March 2017 - Page 12 of 105 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 28, 2017

A House committee voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of a bill to begin the Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program in the Panhandle’s Okaloosa County. Rep. Mel Ponder, who sponsored HB 1051, introduced the measure to the House Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee. The bill intends to alleviate overcrowding in the state’s prison corrections system with […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2017

Two of the most veteran politicians on Jacksonville’s City Council, Bill Gulliford and Tommy Hazouri, discussed the newly-introduced pension legislation with Mayor Lenny Curry Tuesday. In what may be a sign of a smooth process to come, as the council spends much of April workshopping and mulling the changes to the city’s pension plans, both Gulliford and Hazouri […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

Momentum remains strong in Tallahassee for the first bill in Florida to regulate ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the proposal (SB 340) unanimously without debate. The bill, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would require ride-sharing companies to carry $100,000 of insurance for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2017

Tuesday night saw a raft of bills introduced to the Jacksonville City Council, with the expected final result being implementation of comprehensive pension reform. While the mayor’s office negotiated pension reform, it is up to the 19-person legislative body to enact it. Bill 2017-257 would, if passed by the council, levy the 1/2 cent discretionary sales […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

State lawmakers advanced a proposal Tuesday to allow Florida Power & Light to charge customers for speculative oil and gas investments. After two and a half hours of debate, the Florida House Subcommittee on Energy and Utilities approved HB 1043, sponsored by Sanford Republican Jason Brodeur. The measure would authorize the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to approve utilities […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2017

A House panel approved legislation Tuesday that would implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment, despite concerns from some advocates the proposal doesn’t honor the spirit of the amendment. The House Health Quality Subcommittee voted overwhelmingly to approve a bill (HB 1397) that would implement the 2016 constitutional amendment. Sponsored by House Majority Leader Ray […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

The City of Miami Beach lost the first round of a battle to raise the minimum living wage to $13.31 an hour. Nevertheless, Mayor Philip Levine vows he will fight back, possibly with a constitutional amendment to get the law through. After Levine signed the law last June to gradually raise Miami Beach’s minimum wage from the state’s $8.10 […]

Michael MolineMarch 28, 2017

House budget writers stuck to the plan Tuesday in rolling out details of their proposed $12.3 billion for transportation and tourism. It would eliminate economic incentives programs including Enterprise Florida, and sharply reduce spending on Visit Florida. “We’re basically following the tenets of (HB) 7005, the policy bill that was passed a couple of weeks ago,” […]

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2017

Florida’s Eyeball Wars rage on in Tallahassee, as optometrists continue pushing a bill allowing them to perform laser surgeries despite a potentially dangerous lack of medical training. Richard Miniter, the chief executive officer of American Media Institute, broke down the issue in-depth with a three-part series co-authored with Joseph Hammond, in which he describes how […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2017

Amidst a phalanx of meetings with Florida legislators for Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday were talks with two Northeast Florida Senators: Rob Bradley and Aaron Bean. As a measure of the governor’s efficiency, the meetings were back to back in the 11:00 hour, with a meeting with Ocala Sen. Dennis Baxley in between. Bradley’s summation of the meeting: “The […]

Month: March 2017
Kathleen King and Joe Gruters. Image via Max Goodman.

House advances pilot program to treat mental health versus jail

Key Jacksonville councilors warm to Lenny Curry pension bills

Senate Judiciary Committee gives big win for ridesharing regulation

Pension reform legislation introduced to Jacksonville City Council

House advances bill allowing FPL to charge customers for out-of-state speculative investments

House Health Quality Subcommittee approves medical marijuana implementing bill

After judge tosses Miami Beach living wage ordinance, Phil Levine may pursue constitutional amendment

House and Senate cement their differences on Visit Florida funding

New three-part series unpacks ‘dark side’ of money, influence in Florida’s Eyeball Wars

Rob Bradley, Aaron Bean get facetime with Rick Scott