Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersSeptember 26, 2017

State Reps. Rene Plasencia and Bob Cortes announced the creation of a bipartisan legislative team starting with two dozen Florida lawmakers seeking ways to assist Puerto Rico in its recovery from Hurricane Maria. Besides Cortes and Plasencia, Central Florida Republicans who both have Puerto Rico heritage, the “FL2PR Response Team” also includes Republican David Santiago […]

Scott PowersAugust 24, 2017

Dinners are being planned throughout Florida this month featuring Democratic lawmakers and young, undocumented immigrants to draw attention to the federal Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program that is at risk of being ended by the administration of President Donald Trump. The meals, which include events that occurred in the past week featuring Tallahassee Mayor Andrew […]

Phil AmmannJuly 25, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Amber Moody is a new support analyst for the House Office of Information Technology. Off: Michael Ellis is no longer a journal writer/editor for the Legislative Process Division. Off and on: Natasha Sutherland has […]

Scott PowersJuly 17, 2017

Democratic candidate Anna Eskamani announced the endorsements Monday of 10 Democratic members of the Florida House of Representatives in her bid for Florida’s House District 47. In addition to the endorsements from Democratic state Reps. Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando, announced earlier, the backing comes from Democratic state Reps. John Cortes of […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

A Brevard County commissioner is taking on Puerto Rico, in a confrontation that is rumbling through Central Florida’s Puerto Rican population and bound to lead to a showdown Tuesday night at the county commission meeting. John Tobia, a Republican former member of the Florida House of Representatives who now represents southeast Brevard on the county […]

Scott PowersJuly 5, 2017

Democrat Anna Eskamani kicked off her 2018 campaign for House District 47 with a Wednesday rally at Orlando City Hall, several major endorsements, thousands of social media hits and $6,000 in donations, all gathered, she said, in the less than two days since she filed to run on Monday. Eskamani, the first in from any […]

Scott PowersJune 26, 2017

Orlando’s Democratic state Sen. Victor Torres has thrown his support behind former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham for governor. Torres is a first-term senator who spent two terms in the Florida House of Representatives. “As someone who has lived a full life full of hard work, I can tell you nothing provides more insight into what […]

Staff ReportsJune 6, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Hope Holt, formerly calendar coordinator in the House Clerk’s Office, is now serving as a program specialist for the Office of Professional Development. Off: Tina White stepped down as policy chief for the House Criminal Justice […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

The voting record report is out. Associated Industries of Florida released its 2017 Voting Record report. Published for more than four decades, the annual report is considered one of the definitive legislative scorecards for the business community. This year, the organization calculated more than 208,966 votes on 1,955 bills with 848 legislators. “This session, AIF […]

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Saying that the current limbo of law is bad for doctors and patients, Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado pleaded with Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Legislature leaders to call a special session to deal with medical marijuana. “We are here because 71 percent of Florida voters approved the constitutional right to […]

Tag: Amy Mercado

Bipartisan Florida for Puerto Rico legislative effort assembled

Democratic lawmakers planning dinners with DREAMer immigrants

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Anna Eskamani draws 10 Democratic lawmakers’ endorsements in HD 47

Brevard resolution opposing statehood outrages Central Florida Puerto Ricans

Anna Eskamani hits trail with quick start in HD 47 race

Victor Torres jumps on Gwen Graham bandwagon

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Associated Industries releases 2017 Voting Record report

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Amy Mercado say special session needed to end cannabis legal limbo