Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 4, 2018

A Tampa orchid nursery seeking to break into the medical marijuana market is challenging the Department of Health‘s plan to give a preference in how it awards new licenses to grow the plant. Louis Del Favero Orchids filed a challenge Friday to a proposed rule from the department’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, which regulates […]

Michael MolineJune 9, 2017

The Legislature concluded its special session with about an hour and 20 minutes to spare Friday, after voting to improve funding for public schools, colleges, and universities, and revamping the way the state encourages economic growth. While they were at it, the lawmakers passed an implementing bill for the medical marijuana constitutional amendment the voters […]

Michael MolineJune 9, 2017

The Senate has teed up a compromise school-funding bill designed to help send the Legislature home from its special session. But the senators held off a final vote until the House makes good on its promise to OK an economic development bill that contains $60 million in higher education projects. The Senate passed the latter […]

Staff ReportsJune 9, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott expanded the call of the Legislature’s special session Friday to include money he wants to repair the Herbert Hoover Dike and higher education investments important to the Senate. And here are the details that got us here: The Senate will relent on trying to appropriate more money for hospitals; there will be nothing that […]

Michael MolineJune 9, 2017

The House passed the economic incentives package Friday over complaints it would hand Gov. Rick Scott a “slush fund” and make a mockery of the leadership’s professed opposition to picking winners and losers in the economy. The vote was 111-4. The “no” votes were John Cortes, Evan Jenne, McGhee, and Emily Slosberg — all Democrats. The […]

Michael MolineJune 8, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron insisted Thursday, for the second time in as many days, that he emphatically was not party to any deal between Gov. Rick Scott and the House over public education spending and economic incentives. Any suggestion otherwise, Negron told reporters following the day’s Senate session, is a “false narrative.” There is evidence, he […]

Michael MolineJune 8, 2017

The Senate rejected amendments Thursday that might have blocked a meeting of minds with the House on public schools funding — including bids to tie the legislation explicitly to economic development investments. “These issues have been parsed out separately,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, who offered both amendments. “Let’s put them together. And let’s candidly assert […]

Michael MolineJune 8, 2017

The Senate’s versions of legislation pumping money into public schools, hospitals, Enterprise Florida, and Visit Florida — and establishing a regulatory framework for medical marijuana — cleared the Appropriations Committee Thursday. The votes — either unanimous or nearly so — sent the measures to the Senate floor. They also augured confrontations with the House involving […]

Michael MolineJune 7, 2017

The Senate’s frustration at the cosy new relationship between Gov. Rick Scott and the House showed during debate in the Committee on Commerce and Tourism on a compromise economic incentives and tourism-marketing plan. Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, presenting the bill, noted the criticism over “backroom dealmaking” involving the budget approved during an extended regular session […]

Michael MolineJune 7, 2017

The Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Rick Scott’s veto of the public schools budget, plus a number of higher education building projects. The first override was an “insurance policy” intended to keep the schools open after July 1 if this week’s special session of the Legislature breaks down. “This is an insurance policy. We […]

Tag: 2017 special session

‘Flower’ fight: Citrus preference sparks medical marijuana rule challenge

Legislature adjourns sometimes-bumpy Special Session in a burst of amity

Senate holds off on school funding until House acts on higher education

We have a deal: Rick Scott expands scope of special session

The economic incentives bill clears the House by a lopsided vote

Joe Negron doubles down: He was not party to any special session deal

Senate avoids loading down schools funding bill with hostile amendments

Budget panel sends schools, economic development, Medicaid bills to the floor

Senate bristles at House ‘Holy Grail’ version of economic incentives package

Senate votes to override veto of public education budget as ‘insurance’