Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 14, 2016

Turnover of staff at Florida’s prisons is so high that a substantial majority of guards in some prisons have less than two years experience, Corrections Secretary Julie Jones said Wednesday before the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee. Jones was at the subcommittee’s introductory meeting to push hers’ and Gov. Rick Scott administration’s priorities. They start with […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2016

The Duval County Legislative Delegation selected a new chair and a new vice-chair on Wednesday, during a meeting in Jacksonville. Stepping down from the chair: Mia Jones, who reminded the new members that “home is where the rubber meets the road,” and to not fall into the trap of putting state issues over local concerns. Selected […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2016

Northeast Florida Sens. Aaron Bean, Rob Bradley, Audrey Gibson, and Travis Hutson all have new committee assignments. Happily for Northeast Florida, the first three listed will be in a position to have say over the upper house’s purse strings in the coming Session. Bean will be one of three First Coast Delegation Members on the Appropriations Committee, with leadership […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2016

A recurring issue in Florida presents a particular type of tragedy: babies dying during open heart surgery. The issue extends far beyond Florida, sadly. CNN noted that in 2015, some hospitals had death rates over 12 percent. And to put that number in perspective, half of the hospitals that perform pediatric heart surgeries nationally do not […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 29, 2016

In 2014, the Florida Legislature enacted a pilot program designed to make it easier for foster children to get driver’s licenses and auto insurance. In 2017, Sen. Aaron Bean seeks to make that program permanent, via Senate Bill 60, to ensure children in “out-of-home care” permanently have a way to secure driver’s licenses and defray the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2016

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. And pretty soon, it might be on a Florida license plate. A bill filed by Northeast Florida State Senator Aaron Bean may lead to more money for wetlands conservation, via a specialty license plate for Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited, a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2016

The Duval County Legislative Delegation has a lot of new faces and a crowded agenda in front of it on Wednesday afternoon, when they convene at Jacksonville’s city hall. New to the body: Republican Reps. Cord Byrd of House District 11 and Clay Yarborough in HD 12, Democratic Rep. Tracie Davis of House District 13, Democratic […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

Last March, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the Duval delegation convened at Jacksonville’s City Hall, to discuss “what winning looks like.” The city got 90 percent of its appropriations goals. Jacksonville got money for public safety, such as the COPS program, and infrastructure needs, asking for $2 million and getting $1.8 million. And […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

Over 500 families can count on having a better Thanksgiving this year, thanks to a group of Jacksonville politicians who will host a farm share event Saturday. The food giveaway is on a first come, first serve basis, and kicks off at 9 a.m. at parking lot 4 of Florida State College — Jacksonville’s downtown campus. The […]

Peter SchorschNovember 11, 2016

A compilation of Veterans Day messages from Florida’s elected officials and politicians: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam: In honor of Veterans Day, I want to tell you about a little-known program that’s honoring the sacrifices of our nation’s wounded veterans. It’s called Operation Outdoor Freedom. Since 2011, we’ve invited more than 2,000 wounded veterans to enjoy […]

Tag: Aaron Bean

Julie Jones says prisons need higher pay to stop ‘churn in the hiring’

Duval Delegation elects Jay Fant new chair, Aaron Bean vice-chair

Northeast Florida Senators to feature heavily on Appropriations Committee

Aaron Bean introduces pediatric cardiac care bill

Program for driver’s licenses for foster children could be made permanent

Ducks Unlimited plates for Florida vehicles may be coming soon

Packed agenda for Duval Delegation meeting Wednesday

New Duval delegation members face a learning curve

Farm share giveaway to brighten Jacksonville Thanksgiving dinners

Compilation of Veterans Day messages from Florida’s elected officials and politicians