Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2015

Pro-immigration activists are pushing for the Florida Legislature to support a bill granting driver’s licenses to qualified Florida residents regardless of immigration status, saying it will spur economic growth and make the streets safer. In Tampa, those activists have been trying to build up grassroots support for the measure by having the City Council pass […]

Associated PressFebruary 24, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott is officially suspending a standardized test that the state’s 11th graders were supposed to take this spring. Scott on Tuesday signed an executive order that directs Education Commissioner Pam Stewart to suspend the test. The governor last week said that there was too much testing going on in Florida’s schools. He said […]

Jac VerSteegFebruary 24, 2015

The Florida Legislature, always interested in preserving families, is working on a reform that is guaranteed to prevent some breakups. In the short run, that is. What’s the reform? The 2015 session that starts March 3 is almost certain to produce a package of alimony reforms. Alimony was a hot topic two years ago, and […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2015

There are a couple of fundraisers in Tampa Tuesday night supporting what some hope (and others fear) will the presidential matchup in 2016: Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. You’ll have to shell out a minimum of $1,000 to get in the door tonight for the fundraiser for Right to Rise at the Grand Hyatt. That’s […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 24, 2015

The Florida Education Association will hold a news conference Tuesday morning. President Andy Ford and Vice President Joanne McCall will discuss how Florida uses standardized tests to measure student and school performance. The teachers union has been engaged in a losing battle with the Republican majority that has controlled the state Capitol since then-Gov. Jeb Bush announced plans in 1998 […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 24, 2015

Florida’s most deliberative legislative body is getting richer. The combined net worth of the Florida Senate’s 40 members was nearly $144 million, a FloridaWatchdog.org analysis of financial disclosures filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics last year shows. The total marks a 7.1 percent increase over the previous year and an 18% jump since the 2011 reporting deadline. […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 24, 2015

Cold snaps this time of year make spring seem faraway. Yet, Major Leaguers are reporting to Spring Training to refine their skills before the first pitch of the 2015 season. Avenir Holdings LLC, the Coral Gables-based developer proposing to create Palm Beach County’s 15th-largest town on the 7-square-mile Vavrus Ranch site, should be reporting to […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 24, 2015

This was supposed to be a year of budgetary plenty in Tallahassee. Florida’s gradually rebounding economy is helping swell the state’s bank accounts and Republican Gov. Rick Scott has grand plans to spend it on boosting school spending and by slashing taxes and fees by hundreds of millions of dollars. Initially, it appeared legislators would […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 24, 2015

A coalition of small and large film, entertainment, and digital media enterprises are praising a pair of proposals in the Florida Legislature to boost film production in the Sunshine State. The Whole Picture: Saving Florida Film and Digital Jobs is an association applauding Senate Bill 1046, filed this week by Venice Republican Nancy Detert, seeking […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 24, 2015

A coalition of small and large film, entertainment, and digital media enterprises are praising a pair of proposals in the Florida Legislature to boost film production in the Sunshine State. The Whole Picture: Saving Florida Film and Digital Jobs is an association applauding Senate Bill 1046, filed this week by Venice Republican Nancy Detert, seeking […]

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Lincoln Project's new ad

Immigration activists, Tampa City Council members at odds on driver’s license issue

Gov. Rick Scott suspends 11th grade English test

Jac VerSteeg: Alimony reform could prevent divorce — for a few months

Mitch Perry Report for 2.24.15 — It’s Bush and Clinton in Tampa (fundraisers, that is)

The day ahead in Florida politics — Feb. 24

Florida senators carry a combined $144 million in personal wealth

Timothy Hullihan: Avenir is sprawl in New Urbanist clothing

Gov. Rick Scott may find it tough getting tax cut plans passed

Coalition applauds new bill to boost Florida’s film industry

Coalition applauds new bill to boost Florida's film industry