Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieFebruary 4, 2015

Environmental and agriculture groups raised concerns on Wednesday with draft water bill language presented by a House committee but speakers on all sides praised the chamber for its comprehensive approach on the issue. The House State Affairs Committee language addresses pollution threats facing springs and Lake Okeechobee and the need for increased water supplies in […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 4, 2015

Endorsements are flying fast and furious in the Jacksonville Mayoral Race, and Lenny Curry today scored a pivotal one — that of the politically active and influential Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, whose Board of Directors voted today to formally endorse Curry well ahead of the March 24th election. “As a small business owner, Lenny Curry […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 4, 2015

The loss of Gov. Rick Scott’s candidate for chairman of the Republican Party of Florida has spawned a lot of punditry minimizing his importance. But Scott is actually more important than ever. He is creating a road map to victory in Florida for any Republican presidential candidate through sound and successful policies that have righted […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 4, 2015

With Mitt Romney announcing that he will not seek the GOP presidential endorsement again, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is positioned to be the uncontested “establishment” favorite to run in 2016. But a new Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll spells trouble for Jeb. He’s already “toast” according to Salon. “Jeb Bush has some work […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 4, 2015

His name was Eddie, and he was a lot like me. We both were studious, scrawny and 11 years old at the time. He wore a starched white shirt with sharply creased sleeves and heavy-rimmed glasses that probably brought teasing from classmates. We sat awkwardly – mostly in silence – at the end of a […]

Jac VerSteegFebruary 4, 2015

Let’s connect the dots between a few headlines. From the Feb. 3 Palm Beach Post: “Land lacking for new homes.” From the Feb. 2 Palm Beach Post: “Avenir leader: Let’s talk plan out.” And from the Jan. 30 South Florida Sun Sentinel: “Inquiry backs up Palm Beach County’s handling of Ag Reserve Development.” When you […]

James CallFebruary 4, 2015

Patricia Nelson delivered the marching orders to the 12-member panel negotiating a regulatory structure to allow a medicinal marijuana product in Florida. The director of the Office of Compassionate Use minced few words in opening the first day of the two-day meeting scheduled to fulfill the Department of Health’s responsibility to implement the state’s Charlotte’s […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 4, 2015

More than 1.3 million Floridians have enrolled or re-enrolled in so-called Obamacare plans through the federal health insurance marketplace, which puts the Sunshine State at the top of the list for number of residents using the federally run exchange to purchase insurance, federal officials said on Wednesday. Nationally, nearly 7.5 million consumers selected a plan […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 4, 2015

Attempts by the craft brewing industry to finally repeal the ban on 64-ounce beer growlers looked promising going into this year’s legislative session in Florida. But a provision added to what was considered a “clean” growler bill proved contentious at a hearing in the Senate Regulated Industries committee hearing on Wednesday afternoon in Tallahassee. In […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 4, 2015

Two Republican state lawmakers submitted new bills today to remove Florida’s “wall of separation” between grocery and liquor stores. House Bill 499, filed by state Rep. John Wood, and Senate Bill 468 from state Sen. Denise Grimsley seeks to repeal Florida’s “outdated and inconvenient” separation law. Both bills will be considered in the 2015 legislative session that starts […]

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All sides praise House water bill effort while raising concerns

Northeast Florida Association of Realtors endorse Curry for Jax Mayor

Joe Gruters: Forget pundits, Rick Scott matters because results matter

Steven Kurlander: 'Vanilla' Iowa a misfire for meat & potatoes Jeb Bush

Rick Brunson: Orlando's 1972 grand experiment in race relations

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Why environmentalists always lose in the end

The march to complete the Charlotte's Web law

Florida residents use federal exchange more than any other state

Big beer distributors object to growler bill in Florida Senate committee

Sen. Denise Grimsley, Rep. John Wood file bills to repeal alcohol separation laws