Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 22, 2015

When Florida’s Legislative Session began in March, there were high expectations, especially for education and healthcare. But by session’s end, that optimism was long gone, says Florida Education Association President Andy Ford. Now that budget talks are set to resume, and lawmakers prepare for a June 1 Special Session, there’s still one last chance for […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 22, 2015

With a little more than a week to go before the start of the 2015 Special Session details of plans continue to emerge. In a memo sent to senators, Senate President Andy Gardiner outlined the timeline he plans to follow during the session, showing that the chamber will focus on health care access the first […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 21, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner sent a memo to members on Thursday advising that the tentative $1 billion approval of Low Income Pool funds for fiscal year 2015-16 does not mean that Florida’s health care debate is over. In fact, it’s the opposite. “The news brings certainty to what we have known for over a year […]

Gary FineoutMay 18, 2015

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature will return to the state Capitol in June and try to do what they couldn’t do during their 60-day session that crashed to a halt. GOP legislative leaders announced late Friday that they have come up with a long list of items they want to tackle during a 20-day special session, including […]

Peter SchorschMay 15, 2015

As Florida lawmakers continue to face off over the multibillion dollar issue of whether to expand Medicaid, one of the fiercest critics of those opposed to such a plan is a prominent former member. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano does not hide the fact that he is, at the very least, upset with those members […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

Rick Scott sent a memo to his agencies on Thursday asking them to compile a list of services people cannot lose and identifying what would be funded in a pared back budget he’s developing for the upcoming year. Scott has refused to directly answer, though, whether he’ll be submitting the information he compiles with the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott told state agencies Thursday to compile a list by Monday of critical services that people “cannot lose” and submit them to his office to help prepare a budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Scott’s memo to agency heads includes a list of critical services the Office of Planning and Budgeting has identified […]

Peter SchorschMay 14, 2015

The half-decade-long race to determine who will serve as president of the Florida Senate from 2016 to 2018 — either Jack Latvala or Joe Negron — has taken on all the difficulty of a Chinese finger puzzle after a series of recent developments designed to solve the matter have only made the issue more complicated. Most […]

Associated PressMay 12, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner is telling state senators that taxpayers will pay their legal bills as part of an ongoing lawsuit over state Senate districts. The top lawyer in the Senate this month told 19 senators that Gardiner has approved a $5,000 stipend for them to hire their own attorneys. The groups challenging state […]

Mitch PerryMay 11, 2015

After being passed over for funding during the past couple of legislative sessions, members of the film, television and digital media community in Florida crossed their fingers long before the 2015 session started. They hoped this would be the year the state’s film tax incentive program would be replenished. It used up all of its funding a […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
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Email insights: When budget money flows again, FEA will be first in line

Andy Gardiner releases Special Session schedule: health care first, budget 2nd

Andy Gardiner still wants health access fix in spite of $1 billion in Medicaid money

ICYMI: Legislators agree to do budget, health care during session

Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano, one of the loudest critics of Florida House’s health care position, STILL employed by Florida Hospital Tampa

What will Rick Scott do with base budget he’s preparing?

Rick Scott tells agencies to list “critical needs” in case of shutdown

The race for Senate President has become a Chinese finger puzzle

State Senate will pay legal bills for 19 senators

Film Florida wants incentives bill included in Special Session