team have been trying to get through. Council keeps delaying discussion of the measure. As our Kevin Meerschaert reported Tuesday night, Yarborough raised concerns about “mortality tables” that show that retirees are […]

Ryan RayMarch 11, 2015

A smoldering battle in the Florida Legislature over the manner in which four major tobacco companies will have to pay up to more than 4,000 claimants has taken an early step towards its climax: Bills by Sen. Garrett Richter and Rep. David Santiago have escaped the Session slush pile and been referred to committees in both […]

Phil AmmannMarch 11, 2015

A former legislative affairs director in the Rick Scott administration is heading to General Motors to head the automobile giant’s lobbying efforts in Florida. Marlene Williams, 28, will be the new Southeast Regional Manager of State Government Relations, effective Monday. Williams’s role will be to direct state legislative issues affecting GM in the Southeast Region. Based in Tallahassee, Williams will […]

Phil AmmannMarch 11, 2015

A former legislative affairs director in the Rick Scott administration is heading to General Motors to head the automobile giant’s lobbying efforts in Florida. Marlene Williams, 28, will be the new Southeast Regional Manager of State Government Relations, effective Monday. Williams’s role will be to direct state legislative issues affecting GM in the Southeast Region. Based in Tallahassee, Williams will […]

Mitch PerryMarch 11, 2015

One Florida Political Action Committee, the political committee formed by friends of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, has raised more than $60,000 since being created in December. The PAC raised $43,875.15 in February, by far its most prolific month in its short life. Nearly a quarter of that amount, or $10,000, came via a contribution from […]

James CallMarch 11, 2015

OK folks, get your note cards ready because it’s going to start getting complicated quickly. When people say politics is all about the money they are right. The only reason the state Capitol represents a village during the 60-day annual Legislative Session is because billions of dollars are at stake — everyone wants a piece […]

Florence SnyderMarch 11, 2015

By the time reporters like the Miami Herald‘s Mike Sallah and Carol Marbin Miller and Kimberly Miller of The Palm Beach Post took starter jobs at the Boca Raton News, 1960s-era Publisher Gus Harwell was long gone to bigger jobs at Knight Newspapers. However, his legacy as a reporter’s publisher continued to attract top young […]

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The port strike is over — Christmas is saved! Image via AP.

Poll: Floridians oppose converting dog tracks into casinos

Strike-all amendment awaits telehealth bill in House

Jimmy Patronis, Julie Brown slide through committee stop toward PSC confirmation

Bill Scheu: Jax Council President Clay Yarborough needs to step down

Bills to alter tobacco settlements achieve footing in process

Personnel note: Former Rick Scott admin staffer Marlene Williams to lead GM’s Florida lobbying efforts

Personnel note: Former Rick Scott admin staffer Marlene Williams to lead GM's Florida lobbying efforts

February proves lucrative for Bob Buckhorn PAC

The Day That Was in Florida Politics — March 11

Florence Snyder: In loving remembrance of Gus Harwell