March 2017 - Page 49 of 105 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 15, 2017

The Florida Senate has passed a change to the state’s “stand your ground” law that would make it easier for criminal defendants to claim self-defense. It was approved on a 23-15 vote during Wednesday’s floor session. Specifically, the bill would require prosecutors to prove “that a defendant is not immune from prosecution.” The bill (SB 128), […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2017

Optometrists enjoyed a narrow victory Wednesday in Florida’s renewed Eyeball Wars when a House committee advanced a bill to allow optometrists to perform certain types of eye surgery. After a two-hour hearing, the House Health Quality Subcommittee approved HB 1037, sponsored by Rep. Manny Diaz and opposed by both the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 15, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilmen Bill Gulliford and Reggie Brown convened Wednesday to revisit an issue from months back: “community events” in the council districts. Bill 2016-489 allocated $70,000 to be split up among the 19 council members, for the purposes of staging educational community events in districts. For Brown, this issue is critical — his constituents often have questions about city […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

Under current Florida law, those who are convicted of any felony lose the right to vote, the right to sit on a jury, the right to hold public office, and the right to possess a firearm, unless they are granted the restoration of their civil rights by the state Office of Executive Clemency. Legislation being […]

Guest AuthorMarch 15, 2017

Another Florida politician has been nicked by the feds. Former Florida State Rep. Dwayne Taylor was recently indicted on nine counts of wire fraud stemming from the alleged embezzlement of campaign funds. He is accused of taking more than $62,000 in campaign funds via ATM withdrawals, checks and petty cash, and depositing them into his […]

Jim RosicaMarch 15, 2017

Members of local mosquito control districts are in Tallahassee Wednesday to ask lawmakers for $3.8 million in next year’s budget to fight the two-winged insects. The Florida Mosquito Control Association held a press conference in the Capitol to drum up support, appearing with state Rep. Matt Caldwell, chairman of the House Government Accountability Committee. The problem: The state’s […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2017

Orlando’s three Democratic members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy, have sent the White House a wish list of transportation projects that include I-4, Sunrail and the Orlando International Airport. The trio sent the list Wednesday urging the administration of President Donald Trump to push the Central Florida package because […]

Les NeuhausMarch 15, 2017

Legislation requiring the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to give free access to the state’s parks for foster families was passed by legislators Wednesday. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources unanimously passed bill, CS-SB 64, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, would waive, or offer discounted entry, into all state parks for […]

Michael MolineMarch 15, 2017

A committee test turned into an anticlimax Wednesday for a Senate bill that would trade a tax break for insurance companies for one to benefit phone, cable, and satellite communications customers. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax adjourned abruptly after approving a bill making technical changes to align Florida’s corporate income tax to the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

A proposal by Port Orange Republican Dorothy Hukill to require high-school students to take a half-credit of instruction in personal financial literacy and money management easily won approval in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Pre-K-12 Education on Wednesday. However, several lawmakers expressed reservations about the fact that unless lawmakers extend the hours of the school day or […]

Month: March 2017

Senate passes fix to ‘stand your ground’ law

Ophthalmologists ‘disheartened’ by House advancing bill for optometrists to practice surgery

Jacksonville City Council ‘community events’ policy up for review

Sean Shaw and Darryl Rouson attempt to deal with Florida’s ban on voting rights for ex-felons on the front end

Glenn Burhans, Jr.: #CashMeOutside – Another Florida pol tripped up by campaign finance laws

Mosquito control boards seeking more money from state

Val Demings, Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy submit transportation list

Senate committee passes bill allowing free state park access to foster families

Committee hearing delayed on Anitere Flores’ tax swap legislation

Senate advances high school financial literacy bill