Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

A resolution to depose Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, CSA, from his place in the National Statuary Hall collection and install Mary McLeon Bethune cleared the Senate Thursday on a voice vote. SCR 1360, by Perry Thurston, went to the House, where its future was uncertain. Smith is one of two historical figures whose likeness stands in […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House-Senate budget conference committee convened Thursday, exchanged pleasantries, and dispersed to begin working toward a compromise $83 billion spending plan for next fiscal year. “Let the games begin,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, who’ll serve as chairman of the conference. “We look forward to making quick and aggressive counter-offers, and we look forward […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The House and Senate agreed upon the outlines of a state budget Thursday and appointed conferees to work out the details, beginning that afternoon. Senate President Joe Negron said the deal would provide an across-the-board raise for state workers — their first in about nine years, according to Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, for whom the […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to apologize to survivors of the Groveland Four — African-American men who were brutalized in 1949 following a false accusation of rape. The senators first voted, 36-0, to sign on as cosponsors, then approved the resolution on a voice vote. “This is a great miscarriage of justice,” sponsor Gary Farmer said. “This […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

The reaction to the Florida Legislature’s repeal of the state’s “booze wall” law continued long after Wednesday’s vote. The House, on a close vote of 58-57, passed the Senate’s bill (SB 106) to allow retailers to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. (Full story here.) The legislation now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. If signed […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has issued another missive urging full financial support for Visit Florida. This one is a memo written to Scott by Christian Weiss, in-house economist to the governor, who warns that cutting the tourism-development program by $50 million — as House and Senate budget negotiators are considering doing — would result in a […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

Sen. Dorothy Hukill wasn’t there to defend herself, so her Senate colleagues plastered her name on legislation she long has sponsored to promote financial literacy education. The vote to sign on as a co-sponsor of the amendment was 36-0. The vote to approve the bill was the same. “This has been a bill that Sen. […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

The Senate voted, 35-0, Wednesday to apologize for decades of abuse at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Florida Schools for Boys at Okeechobee. Addressing 14 middle-aged and elderly survivors viewing from the Senate gallery, Sen. Daryl Rouson said: “We say to you, we apologize. We are sorry.” The House voted to apologize […]

Staff ReportsApril 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott, while on a trade mission to Argentina, urged the Florida Legislature to include his economic incentives programs when finalizing the next state budget. “Lawmakers cannot be shortsighted at the expense of Florida families by cutting funds for tourism marketing and economic development,” Scott said in a written statement distributed by his office. “I would be […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2017

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The Florida Legislature has voted to tear down the booze ‘wall.’ The House, on a by-a-nose vote of 58-57, Wednesday passed the Senate’s bill (SB 106) to allow retailers, at least those who choose to do so, to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. The legislation now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. […]

Tag: 2017 Legislative Session
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Resolution to replace Confederate general with educator passes the Senate

Budget conference committee gets down to work, with time running short

House and Senate settle budget allotments, appoint conference committees

Senate sends Groveland Four resolution to Governor and Cabinet

Interests for and against ‘liquor wall’ legislation react to passage

Continuing sales pitch for Visit Florida, Rick Scott warns of hit to state revenues

Senate makes it the Dorothy L. Hukill Financial Literacy Education Act

Florida Senate votes apology for abuse at Dozier School for Boys

From Argentina, Rick Scott keeps up the chatter for economic incentives

Legislature votes to tear down the ‘liquor wall’