March 2017 - Page 30 of 105 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanMarch 22, 2017

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Make room in Florida’s small hall of heroes. If John B. Orr Jr., were alive, he would be welcoming Aramis Ayala. When in 1956, while everyone else in Tallahassee was losing their heads over school segregation, Orr was the only legislator who dared to vote against a scheme to perpetuate it. Speaking on the House […]

Peter SchorschMarch 22, 2017

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. SESSION (2018) IS COMING — The Florida Senate released the dates of the 2018 Legislative Session on Tuesday. The annual 60-day session is scheduled to convene on Jan. 9 and will end on March 9. […]

Staff ReportsMarch 21, 2017

David Punzak has been named vice chair of the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation (EDC) board of directors. Punzak is a shareholder with the national Carlton Fields law firm, based out of its Tampa location. He will become chairman in 2018 following his term as vice chair. “David brings a great depth and breadth […]

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

A bill that would require an ignition interlock device on someone’s vehicle after their first drunken driving conviction has passed its first committee in the Florida House of Representatives. The bill (HB 949) passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Tuesday. It must go through two more committees before reaching the House floor. The interlock […]

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum is pushing House Republicans to drop an idea that could take away food stamps for about 229,000 Floridians. Gillum held a news conference Tuesday and then dropped off a petition at House Speaker Richard Corcoran‘s office that asks lawmakers to maintain current food stamp eligibility rather than […]

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday adding human exploration of Mars to NASA’s mission. Could sending Congress into space be next? Flanked at an Oval Office bill-signing ceremony by astronauts and lawmakers, Trump observed that being an astronaut is a “pretty tough job.” He said he wasn’t sure he’d want it and, among lawmakers he […]

Drew WilsonMarch 21, 2017

A Hillsborough County school teacher announced this week that she will challenge incumbent Republican Rep. Jamie Grant for the District 64 seat in the Florida House. Jessica Harrington originally planned to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis in 2018, but said she decided to change course after a trip to Tallahassee. “I realized that no […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

At a presentation about circuit court judicial caseloads Tuesday, House Appropriations Committee Chair Carlos Trujillo asked why judges have an issue with moving to a paperless system. Speaking to the committee, Robert E. Roundtree Jr., an 8th Judicial Circuit Court judge and former chief judge, said circuit courts in Florida are electronically filing cases: “There are no […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

Two measures dealing with drug testing for certain public aid applicants and law enforcement taking over DCF’s role investigative role in another county met no resistance Tuesday. Among several bills heard by the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee were two dealing with applicants of temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and child welfare […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

The Orange County Democratic Party announced late Tuesday its executive committee has unanimously backed Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue the death penalty in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit. Orange County Democratic Chairman Wes Hodge said more than 200 people attended the Monday night meeting at which the committee passed two resolutions; one […]

Month: March 2017

Martin Dyckman: Aramis Ayala’s principled stance on death penalty not out of step with history

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics – 3.22.17

St. Petersburg Economic Development Corporation names David Punzak as Vice Chair

DUI ignition interlock bill passes House committee

Andrew Gillum: GOP plan to raise food stamp eligibility ‘inhumane’

Donald Trump signs NASA bill, ponders sending Congress to space

Jamie Grant picks up challenger in HD 64

Circuit court judges to finally get a statewide case management system?

Breezing through committee: Welfare drug testing, DCF takes backseat in Walton County

Orange County Democratic Party unanimously backs Aramis Ayala