Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 18, 2017

Perhaps they’ve been reading the rash of vitriolic emails and op-eds from Florida for Care, or the equally brutal reporting and editorializing from the Tampa Bay Times this past weekend. Maybe it was the litany of emotional public comment at Tuesday’s hearing. Whatever it was, Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee – led by the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 13, 2017

The House approved an $81.2 billion budget Thursday afternoon, sending the proposed fiscal 2017-18 spending plan to conference. The House voted 89-26 to approve the budget proposal after about 45 minutes of debate, mostly from Democratic members raising concerns over spending for public school education, the environment and health care. “I have to rise in […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

As state Rep. Amy Mercado declares, Florida’s now-annual black bear hunt has become a “slaughter.” Mercado and fellow Orlando Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart laid out bills Wednesday to ban the hunts for 10 years, as well as steps to keep bears happy enough in the forests and stop raiding neighborhoods. “The bears, we’ve encroached […]

Scott PowersJanuary 26, 2017

Concerned that there are under-the-radar problems with teen children abusing parents, state Rep. Amy Mercado is seeking to create a parent abuse reporting system that could give the parents some of the same protections the state extends to children being abused by parents. Mercado, an Orlando Democrat, filed House Bill 431 this week, aiming to […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 17, 2017

In front of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio‘s office Tuesday morning, Sen. Victor Torres and Reps. Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith called on Rubio to protect the state’s immigrant population – especially those not here legally. Their message was that time is of the essence – now that the Donald Trump administration is just days away […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2016

While no one from Central Florida will be chairing full committees in the Florida House of Representatives this spring, several local representatives will be chairing key subcommittees, Health Care Appropriations, Tourism & Gaming Control, and Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs. The committee appointments came down Monday from House Speaker Richard Corcoran. State Rep. Mike La […]

Scott PowersNovember 8, 2016

Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith — two former chairs of the Orange County Democrats — will be entering the Florida House of Representatives after easy victories over independent candidates Tuesday. Mercado replaces her father, Victor Torres, in representing Florida House District 48. Torres was elected to the Florida Senate Tuesday in Senate District 15. Smith wins Florida […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2016

Democrats are still in a strong position for Orlando’s three Senate seats, with Republican Realtor Dean Asher still the only candidate standing in the way of a clean sweep. Asher raised another $25,775 for his campaign account and $5,000 for his committee, “Allegiant Friends For Florida,” during the Oct. 22 through Nov. 3 reporting period, […]

Scott PowersNovember 5, 2016

Is it Hillary Clinton or the whole women’s and feminist movement at the top of the Democrats’ ticket on Tuesday? A rally in Orlando Saturday – part of a statewide bus tour full of women’s movement and feminist leaders – offered the suggestion that there are such stark differences in attitudes, rhetoric, histories, and policy […]

Peter SchorschNovember 1, 2016

New campaign finance reports are in and Democrats are still holding strong in two of Orlando’s three Senate seats, though Republican Realtor Dean Asher is still in a strong position in the Senate District 13 race. Asher added another $25,000 to his campaign account and spent just $5,500, leaving him with a little over $92,000 […]

Tag: Amy Mercado
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

House Democrats wake up on weed

House approves its spending plan, setting it up for budget negotiations

Linda Stewart, Amy Mercado introduce bills to protect bears, their food and habitat

Amy Mercado, Victor Torres seek ‘parent abuse’ reporting system

Central Florida House members call on Marco Rubio to protect illegal immigrants

Central Florida reps pleased with tourism, health care subcommittee chairs

Amy Mercado, Carlos Guillermo Smith win Florida House seats

Final round-up of the money race in Central Florida’s legislative races

Women’s groups see Hillary Clinton having skirt-tails to help Stephanie Murphy, other women

Here’s where the money chase stands in Orlando’s legislative races