Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 30, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner wants to schedule three weeks in June for a special session to write a state budget. Gardiner wrote to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Thursday, thanking the speaker for a prompt response to his previous letter and acknowledging the House’s intention not to return to Tallahassee prior to the scheduled expiration […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

Supplemental Medicaid funding and whether Florida should expand health care access to 800,000 uninsured working Floridians was the issue that brought the 2015 session to a grinding halt. In Orlando, though, the issue of Low Income Pool funding and Medicaid expansion didn’t draw crowds as the Agency for Health Care Administration held the first of […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

We finally have a challenger to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential nomination contest. Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, 73, officially announces his candidacy Thursday, though he says he won’t give a big speech noting the event until May 26. “I’ve been traveling around the country for the last year trying to ascertain whether there […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 29, 2015

As the dysfunctional 2015 regular legislative session continued on Wednesday with the Florida Senate threatening to sue the House for its abrupt sine die, Gov. Rick Scott floated to the media details about the hospital and health care commission he plans on convening. Scott released a draft outline of the commission that shows he plans […]

James CallApril 29, 2015

Instead of a Doctor of the Day, when the Florida House and Senate next meet, maybe they should consider a psychologist, counselor or mediator. After an exchange of insults and letters Wednesday it became even more uncertain when the two chambers will be able to begin budget negotiations. The gulf between the Florida House and […]

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2015

Less than half an hour after Senate President Andy Gardiner sent a letter to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Wednesday asking him to bring the House back into Session, Crisafulli responded forcefully. He’s not doing it. The defiant speaker chastised the Senate in the letter, referring to bills the House has passed but have yet to get […]

Mitch PerryApril 29, 2015

A day after House Speaker Steve Crisafulli stunned lawmakers by adjourning the House of Representatives three days early, Senate President Andy Gardiner responded He called on Crisafulli to bring the House back into session by this Friday afternoon. In a letter to Crisafulli, Gardiner quotes Article III, section 3 of the Florida Constitution, which states: “Neither house […]

Bruce RitchieApril 29, 2015

A House bill establishing comprehensive water policy was amended and passed by the Senate on Wednesday, but was dead because the House had adjourned on Tuesday. House bills dealing with hydraulic fracturing were not voted on in the Senate because their Senate sponsor said they lacked the two-thirds vote needed. The 2015 Legislative Session continued […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

The Florida House adjourned the 2015 Legislative Session on Tuesday, leaving bills dealing with water policy, hydraulic fracturing, septic tank waste and Duke Energy Florida in doubt. As the Senate was discussing fracking legislation, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli told House members there was no reason to keep House members in Tallahassee because of an impasse […]

James CallApril 28, 2015

Medical marijuana advocates are now looking to 2016. One of the casualties of the budget debate waging between the House and Senate is a glitch bill for last year’s Charlotte’s Web law. SPB 7066 died Tuesday when the House unexpectedly adjourned the 2015 session three days early. “I have never seen more lobbyists with their […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

Andy Gardiner proposes 3-week Special Session in June

First Medicaid waiver meeting in Orlando draws small crowd

Mitch Perry Report for 4.30.15 — Hillary Clinton finally has challenger

Rick Scott releases plan to examine hospitals’, insurance companies’ profits

Senate President, House Speaker exchange letters as budget dispute deepens

Steve Crisafulli refuses to bring Florida House back into Session

Senate President calls on House to return, finish Session

Water, fracking bills die as Senate meets without House

Fracking, land management and water bills left in doubt

Medical marijuana advocates disappointed, look to 2016