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Mitch PerryOctober 14, 2015

The intense divide between the Florida House and Senate this year was so intense that House Speaker Steve Crisafulli led his members out of the chambers three days prematurely this past April, leading for the first of a series of special sessions in 2015. Speculation surfaced that the enmity between Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner was still present, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, whose son has Down syndrome, focused on the needs of Floridians with “unique abilities” in his remarks at Wednesday’s Associated Press legislative planning session. When later asked about what was arguably the most pressing issue of last session, paying for hospitals’ charity care, Gardiner – a hospital executive – largely took a pass. […]

Ryan RayOctober 12, 2015

Sen. Oscar Braynon has filed the first proposed re-drawn Senate map under President Andy Gardiner‘s new redistricting regime, following a consent agreement under which the Senate admitted it violated state constitutional prohibitions against gerrymandering. Notably, the map does not feature a district which traverses the Tampa Bay, combining parts of St. Petersburg and Tampa by way of unpopulated […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2015

The Florida Senate on Thursday will start its formal consideration of removing the Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal. But another flag depiction greets visitors to the Capitol as they enter the Senate’s 5th floor observation gallery: The “Five Flags Mural,” which includes the Confederate flag near the center of the 10 foot-by-16 foot painting. Critics needn’t worry […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 30, 2015

Legislative leaders in Tallahassee applauded the news earlier this month that there is likely to be a $635 million budget surplus going into 2016. Senate President Andy Gardiner said the surplus will allow for the Legislature to increase per student funding for schools, as well as provide up a $250 million tax cut. But Florida Tax Watch […]

Gary FineoutSeptember 17, 2015

Florida Rep. Richard Corcoran, soon to become one of the most powerful people in state government, delivered a fiery speech Wednesday promising sweeping changes in everything from schools to legislative ethics and how long judges can stay on the bench. Corcoran, a lawyer and one time top aide to U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio when Rubio […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 16, 2015

There was a battle of arithmetic Wednesday between state senators and the head of the state’s economic development agency as he argued for millions in new funding. Bill Johnson, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, appeared before the Senate’s Commerce and Tourism committee. It was his first appearance since Senate President Andy Gardiner took his […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday defended his chamber’s position on funding the state’s business incentives, three months after Florida’s economic development czar complained lawmakers were starving him of money. “(W)e need to change how we fund economic development,” Gardner said in a memo to senators. “A business would not set aside the total funds needed […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 14, 2015

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With a tip of the hat to Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Luke Strickland is a new legislative assistant in the Senate Majority Office. Off: Christine DonFrancesco is no longer a legislative assistant for Wellington Democrat Sen. Joseph Abruzzo. Off: Katie Martin is no longer […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli says his chamber won’t back down from its version of a redrawn congressional map and thus won’t agree to convene in another Special Session. In a memo to members on Tuesday, Crisafulli – a Merritt Island Republican – did say he’d be OK with the Florida Senate coming back and approving the House […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
Gustavo Petro. Image via AP.

Steve Crisafulli says it’s amazing “anything” gets passed in GOP-led Legislature

Andy Gardiner punts on health care funding question

Oscar Braynon rolls out first Senate redistricting plan ahead of Special Session

Capitol mural with Confederate flag will be ‘changed out’

Florida Tax Watch warns lawmakers surplus can turn into a deficit quickly

Next House speaker: Legislators the enemy, promises change

Enterprise Florida and lawmakers still disagree over funding

Andy Gardiner defends decision on economic development funding

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Steve Crisafulli refuses another Special Session to redraw congressional districts