Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannFebruary 13, 2015

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Next week, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a pair of controversial gun bills to address issues such as weapons on college campuses and the ability to carry concealed firearms without a permit during mandatory emergency evacuations. The bills, SB 176 from Baker Republican Sen. Greg Evers and SB 290 from Republican Sen. Jeff […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 13, 2015

When you attend a House appropriations subcommittee where a chairman’s budget proposals are being unveiled, you might expect to hear some tough questions from Democrats and Republicans. And you might be disappointed, at least by the subcommittee that deals with environmental and agricultural spending. Most of the debate I hear in the House occurs only […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2015

My TweetDeck was filled with comments of respect for David Carr around 1:30 a.m. this morning. I had turned to it immediately after reading of his shocking death on the website of his beloved New York Times. Eric Deggans has called him the finest media reporter of his generation, and he was that, and a whole lot […]

Ryan RayFebruary 12, 2015

Twelve days into February, Congresswoman Gwen Graham announced today her office is holding a “My Dream for America” essay contest to celebrate Black History Month. All middle schoolers in Congressional District 2 — which extends across 14 counties in the eastern part of the Panhandle, from Taylor to Holmes — are eligible. “Our nation has come a […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2015

In Washington, members of Congress are in full attack mode about who is to blame for the fact that the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) could lose its funding in two weeks. Tampa Bay area Representative Kathy Castor today cosponsored H.R. 861, a bill that would prevent a Feb. 28 shutdown of the DHS, the agency charged […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 12, 2015

The mailpieces keep coming from the Lenny Curry PAC. Yesterday we covered an attack on “liberal” Bill Bishop, and today, the subject is the Democratic incumbent, Mayor Alvin Brown, who according to the Together for a Greater Jacksonville mailing, “sure can tell a good story” but “isn’t telling the whole truth.” The Jacksonville Campaign is starting to heat up. […]

James CallFebruary 12, 2015

Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen was flanked by bankers, financial advisors, educators and a representative of the Junior League when she explained support was growing daily for a proposal to mandate a one-semester financial literacy course for high school graduation. Then in walked Rep. Alan Williams to demonstrate bi-partisan support for a proposal by Fitzenhagen and Sen. Dorothy Hukill. […]

Ryan RayFebruary 12, 2015

Much has been made of the fraught relationship between Jeb Bush and the man who was once seen as his dauphin and natural successor as de facto head of the Florida Republicans Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio spoke with Ben Terris and Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post to clarify the nature of their relationship, and perhaps to put more daylight in between […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 12, 2015

It’s not every day that a divorce lawyer reports her own client to the state child abuse hotline. But that’s what John Jonchuck‘s lawyer did. On Jan. 7, Jonchuck showed up at the firm’s office dressed in pajamas, toting his 5-year-old daughter Phoebe, along with a Bible he incorrectly believed to be written in Swedish. Jonchuck’s lawyer told the Hotline that her client was “out-of-his-mind […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2015

Like Hillary Clinton circa 1999-2000 when she ran for a U.S. Senate seat in New York, organizers leading the series of public town hall meetings beginning next week on plotting the future of Hillsborough County’s transit needs vow it will be listening tour … at least the first phase. The county begins the first of 36 […]

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Image via AP.

Senate panel to discuss 2 controversial gun rights bills

Bruce Ritchie: Even if budget-writing is unfair, asking tough questions is key

Mitch Perry Report for 2.13.15 – RIP, David Carr

Gwen Graham launches essay contest for Black History Month

Kathy Castor urges GOP House not to shut down Dep’t of Homeland Security

Lenny Curry and Alvin Brown campaign war of words over Jax PAC mailpiece

Proposal requires financial literacy credit for high school graduation

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio: close, but not that close

Florence Snyder: Phoebe Jonchuck tragedy reveals underpaid staff, DCF doublespeak

Hillsborough County poised to roll out “listening tour” on transit options