March 2017 - Page 31 of 105 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Florence SnyderMarch 21, 2017

If Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is serious about running for governor, he’s going to have to dial down the #Stupid in his own office. The Baron of Bartow went full #FloridaMan on Ocheesee Creamery, a family-owned dairy farm an hour’s drive and a world away from what former Gov. Jeb Bush derisively — and correctly […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

Republican Rep. Greg Steube was called out in an op-ed in his hometown paper, the Sarasota Herald Tribune, for his sponsorship of a bill that would preempt local governments when it comes to vacation rentals. Steube’s bill, SB 188, would prohibit local laws enacted after a certain June 1, 2011, from barring or regulating vacation rentals, such as those […]

Michael MolineMarch 21, 2017

The House Ways & Means Committee voted Tuesday for legislation that would extend Indian gambling in Florida but otherwise restrict the growth of the industry in Florida. The bill (HB 7037), by Rep. Mike La Rosa, passed out of the committee on an 11-7 vote. La Rosa argued the bill is the key to negotiating a gambling compact with […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

The move to strip cities and counties of their authority to explicitly regulate vacation rental homes got approval of another Florida Senate committee Tuesday despite impassioned pleas from several local government representatives that the bill could expand what they see as emerging community chaos. Sen. Greg Steube, sponsor of Senate Bill 188, defended the measure […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2017

In the end, everybody in the U.S. House of Representatives agreed that Rep. John Rutherford‘s first bill needed to become law. As the 408-0 vote in the House Tuesday reflected. H.R. 1294, the Reducing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Cost Growth Act, seeks to stop wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars by agencies like the Transportation […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

A litany of bills Tuesday show legislators intend to crack the whip on several social, criminal and commercial problems affecting the state. Each bill passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, covering issues as wide ranging as child predators, domestic violence, addiction recovery homes, skimming devices, the department of corrections, probation, terrorism — and protection of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

Legislation banning sanctuary city policies moved through another Florida House committee Tuesday. Yalaha Republican Rep. Larry Metz‘s bill (HB 697) would force any “sanctuary city” or county in Florida to remove all formal or informal policies shielding undocumented immigrants from federal custody. It passed the House Subcommittee on Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs on a 9-5 vote on Tuesday. The […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2017

The Eureka Garden complex has been a focus of politicians in the last couple of years, with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, Sen. Marco Rubio, Jacksonville City Councilman Garrett Dennis, and Rep. Al Lawson all demanding rehab of the facility and reform of the HUD process. A new management group, which is looking to buy the property, promised changes. That group promised […]

Jim RosicaMarch 21, 2017

A tax cut that would have helped a broader swath of Floridians, including the middle class and working poor, was changed Tuesday to instead benefit the state’s business owners. With no debate, the Senate’s Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee cleared the bill (SB 378) by a 4-0 vote. As initially proposed by Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores, it would […]

Jim RosicaMarch 21, 2017

Richard Biter, one of two unsuccessful finalists for the top job at Enterprise Florida, now has thrown in his hat to be the state’s next Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation. Biter is one of more than 80 applicants for the open position, created when former Secretary Jim Boxold resigned in January to join […]

Month: March 2017

Florence Snyder: Whether Adam Putnam likes it or not, it’s still OK to tell the truth

Greg Steube called out by hometown paper for vacation rental bill

House gambling bill clears Ways and Means Committee on 11-7 vote

Vacation rentals de-reg bill gets nod despite pleas from cities, counties

John Rutherford Homeland Security spending reform bill clears House 408-0

House advances bills ‘cracking the whip’ on domestic abuse, child offenders, recovery centers, terrorism

Bill to eliminate sanctuary cities in Florida moves through another House committee

Failed Eureka Garden HUD inspection: whose fault is it?

Senate tax cut proposal OK’d — with one big switch

Richard Biter among dozens applying for state transportation secretary