March 2017 - Page 15 of 105 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 28, 2017

If it looks like a slot machine, and plays like a slot machine, it’s a slot machine, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is telling state leaders. An order by a Tallahassee judge, first reported by FloridaPolitics.com, declared that certain slot machine-style entertainment devices aren’t slot machines under state law. The Tribe disagreed. It now says those games violate […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2017

Lawmakers in both chambers are scheduled to consider legislation Tuesday that could change the way the Florida Building Code is updated; a move that could have a big impact on the construction and insurance industries. The proposals (HB 901 and SB 860) essentially flip the set of building codes the construction industry uses as its […]

Michael MolineMarch 27, 2017

Stephen-Bittel-press-conference-e1484427502609-3500x1391.jpg

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Steve Bittel came to Tallahassee Monday to detail his efforts to rebuild following the November disaster. “It’s been a disheartening time,” Bittel said, but he urged members of the Leon County Democratic Party to transform their disappointment into action. “We should be angry. We lost Florida, and we shouldn’t have lost […]

Les NeuhausMarch 27, 2017

A Pinellas County court set a trial date for John Jonchuck, arrested in 2015 for throwing his 5-year-old daughter off a St. Petersburg bridge. The Tampa Bay Times reported Monday that the trial will begin early February. In a pretrial hearing Monday, Jonchuck’s three public defenders listened as Pinellas County Circuit Judge Chris Helinger announced […]

Phil AmmannMarch 27, 2017

Joe Negron recently visited Pahokee High School for a town hall meeting to discuss his plans for taking farmland in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). During the meeting, the Senate President said he is in discussion with “many owners of land south of the lake” in the effort to acquire 153,000 acres of productive land to […]

Erin ClarkMarch 27, 2017

The Florida Senate Education Committee dedicated most of its weekly meeting to tackling issues of assessment bloat running counter to students’ best interests. In the House, the motto has been “fewer, better tests.” Similarly, in the Senate, the bills that have spurred the most comment from committee members are those that address Florida’s testing protocols. At […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2017

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved SB 1620 Monday, a bill filed by West Palm Beach Democrat Bobby Powell that would exempt credit unions from regulation under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. However, there were also discussions about rolling back federal consumer protections by President Donald Trump, leading Fort Lauderdale Democrat Gary Farmer to attempt a late-filed amendment. […]

Scott PowersMarch 27, 2017

A bill that would essentially ban Florida cities and counties from regulating the locations or appearances of the next generation technology cell phone towers was approved by a Florida House committee Monday afternoon, but with some expectations that key provisions may be renegotiated. With backers contending that Florida needs to allow swift installation of 5G […]

Associated PressMarch 27, 2017

Florida officials say they’re continuing aggressive efforts to stop the spread of the Zika virus. Gov. Rick Scott met Monday with Miami-Dade County officials to discuss Zika preparedness ahead of Florida’s rainy season, when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Officials said fewer travel-related cases are being reported in Florida so far this year, compared with last […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2017

Since the American Health Care Act was pulled last Friday, most members of Congress did not have to vote on the controversial bill. Nevertheless, the legislation did quickly pass through three separate committees on its way to a potential floor vote. And that hasn’t stopped the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) from criticizing Republicans for […]

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

Seminole Tribe: Judge’s slots ruling could cost state ‘multi-billions of dollars’

Battle over building code changes could take center stage in House, Senate today

Steve Bittel visits Tallahassee to rally Democrats to ‘move forward now’

February trial date set for John Jonchuck, accused of throwing daughter off St. Pete bridge

Glades landowners double down on Joe Negron to reveal his ‘willing sellers’

Senate Education Committee talks testing tweaks

Bill to exempt Florida credit unions from regulations advances in Senate

Telecom companies get committee nod for deregulation of 5G towers

Florida officials: Aggressive efforts to stop Zika continue

New DCCC ad attacks Carlos Curbelo, Mario Diaz-Balart over GOP health care bill