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Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

A squabble over tourist taxes, a last-minute amendment to the Senate’s tax cut package, sucked up about half of the 2016 Legislative Session’s last Senate Appropriations meeting, killing bills left hanging on the agenda. The panel OK’d the House plan (HB 7099) after amending it with the Senate’s own tax package. The legislation promises about $129 million in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 3, 2016

Mitt Romney returns full circle to the political circus today with a speech he’s going to give in Salt Lake City at 11:30 a.m. Eastern. Politico has some excerpts from the text. Here’s the killer sound bite.” “Here’s what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2016

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With the Legislature prepared to close out its 2016 Regular Legislative Session next week, Uber is pulling out all the stops to get Senate support for a bill it supports that has passed the House. Uber officials says Andy Gardiner is the reason the Senate won’t support the Matt Gaetz-sponsored bill on Transportation Network Companies […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2016

We were prepared not to weigh in on the results from last night’s Super Tuesday results, but watching the evisceration of Chris Christie on Twitter last prompted a closer look at what Florida GOP strategist Rick Wilson writes about in today’s Daily Beast. “Far from having the same kind of Kevlar media armor Trump enjoys, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 1, 2016

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Will 2016 finally be the year the Florida Legislature implements rules of the road for ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft? In late January, the Florida House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill (HB 509) addressing Transportation Network Companies (TNC), but its fate in the state Senate is unknown, and officials with Uber on Tuesday blamed President Andy […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 25, 2016

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Legislative leaders issued a joint statement on the 2016-17 state budget Thursday night: Members, We are pleased with the progress President (Tom) Lee and Chair (Richard) Corcoran (the Senate and House budget chiefs) have made and are optimistic we will be ready to begin the budget conference this weekend. We will update you as early […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 24, 2016

The Senate Wednesday passed a bill aiming to improve the Florida Early Steps program, a priority of Republican Senate President Andy Gardiner. SB 7058 brings eligibility guidelines for the Early Steps program in line with federal requirements and defines the program’s goals, which include providing timely screenings of infants and toddlers for developmental disabilities. The bill also requires […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday suggested, with as much subtext as he could muster, that lawmakers need to come around on his two main budget goals for 2016-17: $1 billion in tax cuts and $25o million for business incentives. After all, legislative leadership passed their priority bills early on, which Scott happily signed. The message was […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2016

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Say goodbye to all those yards of fake-wood laminate: The Florida Senate will be shedding the 1970s look of its chamber with a nearly $5 million renovation this year. Senate President Andy Gardiner, in a Jan. 6 memo to fellow senators, said the remodeling will begin this summer. A copy of the memo was provided to FloridaPolitics.com […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

While watching the Florida Legislature debate regulation of services like Uber and Lyft statewide, I couldn’t help but think of a pair of quotes discovered as I was looking up something else. The first quote, from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, came as the House displayed leadership and vision in approving its version of a bill […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

Tug of war over tax package kills bills

Mitch Perry Report for 3.3.16 — Mittens returns

Uber targets Andy Gardiner to back House bill on TNC’s

Mitch Perry Report for 3.2.16 — How safe will it be for Republicans to endorse Donald Trump?

Uber blasts Andy Gardiner as being impediment in getting ride-sharing bill passed

Budget conference to begin this weekend

Developmental disabilities screening program passes Senate

Rick Scott calls session “successful” – but still hasn’t got what he wants

No more ’70s paneling: Florida Senate readies for a refresh

The case for why there should be a legislative deal for Uber & Lyft