Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Pressed by legislators, a state environmental official said Wednesday she doesn’t expect Florida to forward to federal officials a plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions without getting approval by the Legislature. President Barack Obama in 2014 issued his Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. Industry […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Pressed by legislators, a state environmental official said Wednesday she doesn’t expect Florida to forward to federal officials a plan for reducing carbon dioxide emissions without getting approval by the Legislature. President Barack Obama in 2014 issued his Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels. Industry […]

Ryan RayMarch 4, 2015

A new poll released Wednesday by the Florida Chamber of Commerce suggests that although voters are growing more confident of the direction the state is going, they still have deep reservations about the federal government’s stewardship. “Our results show Floridians are more confident in Florida’s economy,” said Marian Johnson, the Chamber’s senior vice president of political strategy. […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 4, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to President Barack Obama Wednesday advising Obama that he will not use state dollars to “backfill” any loss of federal “low income pool” or LIP money used to both help pay for health care programs and to train doctors. Scott assumed the funding would be intact when he crafted his […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 4, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott sent a letter to President Barack Obama Wednesday advising Obama that he will not use state dollars to “backfill” any loss of federal “low income pool” or LIP money used to both help pay for health care programs and to train doctors. Scott assumed the funding would be intact when he crafted his […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida announced Wednesday it’s forming a “Florida Mineral Rights Working Group” to focus on oil and gas production — with no mention of the even more controversial idea of offshore drilling. The announcement comes as legislation (SB 166/HB 169) has been filed to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which is a process […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 4, 2015

With bills in both the Florida House and Senate having been filed this session to legalize marijuana for personal use, along with the continuing Charlotte’s Web debate, it seemed inevitable that someone would attempt a “medical necessity” defense for growing marijuana. What seemed less inevitable is that it worked. The Sun-Sentinel reports that a Broward County jury […]

Mitch PerryMarch 4, 2015

Mayor Bob Buckhorn may be neutral about the idea, but the business community is all in when it comes to the possibility of Tampa landing a Cuban consulate. Last week, the board of directors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce unanimously endorsed re-establishing a secure Cuban consulate in the Tampa/Hillsborough County area when relations […]

Phil AmmannMarch 4, 2015

As the 2015 Legislative Session begins in earnest, Florida lawmakers will once again consider a “New Deal” to reform gambling statewide. Despite the best intentions of Tallahassee lawmakers, expanded gambling in Florida will always result in higher crime and taxes on residents, says a new ad launching today by the anti-gambling coalition No Casinos. A […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 4, 2015

The MyVillage Project Sheriff’s Forum at the IBEW Union Hall on Jacksonville’s Eastside last night, moderated by Dawn Lopez, was the second attempt in a week for the field of Sheriff’s candidates to introduce themselves and field concerns from the local African-American community. The first was at the Supervisor of Elections sponsored St. Paul’s AME Church […]

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Florida DEP says Legislature will get shot at state’s carbon plan

Florida DEP says Legislature will get shot at state's carbon plan

Florida Chamber poll shows voters bullish on state government, less so on feds

Rick Scott warns Barack Obama that he won’t use state dollars to “backfill” LIP loss

Rick Scott warns Barack Obama that he won't use state dollars to "backfill" LIP loss

Associated Industries of FL working group to discuss onshore oil and gas production

Medical necessity defense succeeds in South Florida marijuana case

Tampa Chamber supports bringing Cuban consulate to Tampa

No Casinos launches campaign blasting new gambling reform bill

Fireworks at Jacksonville Sheriff’s forum on Eastside