Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2017

In front of the West Perrine Health Center in Miami, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell officially announced her candidacy for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, where she hopes to take on Republican incumbent Carlos Curbelo next year. Although Curbelo is considered extremely vulnerable in the Democratic leaning district that stretches from Miami to Key West, Mucarsel-Powell is the first […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2017

Over the past decade, deep Red states like Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia have enacted serious criminal justice reforms. Florida? Not so much.

Staff ReportsJune 12, 2017

In advance of his 2018-20 House Speakership, state Rep. Jose Oliva‘s political committee this year has been sharing the wealth with his friends and allies, campaign finance records accessed Monday show. Most recently, the Miami Lakes Republican’s committee, called Conservative Principles for Florida, gave $1,000 on May 19 to fellow House Republican Jose Felix Diaz’s […]

Jim RosicaJune 6, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron, in advance of the Legislature’s 3-day Special Session this week, told members in a Tuesday memo he expects “a proposal to override the veto of some university and higher education funding.” The Stuart Republican also left the door open for medical marijuana implementation to be added to the call, saying he […]

Mitch PerryJune 4, 2017

After the bloody assault at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando nearly a year ago resulted in the deaths of 49 people, 13 members of the Florida Legislature — 12 Democrats and Miami GOP state Sen. Anitere Flores — were on the losing side of a request to hold a special session on gun regulations. Despite that attitude at the Capitol, Michelle Gajda, the […]

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2017

The Senate on Monday passed the House’s Supreme Court reporting bill, but after Sen. Anitere Flores had tacked on as an amendment her plan to expand the use of juvenile civil citations. Without debate, senators passed the measure (HB 301) on a 35-1 vote. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, was the lone ‘no’ vote. Because of the […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

The reaction to the Florida Legislature’s repeal of the state’s “booze wall” law continued long after Wednesday’s vote. The House, on a close vote of 58-57, passed the Senate’s bill (SB 106) to allow retailers to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. (Full story here.) The legislation now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. If signed […]

Peter SchorschApril 20, 2017

Still waiting. A pair of Republican lawmakers have yet to receive an adequate explanation from the Florida Development Finance Corporation about its approval of a $600 million private equity bond application for All Aboard Florida. The rail project is seeking to offer passenger service from Miami to West Palm Beach with the possibility of future […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2017

Over the past month, juvenile justice bills moving through the Florida Legislature this spring have veered off in different directions. On Thursday, the House version (HB 205), sponsored by Seminole Republican Larry Ahern, changed again in the House Judiciary Committee. Ahern’s bill would expunge the arrests of juveniles for certain first-time misdemeanor crimes. That differs significantly […]

Florence SnyderApril 17, 2017

One hour isn’t much time for a Senate subcommittee “confirmation hearing” on the heads of the agencies as important to “health and human services” as the Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration. But that’s what Health and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Anitere Flores allotted, and not one second longer. So, you’d think […]

Tag: Anitere Flores
Image via Rosen Hotels and Resorts.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell ready to take on Carlos Curbelo in CD 26

Tampa Bay lawmakers admit criminal justice reform was a bust in Legislature this year

Jose Oliva’s political committee spreads the (financial) love

Joe Negron: Senate will consider veto overrides

In Tampa, public officials call for common sense solutions to end gun violence epidemic

Senate adds civil citations, passes Supreme Court reporting bill

Interests for and against ‘liquor wall’ legislation react to passage

Still waiting: Senators get non-answer from FDFC on All Aboard Florida bonding

House advances juvenile justice bill, adding adult diversion program

Florence Snyder: Florida’s opioid crisis, Part 5 – Hey Florida, talk to the hand!