Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2015

The picture to the right is of the dock in front of the beach house where the Griswolds, er, the Schorsches are vacationing this week. This was supposed to be a recuperative, post-session retreat, and although it has been an enjoyable time here in St. Augustine, it feels like just a break before the next […]

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2015

Thursday, at the end of our story about Sen. Jack Latvala hiring uber fundraiser Meredith O’Rourke to raise money for his political committee, we noted that Ashley Ross had gone to work for Latvala’s rival, Joe Negron. Concurrent with our story, talk circulated that Ross had been fired from the Republican Party of Florida by Senate […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 7, 2015

Just 231 bills passed in the the dysfunctional 2015 session. Most of them, legislative reports show, remain in the Legislature. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have been slow to release bills to Gov. Rick Scott. The House passed 154 bills, memorials, and local bills that require gubernatorial action. One hundred fifty […]

Mitch PerryMay 7, 2015

Social conservatives in Florida are urging Gov. Rick Scott to veto an adoption bill because it lacks a “conscience protection” provision for faith-based adoption and foster care agencies. CS-HB 7013 was a bill strongly supported by Senate President Andy Gardiner when the session began. It re-creates a program to provide a financial benefit of $5,000 or $10,000 […]

James CallMay 6, 2015

Expect Florida lawmakers to spend a long hot summer in Tallahassee. Plus, they will be at the state Capitol for a pretty contentious fall as well. And they just might, with a little luck, be able to fit in a holiday break before returning for the 2016 Legislative Session in January. That’s the consensus of a handful […]

James CallMay 6, 2015

Florida lawmakers will return to the state Capitol June 1 for a special session. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have agreed to call a special session for June 1 through June 20. In a joint memo to the Legislature, Crisafulli and Gardiner said a schedule needs to be finalized and that […]

Ryan RayMay 5, 2015

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The popular ridesharing app company Uber is appealing to the public for support in its effort to persuade lawmakers to include legislation to regulate its industry in the call for a Special Session. “We need your help to make sure the Legislature doesn’t go home again without taking up ridesharing legislation during the special session,” the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 4, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed 16 state agency executives by late Monday, all of whom weren’t confirmed by the Senate this spring. Scott reappointed Jon Steverson as interim executive director of the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary and appointed Rick Swearingen as an interim executive director of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Those agencies report to […]

Ryan RayMay 4, 2015

Southwest Florida businessman Gary Price announced on Monday that he will seek the District 23 Senate seat being vacated by the departure of Garrett Richter due to term limits. In an exclusive conversation with SaintPetersBlog, Price said he will look to leverage his extensive municipal government background – he served on the Naples City Commission for […]

Gary FineoutMay 3, 2015

During the recently-concluded legislative session, Senate President Andy Gardiner constantly warned about the threat to the state’s hospitals if they were to lose more than $1 billion that now comes from the federal government. There’s a good reason Gardiner understands hospitals: he works for one. Gardiner’s employment is legal, but it highlights a common practice […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Takeaways from Tallahassee, er, St. Augustine

From the Not News Dep’t: Ashley Ross wasn’t fired

Rick Scott has no bills in his office to sign or veto

Florida Family Action urges Rick Scott to veto adoption bill

Reporters’ roundtable: Lawmakers back again, and again, to Tallahassee

Speaker, Senate president agree to Special Session dates

Uber wants ridesharing on agenda during Special Session

Andy Gardiner defends appointment record; Rick Scott reappoints 2

Gary Price announces run state Senate run in District 23

Florida legislators push bills tied to their private jobs