Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannFebruary 24, 2015

A lot of times what one sees at the state Capitol depends on one’s point of view. A spectator’s voter registration card can very well indicate whether he’s watching a war on public education or an attempt to improve students’ learning gains. It’s a bit like the adage about a glass of water. Every now […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2015

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor says there are still ways for House Republicans to pass a clean funding bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security, which could run out of money by Friday if a resolution isn’t passed in Congress. The Tampa Bay area Democrat held a press conference Tuesday in a parking lot […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2015

One of the hot shares among a certain subset of social-media savvy Jacksonville residents the other day was a Miami Herald piece (“Jacksonville’s Reinvented Downtown Flares with Fun”) extolling the virtues of a rejuvenated downtown Jacksonville. The downtown renaissance has been one of the signature achievements of the Alvin Brown administration. With that in mind, a […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 24, 2015

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On Tuesday, Florida reached a milestone in the growing battle for fair, equitable and competitive workplaces throughout the state. Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce announced more than 200 Florida employers — both large and small — have joined the fight to support passage of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act. State legislators are considering two […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2015

When state Rep. Charles McBurney called me yesterday from his law office in Jacksonville, the North Florida Republican let me know why it had taken him so long to get back to me. “The week before session is crazy,” he said — and that’s especially true for one of the power players in the Florida House of […]

Ryan RayFebruary 24, 2015

U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham said Tuesday that if the GOP-controlled 114th Congress moves forward with an increasingly likely budget gambit that would shut down the Department of Homeland Security, she will forfeit her pay in solidarity with the many federal workers who will be furloughed. “If Congress lets obstructionists shut down the Department of Homeland […]

Ryan RayFebruary 24, 2015

Liberty Partners of Tallahassee — led by Jennifer Green, Melanie Shanks Bostick, Ashley Dieguez, and Thomas Hobbs — continues to build on its boutique- t0-mid-size practice unique amid Florida lobbying firms. Its 17 legislative clients and 15 executive clients include Expedia, Humana, AT&T, No Casinos, and the AAA Scholarship Foundation. Though there is no clear common thread between some of them, there is […]

Ryan RayFebruary 24, 2015

The 39 executive and 35 legislative lobbying clients of the lobbyists at Greenberg Traurig, PA, have gotten used to the team’s unshakable grit — and the firm has gotten used to collecting fees commensurate with it. The Tallahassee-based firm with a formidable national footprint pulled down lobbying compensation in the mid-to-high six figures during the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 24, 2015

Not that it stands a snow ball’s chance in hell of passing the uber-conservative Florida Legislature, but South Florida Democrat Dwight Bullard has proposed a recreational legalization bill in the Senate. Bullard filed the bill Tuesday that would allow anyone 21 or older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. The […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 24, 2015

In anticipation of the 2015 Legislative Session, FloridaPolitics.com is asking state lawmakers about their goals and priorities – and whether they support some controversial issues in the state. Here are the responses from State Senator Jeff Brandes: In one word, how would you describe your expectations for the Session, i.e. “Excited.” “Hopeful” What’s a local issue you […]

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Veteran lobbyist Ron Watson offers perspective in advance of 2015 legislative session

Kathy Castor again blasts House GOP on failure to come up with bill to fund DHS

Alvin Brown campaign takes my advice, trumpets Miami Herald article on downtown Jax

More than 200 Florida businesses have joined coalition to pass Competitive Workforce Act

Previewing the 2015 Legislative Session with Charles McBurney

Gwen Graham pledges to donate her salary if DHS funding allowed to lapse

Liberty Partners of Tallahassee brings in as much as $250K in lobbying fees for Q4 2014

Greenberg Traurig hauls in approximately $750K in Q4 lobbying fees

Sen. Dwight Bullard tries again with recreational marijuana bill

Previewing the 2015 Legislative Session with Jeff Brandes