Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Bob Buckhorn isn’t facing serious opposition in his bid for re-election this year, and an internal poll conducted late last year by his campaign shows why nobody of note is even attempting a challenge. The survey conducted by Virginia-based Frederick Polls last November shows that 67 percent of citizens in Tampa support the mayor’s reelection bid. That’s […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 28, 2015

In the world of water politics, people are not always who they seem to be. On the Treasure Coast, One Florida Foundation Inc. (OFF) isn’t exactly the “clean water advocacy” group it claims to be, either. Instead, it promotes sugar industry and agriculture agendas. Nyla Pipes, who lives in Port St. Lucie, and Don Voss, […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 28, 2015

The Super Bowl is only days away, yet if you open the sports pages, there’s not much real football being written about. The rancor surrounding the game sounds more like a scripted build-up to a WWF Wrestlemania than the biggest game in legitimate American sports. The whole build-up to Sunday’s game has centered on cheating […]

James CallJanuary 28, 2015

SStatSenate President Andy Gardiner Wednesday said he’s expecting ongoing discussions about the Department of Health rulemaking and medicinal marijuana when lawmakers convene the 2015 legislative session in March. “I have heard from some senators a frustration when you pass legislation last May and the Department is still going through its rulemaking,” Gardiner said at the […]

Bruce RitchieJanuary 28, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he is requesting $82 million next year in environmental spending above what is required by Amendment 1, the water and land conservation initiative approved by voters in November. Scott on Wednesday issued his $77 billion budget request for fiscal year 2015-16 including an estimated $757 million towards a broad array […]

James CallJanuary 28, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi Wednesday suggested some palace intrigue was involved in the Bailey affair. Bondi, speaking at the annual AP pre-session briefing, said the Cabinet knew there was going to be changes made in Cabinet agencies but the former prosecutor suspects not the governor but his staff was behind the unceremonious dumping of the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

In recent years, a number of Tampa elected officials have made the hour-long plane flight to Cuba — Mary Mulhern, Yolie Capin, Harry Cohen and Charlie Miranda — though none representing Hillsborough County. But as high-level officials with the White House and the Raul Castro-led Cuban government have now commenced formal discussions for the first […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 28, 2015

As legislators return next week to the Florida Capitol for committee meetings, at the top of the Senate to-do list is Gov. Rick Scott’s projected budget, which features a series of tax cuts. The Finance and Tax Committee will hear about the governor’s tax-cut package on Monday, Feb. 2. Two days later, the Appropriations Committee will hear […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

(UPDATE: New information regarding the source of the push poll call below). Supporters of Tampa City Council candidates Guido Maniscalco and Tommy Castellano say that they and other residents residing in City Council District 6 have been receiving phone calls in the past week purporting to be from an independent pollster, surveying them about all three […]

Ryan RayJanuary 28, 2015

Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner was the first elected official to take the podium at the 2015 Associated Press Legislative Planning Session, and she wasted little time making hay out of Gov. Rick Scott‘s recent issues with appearing to overreach its boundaries. “Hubris appears to be the organizing principle of our executive branch,” said Joyner, the […]

Uncategorized

Bob Buckhorn looks strong in new internal poll

Sally Swartz: One Florida Foundation not the clean water group it claims

Steven Kurlander: NFL meets WWF in the deflating of the Super Bowl

Sen Prez hearing from members frustrated with DOH's Charlotte's Web rulemaking

Rick Scott say he's meeting Amendment 1 but full breakdown lacking

AG Pam Bondi: Rick Scott didn't know about ouster of top cop

Janet Long wants Pinellas County to be a player in Cuba

Florida Senate to scrutinize Rick Scott's proposed budget

Push poll roils Tampa City Council race

Arthenia Joyner rips Scott administration's 'hubris' at APFL conference