Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 28, 2017

Amidst a phalanx of meetings with Florida legislators for Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday were talks with two Northeast Florida Senators: Rob Bradley and Aaron Bean. As a measure of the governor’s efficiency, the meetings were back to back in the 11:00 hour, with a meeting with Ocala Sen. Dennis Baxley in between. Bradley’s summation of the meeting: “The […]

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 Naples Daily News isn’t a usual go-to source on northeast Florida politics, but it dropped a blockbuster story about Sen. Aaron Bean on Monday. The claim: “Bean helped secure a $1 million special appropriation in this year’s budget for an early mental health screening program run by Catherine Drew, the wife of Nassau County Tax Collector John Drew. Bean and John Drew […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

A Florida Senate committee unanimously passed a proposal Tuesday giving electric utilities the opportunity to invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup money from customers. The legislation would allow any Florida power company using natural gas for 65 percent or more of its electricity generation to explore out-of-state for natural gas using residential ratepayer’s money. The bill from Fernandina […]

Mitch PerryMarch 13, 2017

On Monday, a House committee advanced legislation that could result in a 2018 constitutional amendment asking Floridians to make Secretary of State an elected position. Stuart Republican Gayle Harrell told members of the House Oversight, Transparency & Administration Subcommittee that the Secretary of State’s office is so important, that he or she needs to be accountable to all the citizens […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 9, 2017

It would tax the imagination to come up with anything that Florida needs less than to elect a secretary of state once again. Why would the Legislature even consider that? Sen. Aaron Bean, the sponsor, explained it the other day. As reported by FloridaPolitics.com, the Fernandina Beach Republican told the Senate ethics committee that in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 7, 2017

Historically, the Secretary of State in Florida was elected by the public, but that changed in 1998, when constitutional changes removed that position from the elected Cabinet of the executive branch. Now, 19 years later, Fernandina Beach Republican Sen. Aaron Bean wants to bring that position back into the Cabinet. At the Senate Committee on Ethics and […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2017

State Sen. Aaron Bean is one of the most compelling personalities in the Florida Senate, and he has a number of bills that hit hot-button topics loaded up for the current session. Among the topics: EBT cards, non-citizen voting, sanctuary cities, and foreign terror organizations. We talked to Bean, a Republican representing part of Duval […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 23, 2017

It’s never too early in the day to start fundraising. Sen. Denise Grimsley is scheduled to hold a fundraising reception for her 2018 bid for Agriculture Commissioner at 7:30 a.m. on March 7 at Florida Finance Strategies, 111-B East College Avenue in Tallahassee. The reception, according to a copy of the invitation, is hosted by […]

Tag: Aaron Bean
Gabrielle Russon

Rob Bradley, Aaron Bean get facetime with Rick Scott

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

A look at Aaron Bean’s accuser, Carlos Slay

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

Bill permitting Florida PSC to allow natural gas investments passes Senate committee

Proposal to make Secretary of State an elected Cabinet position advances in Florida House

Florida doesn’t need an elected Secretary of State, or Agriculture Commissioner

Legislation that would make Florida’s Secretary of State an elected position advances

Aaron Bean tackles hot-button topics in this session’s legislation

Bring on the orange juice: Denise Grimsley schedules breakfast fundraiser for March 7