Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

A pair of Florida legislative leaders will be taking a break from official business to act as “dueling celebrity bartenders” for charity Wednesday at a Tallahassee fundraiser. It’s the inaugural Red Dog/Blue Dog Bipartisan Celebrity Bartender event, beginning 6:30 p.m. at Madison Social in Tallahassee. Until 8 p.m., Fort Walton Beach Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

A House panel takes up a disputed bill that would allow select employees and volunteers to carry guns at public schools. HB 19 gets its debut hearing Wednesday with the K-12 Subcommittee. Supporters of the bill, filed by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube, say it improves school safety. If passed, the measure would allow school […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

A House committee on Wednesday will take up the bill seeking an overhaul of Florida’s red-light camera (RLC) laws, part of which would ban citations for motorists making right turns. PCB HWSS 15-05, in front of the House Highway & Waterway Safety Subcommittee, would change the state’s red-light camera law passed in 2010. In addition […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

On Tuesday, a Florida House panel killed a bill attempting to overhaul the Florida Medicaid program that provides dental care for children. With a 6-to-6 tie, the House Health Innovation Subcommittee shelved HB 601, filed by Tequesta Republican Rep. MaryLynn Magar. In the state’s new Medicaid managed-care structure, HMOs and other plans are responsible for offering […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 10, 2015

There’s infighting among the “business” ranks this session on the health care front. By the second week of session it’s clear that National Federation of Independent Business, Florida; the Florida Chamber; and Associated Industries of Florida differ on how Florida should approach the loss of federal Medicaid finding that’s used to pay hospitals and federally […]

James CallMarch 10, 2015

No movement Tuesday in clearing up confusion over next year’s state budget. While state economists counted up how much money Florida will have to spend for the year beginning July 1, the stances of the players involved seemed to harden. The Revenue Estimating Conference met but by sunset had yet to release the report lawmakers will […]

Guest AuthorMarch 10, 2015

I’ve often heard the saying that “those who refuse to study history are destined to repeat it.” Well, what about those who refuse to examine the present? Recently, the director of the Children and Adults Health Programs in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) at CMS revealed what those of us in the world of […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 10, 2015

A bill that would place a renewable energy tax exemption amendment on the ballot in 2016 passed their its committee stop on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity-Florida held a press conference to its opposition to a different proposed amendment dealing with solar energy. SB 400, from St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, would extend a residential […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 10, 2015

A bill that would place a renewable energy tax exemption amendment on the ballot in 2016 passed their its committee stop on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity-Florida held a press conference to its opposition to a different proposed amendment dealing with solar energy. SB 400, from St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes, would extend a residential […]

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott is pushing back against a report on Sunday claiming an “unwritten rule” in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) banned the terms “climate change” and “global warming” in official communications. “It’s not true,” Scott said, writes the Miami Herald. “Let’s look at what we’ve accomplished. … Significant investments in beach renourishment […]

Uncategorized

Matt Gaetz, Alan Williams to “duel” for pet charity

School gun bill gets House panel debut Wednesday

House panel to consider changing state red-light camera law

House panel kills bill to change Medicaid dental programs for children

Business leaders find no unity on health care this session

The Day That Was in Florida Politics – March 10

Sal Nuzzo: We who oppose federal socialized medicine salute you!

Jeff Brandes' renewable bills pass first stop, group opposes solar amendment

Jeff Brandes’ renewable bills pass first stop, group opposes solar amendment

Former UF doctoral student told to remove “climate change” from paper