Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 12, 2015

The first full week of January brought lawmakers and politicos to Tallahassee for a round of legislative committee meetings and the inauguration of Gov. Rick Scott. This provided quite a clash of cultures at local institutions where the natives mix with the out-of-towners. On one side were the legislators, lobbyists and staffers still hung over […]

James CallJanuary 9, 2015

Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said he has no strong feelings about gambling but when talking about cards, he knows how to hold them – close to his chest. A card game provision in a gambling compact with the Seminole Tribe expires in August. The overall agreement gives the tribe exclusive rights to table games […]

James CallDecember 23, 2014

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Florida lawmakers will start work on a new state budget the first week of the New Year. Committee meetings are scheduled for Jan. 5 – 8 amidst the inauguration of Gov. Rick Scott for a second term Jan. 6. Scheduled among the committee’s introductory meetings are three House Appropriations meetings and various Senate committees expecting […]

Phil AmmannDecember 22, 2014

Supporters of paved bicycling trails have big plans for Florida and are turning them into reality. But they also need some help from Amendment 1. Passed in November by 75 percent of voters statewide, Amendment 1 dedicates one-third of the revenue from a tax on real estate transactions toward land and water conservation projects. The […]

Bruce RitchieDecember 18, 2014

Supporters of paved bicycling trails have big plans for Florida and are turning them into reality. But they also need some help from Amendment 1. Passed in November by 75 percent of voters statewide, Amendment 1 dedicates one-third of the revenue from a tax on real estate transactions toward land and water conservation projects. The […]

Peter SchorschDecember 18, 2014

Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday softened the hardline, anti-Medicaid expansion rhetoric at the Capitol. The Senate President told a group of reporters that he expects there will be a bill filed in the Senate to expand Medicaid to cover uninsured working adults who don’t make enough money to qualify for vouchers to buy qualified […]

Peter SchorschDecember 16, 2014

Contrary to readers of political blogs like this one, the overwhelming majority of Floridians do not know much about Andy Gardiner, president of the Florida Senate. Ninety-seven percent of Floridians do not live in Gardiner’s district and it was his colleagues in the upper chamber who made them their leader. Still, Gardiner is one of the three most […]

Peter SchorschDecember 11, 2014

As the official list of 2015 legislative chairs rolls out, the lion’s share of the attention often goes to those slated to lead high profile, influential committees such as Appropriations and Rules. Yet, the upcoming session will likely be highlighted by a broad range of issues – gaming and the new Seminole Compact, growlers, generic […]

Peter SchorschDecember 4, 2014

For a moment there, it looked like it was time to pull the plug. It was time to call the priest and ask him to deliver the last rites. For a moment there, state Sen. Jack Latvala’s ambitions to be president of the Florida Senate in 2016-18 were in their death throes. This past November, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 2, 2014

As we forecasted last month, Senate President Andy Gardiner today appointed Senator Tom Lee as Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Gardiner also appointed Senator Anitere Flores as Chair of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy. Senator Lee previously served in the Florida Senate from 1996-2006, including a two-year term as President of the […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

Peter Schorsch: Insights from the inauguration

Speaker Steve Crisafulli plays Seminole Compact cards close to the vest

State budget work to begin first week of January

Bike trail plan moving toward reality, but needs Amendment 1 funds

Bruce Ritchie: Bike trail plan moving toward reality, but needs Amendment 1 funds

Andy Gardiner: Bipartisan business plan may bring hope to Medicaid expansion

Andy Gardiner in jeopardy of making a bad first impression

Led by Sen. Rob Bradley, Regulated Industries is the committee to watch in 2015

Peter Schorsch: State Sen. Jack Latvala’s ambitions to become Senate president still have life

Sen. Prez Andy Gardiner taps Tom Lee for Appropriations Chair, Anitere Flores as Fiscal Policy Chair