Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

The Florida House’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 could make life uncomfortable for the state’s colleges and universities. The budget — agreed upon in principle, and due in bill form this week — will call for something like $2.2 billion in spending cuts, according to House leaders, for a total expenditure […]

Michael MolineMarch 30, 2017

The Florida House approved legislation on an 82-33 vote Thursday that would ban professional sports teams from building or refurbishing stadiums on public land. CS/HB 77, by Bryan Avila, would forbid the construction, renovation, or improvement on any pro facility “on public land leased from the state or a political subdivision thereof.” Cities and counties […]

Michael MolineMarch 29, 2017

A proposal that could decertify public employee union chapters across Florida moved closer to a final House vote Wednesday, as its sponsor denied it was “union busting.” Sponsor Scott Plakon, a Republican business owner from Longwood, argued his bill was about transparency and democratic principles. “This empowers the majority who may not be paying dues,” […]

Michael MolineMarch 29, 2017

Two days after the Oakland Raiders won NFL approval to move to Las Vegas, the Florida House Wednesday set a final floor vote on a bill that would ban professional sports teams from building or refurbishing stadiums on public land. CS/HB 77, by Bryan Avila, says “a sports franchise may not construct, reconstruct, renovate, or […]

Staff ReportsMarch 24, 2017

The House will vote on a state budget on April 13, if all goes according to plan. The Appropriations Committee is to release its budget bill and related documents to senators and the public no later than 8 a.m. on March 31, according to a copy of the timeline posted by LobbyTools. The full committee […]

Michael MolineMarch 23, 2017

The Florida House voted Thursday unanimously to direct two-thirds of the $400 million the state is due from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster to the worst-affected counties in the Panhandle. HB 7077 requires 75 percent of all payments that Florida receives from the settlement agreement between the five Gulf states and BP […]

Michael MolineMarch 23, 2017

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The Florida House voted Thursday to ban the use of red light cameras to enforce traffic laws in the state. The vote on final passage went 91-22. Supporters argued the cameras don’t save lives and have become money-makers for vendors, some of them located out of state. “It has become less about public safety and […]

Michael MolineJanuary 12, 2017

Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala sent a message Thursday to the House leadership: Don’t expect to force the Senate to abide by your strict new budget rules. “We have our own rules in the Senate. We are going to abide by our own rules,” Latvala told reporters following a committee meeting. “I think it would […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

Florida House Democratic chief Janet Cruz announced her leadership team Wednesday, saying she strove for diversity in their selection. “In order to build consensus on how to confront the difficult issues facing our state, we must take into account the many varying stakeholders whose futures will be affected by the decisions we make in the […]

Michael MolineDecember 6, 2016

The Florida House is 76 percent male, 66 percent white, and has an awful lot of newcomers this year, according to data released by the Majority Office. The Republican caucus is 82 percent male and overwhelmingly white, also at 82 percent, with 17 percent Hispanic and 1 percent African-American. That last would be Rep. Byron […]

Tag: 2017 Florida House

Higher education projects fail House’s strict new budget test

House approves crackdown on public investment in pro sports stadiums

Bill targeting public-employee unions advances toward final House floor vote

Ban on public support for profession sports facilities cleared for final House vote

House releases timetable for voting on its proposed state budget

House votes to steer most BP oil spill settlement money to the Panhandle

House votes to bar use of red light cameras to monitor intersections

Jack Latvala to House: The Senate makes its own rules

Janet Cruz highlights diversity in picking Democratic leadership

This is your Florida House — men, whites, youth have the numbers