Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 5, 2015

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House Republican leaders praised a water policy bill they passed Thursday as a good start while the chamber’s Democratic leader called it bad legislation and joined environmentalists in hoping for a better version from the Senate. HB 7003 passed the House 106 to 9 on the third day of the legislative session after about 45 […]

Phil AmmannMarch 5, 2015

Veteran broadcaster and communications expert Trimmel Gomes announced Thursday his newest venture, The Rotunda, a weekly podcast focusing on the people and stories shaping Florida politics. The inaugural episode, available Friday on iTunes and other platforms, gives listeners an overview of opening week of the 2015 Legislative Session. Issues will include such as the infamous […]

Mitch PerryMarch 5, 2015

Florida will be short nearly 7,000 doctors by 2025 if more residency programs are not created throughout the state to keep up with demand, according to a study released by the Florida Safety Net Hospital Alliance and the Teaching Hospital Council last month. Physicians trained in psychiatry, general surgery, rheumatology, cancer treatment, and thoracic surgery will likely […]

Peter SchorschMarch 5, 2015

Today’s chapter of the “4th Floor Files” talks with attorney and lobbyist Sean Pittman, named one of the Top Twenty-Five Most Influential People in Tallahassee by the Tallahassee Democrat. In addition to his lobbying and legal practices, Pittman also co-hosts “The Usual Suspects,” one of North Florida’s and South Georgia’s premier weekly political talk shows. […]

Melissa RossMarch 5, 2015

Using the newly completed Southbank Riverwalk as a location with the city’s Main Street Bridge as a backdrop on Thursday, Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown assembled a group of local business leaders to make the economic case for his re-election. After glowing introductions from local business owners, Brown stepped to the mike and touted his record […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 5, 2015

The Lenny Curry and Alvin Brown campaigns disagree about a lot of issues, with a central one being public safety and crime. The Curry campaign sent out mailers this week spotlighting the Republican’s public safety plan and reminding Duval voters that Sheriff John Rutherford backs Curry in this month’s election. Before that, though, Fabien Levy of the Brown campaign made claims that […]

Ryan RayMarch 5, 2015

Despite difficult economic times over the last few years and an obstinate stance against Medicaid expansion among the Florida House majority, you might expect safety-net hospitals to struggle to turn a profit. Not so, according to Phil Galewitz in Kaiser Health News: So-called safety-net hospitals, many of which are supported by local or county taxpayers, often […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 5, 2015

In a new mailer, Lenny Curry touts his commitment to “reducing crime to make Jacksonville safer.” It features a quote from Sheriff John Rutherford asserting that “Lenny Curry is the guy that’s going to take us on the right road,” and spotlights his plan to prioritize public safety, support local law enforcement, and build connections between police and […]

Associated PressMarch 5, 2015

Republican state lawmakers on Thursday blasted President Barack Obama‘s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, saying it will only serve to empower the communist nation that’s been ruled by a dictatorship since 1959. Republican members of the House Local & Federal Affairs Committee speaking before a nearly empty meeting room gave forceful speeches in […]

Associated PressMarch 5, 2015

Republican state lawmakers on Thursday blasted President Barack Obama‘s decision to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, saying it will only serve to empower the communist nation that’s been ruled by a dictatorship since 1959. Republican members of the House Local & Federal Affairs Committee speaking before a nearly empty meeting room gave forceful speeches in […]

Uncategorized

House water bill passes as critics hope for better Senate legislation

Trimmel Gomes launches “The Rotunda” weekly political podcast

Kathy Castor teams up with Republican to address looming doctor shortage

4th Floor Files talks to Sean Pittman about compassion, Gretna and the Big Bend Minority Chamber

Alvin Brown appears with business leaders, touts economic record

John Rutherford fires back at Alvin Brown crime claims

Health care expansion or not, safety net hospitals fared well in 2014

Lenny Curry mailer touts crime reduction plan, John Rutherford endorsement

Florida lawmakers criticize Obama's changes to Cuba policy

Florida lawmakers criticize Obama’s changes to Cuba policy