January 2017 - Page 3 of 76 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 31, 2017

Securing funding to purchase land south of Lake Okeechobee remains a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron. But Negron could face a tough road ahead. Gov. Rick Scott did not include money for a proposed Everglades reservoir in his 2017-18 budget, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran has dismissed the idea of bonding to pay […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 31, 2017

The upcoming Constitution Revision Commission will likely take on the state’s judicial branch, and “the focus will not be on strengthening it,” the former president of the American Bar Association said Tuesday. Rather, retired Florida lawyer Martha Barnett, who was a Holland & Knight senior partner, said she expects an effort to “restrict, narrow and […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

Though some religious organizations, such as the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine, liken expanding Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to the “darkest days of World War II,” other groups have different takes. On Jan. 26, the Anti-Defamation League sent Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry a letter, urging Jacksonville to take a “leadership role by adding sexual orientation and […]

Michael MolineJanuary 31, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott proposed an $83.5 billion state budget Tuesday that would include $618 million in tax cuts, $85 million in economic incentives, nearly $4 billion for environmental protection, and more than $5.1 billion for public safety. Florida has added more than 1.2 million jobs during his tenure “because of our continued focus on cutting […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 31, 2017

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Debbie Wasserman Schultz blasted President Trump Tuesday morning, a day after he fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates for what the White House called “refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” “I think it’s important to note that she did exactly what she said she would do […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

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Jacksonville’s big legislative accomplishment in the 2016 session was getting an unprecedented bill through Tallahassee, one which would allow the city to access the guaranteed revenue from a future sales tax extension, once it closed one of its three pension plans. As collective bargaining continues between the city and its unions, the 2017 session also […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 31, 2017

Newly filed legislation could affect how much power local governments have to regulate the right of way when it comes to telecommunications equipment. Sen. Travis Hutson, chairman of the Senate Regulated Industries committee, filed the “Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act” (SB 596) on Monday. The bill, among other things, would prohibit the Department of Transportation […]

Associated PressJanuary 31, 2017

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Washington became the first state to sue the Trump administration with a filing Monday over the president’s executive order restricting refugees and immigration. It likely will not be standing alone for long. Since Donald Trump was elected president, Democratic state attorneys general have been forming a coordinated wall of legal resistance over immigration, environmental protections, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 31, 2017

After years of watching other red states leap ahead of them on criminal justice reform, Pinellas County Republican Senator Jeff Brandes is filing a bill that would create a criminal justice task force in the state of Florida in 2017. It calls for a large committee consisting of 27 members (16 will be appointed) representing the Florida House, […]

Associated PressJanuary 31, 2017

Starting what could become a contentious debate with state legislators, Gov. Rick Scott is going to announce his annual budget recommendations. Scott plans to release details of his spending plan Tuesday during the annual legislative planning session hosted by The Associated Press. Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran are also scheduled to […]

Month: January 2017

Land purchase south of Lake O remains top priority for Joe Negron

Former ABA head warns of possible danger to judiciary from constitutional panel

Anti-Defamation League backs expanded Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance

Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget goes heavy on tax holidays

Debbie Wasserman Schultz tells Fox Business that Donald Trump ‘believes he was elected dictator’

Pushback emerges against bill closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

Travis Hutson telecom bill would preempt right of way regulation

Democratic state attorneys general begin Donald Trump pushback

Jeff Brandes legislation would create task force focusing on criminal justice

Money-time: Gov. Rick Scott to outline spending plans