Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mark FerruloFebruary 19, 2015

Do you think Florida’s school accountability system, with punitive high-stakes testing and unreasonable mandates, is out of control? To teachers and other folks on the front lines in the fight to improve our public schools, it most definitely is. Last week, more than 6,000 teachers, parents, education advocates and other concerned Floridians participated in the […]

Associated PressFebruary 19, 2015

Determined to protect their new Senate majority, Republican officials are lobbying Florida Sen. Marco Rubio heavily to seek re-election to Congress next year even though he says he’ll forgo that campaign if he makes an expected bid for the White House. Officials familiar with the effort say that recruiting Rubio to seek re-election is a […]

James CallFebruary 19, 2015

The Auditor General Office and staff from the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee selected Thursday 26 lobbying firms for the first-ever audits of lobbyists’ compensation forms. Fourteen firms that seek to influence the Legislature in the making of policy and 12 firms focused on the executive branch are the first group subjected to audits mandated by a […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 19, 2015

A high-stakes multimillion dollar tug-of-war over funding for professional sports is now in overtime. A 14-member joint legislative budget panel on Thursday voted to delay a decision on whether to approve the ranking of four applications for state subsidies. Joint Legislative Budget Commission Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran said he was opposed to awarding any incentive […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

This past Friday, St. Petersburg City Council convened for nearly three hours in an attempt to set up regulations to create a legal framework that would require Uber and Lyft to comply with ordinances regarding taxi cabs and limousines. It was the first time that local government had devoted a session to an issue that […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2015

The latest iteration of Jacksonville’s starstruck Police and Fire Pension deal got through two committees Wednesday. Ordinance 2015-54 was passed by Finance by a 5-2 margin, and the Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety Committee passed it 5-1. The bill was slated to go to the Rules Committee Friday morning, which would have put […]

Melissa RossFebruary 19, 2015

Equality Florida’s Action PAC is out with its list of recommendations on candidates running for office in Jacksonville, based on whether or not they support expanding the city’s human rights ordinance to cover the LGBT community. Jacksonville is one of the only major U.S. cities left not to have codified protections against discrimination in jobs, […]

Melissa RossFebruary 19, 2015

Equality Florida’s Action PAC is out with its list of recommendations on candidates running for office in Jacksonville, based on whether or not they support expanding the city’s human rights ordinance to cover the LGBT community. Jacksonville is one of the only major U.S. cities left not to have codified protections against discrimination in jobs, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

To its supporters, it was a case of justice delayed but not denied, when on Thursday the Florida Board of Governor in Tallahassee unanimously recommended the state provide $57 million to USF to move its medical center to downtown Tampa. The next step in the process for the $153 million center to house the Morsani […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 19, 2015

As it passed its final committee stop on Thursday, state agriculture officials on Thursday defended a House water bill against the idea that it represents a power grab by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. HB 7003 has backing from agriculture, business and industry groups. The bill passed the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday with three votes […]

Uncategorized

Mark Ferrulo: Education community overwhelmingly opposes punitive testing

Marco Rubio facing pressure to run for Senate re-election

State selects 26 lobbying firms for first-ever audit of compensation reports

Joint Legislative Budget Commission punts on sports tax incentives

Matt Gaetz files legislation addressing Uber, Lyft

Jax City Council delays rules panel meeting, leaves pension deal hanging

Equality Florida’s Action PAC scores Jax candidates, doesn’t endorse only openly gay one

Equality Florida's Action PAC scores Jax candidates, doesn't endorse only openly gay one

State BOG all in for USF med school move to downtown Tampa

State agriculture officials defend House water bill, deny power grab