Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2016

A mentally ill inmate who was in protective custody was found dead at the Columbia Correctional Institution on Tuesday, a day after a corrections officer was hospitalized in an attack. It’s yet another black mark on Florida’s prison system, one that many say is overcrowded and underfunded. The Department of Corrections, though, insists those issues had nothing […]

Scott PowersApril 7, 2016

Outgoing Senate President Andy Gardiner conceded Thursday that the presidential election, the possible “Trump effect,” and other issues likely will lead to Democrats making gains in the Florida Legislature elections this fall. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, told the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida that he is confident the GOP will retain its majority in […]

Jim RosicaApril 5, 2016

With work well underway on renovations of the Florida Senate chamber, there’s still no word on the fate of the decades-old mural that greets visitors to the chamber’s fifth floor public gallery. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said Tuesday no final decision has been made about the artwork’s future. This past October, Betta said the mural will be taken down because it’s showing […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 16, 2016

How do you celebrate the end of a Legislative Session? If you’re Florida House and Senate Republicans, you do it with a fundraiser at Universal Orlando. Republican leaders will hold a fundraiser at Universal Orlando on April 9 and 10. The event, first reported by POLITICO Florida reporter Matt Dixon, will benefit the House and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took a pre-emptive strike Tuesday, saying he plans to veto more than $250 million in projects when lawmakers send him the fiscal 2016-17 budget. The move comes just days after the Legislature voted overwhelmingly — 40-0 in the Senate and 119-1 in the House — to approve the $82.3 billion spending plan. […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America said it was disappointed lawmakers capped off the 2016 Legislative Session without passing insurance regulations for Uber and Lyft drivers. “Twenty-nine other states have passed legislation addressing insurance coverage requirements for TNCs, and it is past time for Florida to do the same,” the group said in a […]

Ryan RayMarch 11, 2016

A compromise between Republican lawmakers and ride-hailing firms like Uber was on thin ice Friday afternoon as Session raced to a close, until finally, the bill hit a brick wall. Sen. David Simmons, the Senate Rules Chair, had worked on the bill (SB 1118) for months. It would have mandated minimum commercial insurance requirements for drivers with Uber and […]

Associated PressMarch 10, 2016

Putting behind a year’s worth of rancor, the Florida Legislature on Friday will approve a more than $82.3 billion budget that includes a slight boost in money for schools but also rejects many of Gov. Rick Scott‘s main priorities. Just a few months ago the Republican-controlled Legislature was rushing to pass a budget to avoid […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2016

It’s been a very Florida-centric day for the Hillary Clinton campaign. The Clinton press shop has sent out reminders of Bernie Sanders‘ comments from 1985 on Cuba and Nicaragua, popular points of defense among the left at the time. However, most of Clinton’s push has been about 2016 issues. And in her sights: Florida Gov. Rick Scott, […]

Ryan RayMarch 10, 2016

A representative of Uber personally delivered what he said were 32,588 petitions to Senate President Andy Gardiner on Thursday morning, continuing the intensifying fight between Senate leadership and the ride-hailing industry. They have sparred for months over insurance regulations and the preemption of local ordinances. The two parties are locked in a heated debate over whether the Senate should […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Jeff Brandes say his next focus will be on reforming Florida prison system

Andy Gardiner expects Democrats to make some gains in 2016 state elections

Still no decision on Florida Senate’s “Five Flags Mural”

House, Senate Republicans to hold fundraiser at Universal Orlando

Rick Scott says he’ll veto more than $250 million from state budget

Property Casualty Insurers “disappointed” by failure to pass ride-sharing regulation

Uber legislation finally flames out

Lawmakers poised to approve nearly $82.3 billion budget

Hillary Clinton pressures Rick Scott to “do the right thing” on abortion rights

Uber drops off thousands of pro-ridesharing petitions to Andy Gardiner