Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 20, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli are beginning their first legislative session as their chambers’ leaders with a unified front and much in common. Both are conservative Republicans with business backgrounds who list faith and family among their highest values. Gardiner is considered “old Orlando” — where his family has lived since […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida is weighing in on the sports incentives the Joint Legislative Budget Commission is slated to discuss tomorrow. Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of business lobby AIF, sent a letter to the 14 members of the LBC asking that they consider the “impact, great number of jobs and rich history […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida is weighing in on the sports incentives the Joint Legislative Budget Commission is slated to discuss tomorrow. Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of business lobby AIF, sent a letter to the 14 members of the LBC asking that they consider the “impact, great number of jobs and rich history […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s criticism of the Department of Economic Opportunity is getting louder. In a pre-session interview with FloridaPolitics.com, Crisafulli said he would be willing to change the state law to make clear that the competitive applications must be ranked by the Department of Economic Opportunity, and that the Department cannot simply review the […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s criticism of the Department of Economic Opportunity is getting louder. In a pre-session interview with FloridaPolitics.com, Crisafulli said he would be willing to change the state law to make clear that the competitive applications must be ranked by the Department of Economic Opportunity, and that the Department cannot simply review the […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 17, 2015

Florida’s child-welfare system is once again under Tallahassee’s microscope, further consequence of the death of 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck, whose father threw her off a St. Petersburg bridge into Tampa Bay on Jan. 8. Senate President Andy Gardiner is calling for an “across the board” examination of the state’s mental health care and abuse hotline procedures, […]

Bruce RitchieFebruary 14, 2015

The Senate on Friday filed its version of a water bill that also deals with Amendment 1, the water and land conservation funding initiative approved by voters last November. Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli both have said they expect water to be a major issue in the legislative session, which begins […]

James CallFebruary 10, 2015

A big foot can make noise and Jeb Bush is starting to make noise. About 300 people attended a Right to Rise PAC fundraiser Tuesday, sponsored by some of Tallahassee’s leading lobbying firms and featuring the former Florida governor. Bush a nascent presidential candidate — he’s “seriously considering” — was enough to make the GOP’s […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2015

With the 2015 Florida Legislative Session less than a month away, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli will visit Holy Comforter Episcopal School in Tallahassee to examine some of the state’s pressing issues in its annual Spring Lecture Series. The event – titled “A Special Legislative Preview” — will be on Thursday, February 12 beginning 7:00 p.m. the […]

Ryan RayFebruary 2, 2015

What a tangled web we weave when we practice to achieve (even admirable) public policy goals via constitutional amendment. That sums up the current state of affairs for presumably millions of Florida voters who support both Amendment 1’s expansion of funding for water and land conservation and affordable housing programs like the Sadowski housing trust fund, says […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senate President Andy Gardiner reveal softer sides

Did Dep’t of Economic Opportunity ‘punt’ on sports incentives? Debate continues to heat up on eve of legislative review

Did Dep't of Economic Opportunity 'punt' on sports incentives? Debate continues to heat up on eve of legislative review

House Speaker, Dep’t of Economic Opportunity set to clash over stadium incentives

House Speaker, Dep't of Economic Opportunity set to clash over stadium incentives

Andy Gardiner calls for full analysis after death of Phoebe Jonchuck

Compared to House, Florida Senate offers wider-ranging water bill

Jeb Bush bestrides Tallahassee like a colossus

Florida lawmakers to give 2015 legislative preview at Holy Comforter Lecture Series

Troubled waters for housing advocates, Senate environmental committee chair