Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Lloyd DunkelbergerJuly 7, 2016

Floridians with disabilities will now be able to save up to $100,000 in a tax-free account to pay for their health care, education and job training without jeopardizing their government benefits. Under a 2015 law, sponsored by Estero Republican Rep. Ray Rodrigues and Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, a Fort Myers Republican, ABLE United launched the program […]

Jim RosicaJune 27, 2016

State Sen. Don Gaetz is telling constituents not to take the special-session-on-gun-control bait. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who was Senate president in 2012-14, sent out an email Monday. It reprinted and linked to an op-ed he wrote for the Northwest Florida Daily News, Okaloosa County’s newspaper. It appeared Sunday. He wrote on the mass shooting at […]

Mitch PerryJune 20, 2016

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Eight days after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando left 49 dead and an additional 53 injured in the single worst shooting incident in modern U.S. history, the Florida League of Women Voters is calling on state leaders to hold a special session to deal with two specific gun control issues by the […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2016

Politics never takes a day off, and some would probably say it shouldn’t. Take the reaction this week to the shooting massacre in Orlando. Democrats have done what they believe urgently needs to be done to lessen the possibility of further mass gun shootings, by introducing gun control legislation in Washington. In Washington early this […]

Scott PowersJune 6, 2016

Democrat Rick Roach drew 155 people in his quest for state Senate District 13 and said he received a standing ovation Sunday for delivering a new platform for reforming school testing and education in Florida. “It kind of exceeded my expectations. I think I’ve given people something to vote for,” said Roach, a former Orange […]

Jim RosicaJune 1, 2016

Advocacy groups suing the Legislature over environmental funding now are asking a judge to hand them the win. Florida Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and others filed a 57-page motion for summary judgment Wednesday. Granting such motions allows parties to win a case without a trial. They filed suit last year over Amendment 1, the constitutional amendment approved […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 25, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has some suggestions to make sure college students graduate in four years. Remove additional fees for online classes. Allow Bright Futures scholarships to be used for summer classes. Make sure students get credit for college-level courses taken in high schools. The Naples Republican laid out his proposal at his Degrees to Jobs […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 25, 2016

The push to make sure Florida graduates can enter the workforce shouldn’t stop when it comes to students with intellectual disabilities. That was the message Senate President Andy Gardiner sent during a speech at the Degrees to Jobs Education Summit on Wednesday afternoon. Gardiner used his speech to highlight the work the Legislature has done to make […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 25, 2016

Calling it an opportunity to connect businesses and university leaders, Gov. Rick Scott kicked off his 2016 Degrees to Jobs Summit in Orlando on Wednesday morning. The goal, Scott told a room of about 350 university, college and business leaders, is to “challenge everything we’re doing.” “This is going to be a fun two days,” […]

Peter SchorschMay 15, 2016

As he gets ready to “go home,” as departing legislators like to say, outgoing Senate President Andy Gardiner has no regrets or hard feelings. He did have choice words regarding lobbyists for gambling concerns, however: They “just get greedy.” Gardiner, an opponent of gambling expansion, recently sat down with Capital Correspondent Jim Rosica for an “exit interview.” He leaves office later this […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

ABLE United launches, offers tax-free savings for disabled Floridians

Don Gaetz: We don’t need special session for gun control

Florida LWV wants Legislature to convene special session to address gun control issues

Mitch Perry Report for 6.16.16 -CLC clears the path for Rubio

Democrat Rick Roach finds his mark in SD 13 race with fix-education platform

Plaintiffs seek summary judgment in Amendment 1 suit

At summit, Rick Scott urges on Florida colleges, universities to help students graduate sooner

Andy Gardiner touts Center for Students with Unique Abilities at education summit

Rick Scott kicks off 2016 Degrees to Jobs summit

Peter Schorsch: From the ‘gambling boys’ to (un)popularity contests