Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayFebruary 1, 2016

The Senate Health Policy committee narrowly approved pair of closely watched health care bills Monday afternoon, auguring much more debate still to come about the proposals. Bills to weaken the state’s “certificates of need” regime for hospital licensing, and to shield patients from a medical collections practice known as “balance billing” passed by votes of […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2016

With the Florida Legislature already powering through a third of their nine-week regular legislative session, board members with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit agency (HART) expressed concerns on Monday regarding their chief legislative budget request for 2016. That would be a regional fare box system and smart card system — which would provide a uniform bus payment […]

Associated PressJanuary 15, 2016

The Florida Senate is going to change its official seal one more time. The Senate last year voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the official seal but did not make a final decision on what the new seal should look like. A temporary version without the battle flag was placed in the Senate […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate’s bronze seal, which usually hangs behind the Senate President’s lectern, was removed this week not only to replace the seal’s depiction of the Confederate flag but also in anticipation of still more design changes, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. In October, the Senate decided to remove a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replace […]

Mitch PerryDecember 31, 2015

Say goodbye to 2015, which will go on record as the hottest year ever on Earth — at least until next year. While Florida continues to bask in unwelcome humidity during this holiday week, Missouri contends with rivers swelling to historic levels, with at least 21 people killed there and in Illinois by a powerful winter storm […]

Phil AmmannDecember 15, 2015

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With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – the legislative merry-go-round. On: Caitlin Butler, formerly Florida field director for Turning Point USA, is now district secretary for Altamonte Springs Republican State Rep. Bob Cortes. Off: Jonathon Little is no longer Cortes’ legislative assistant. He […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2015

The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation spent hours (and hours) on Tuesday discussing proposed legislation that would bring ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft into compliance with the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, but whether they actually moved the issue forward at the end of the day is dubious. The setting for the local group of state lawmakers […]

Ryan RayDecember 3, 2015

The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard from Gov. Rick Scott‘s chief budget aide Wednesday morning, when she presented Scott’s $79.3 billion proposed budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year before hearing some pushback from Senate Democrats on state worker pay, social services, and health care. The presentation was a calmer affair than in the House, however, where […]

Jim RosicaNovember 2, 2015

Once again, lawmakers have filed what’s known as a “claim bill” to compensate the family of Devaughn Darling, a Florida State University freshman linebacker who died during a February 2001 practice. State Rep. Mia Jones, a Jacksonville Democrat, submitted the bill (HB 3513) on Monday, with a Senate companion sponsored by Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner of Tampa. The Darling family […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

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Making the Tampa Bay region look like a game of Twister, Senate Rules Chairman David Simmons late Thursday filed his own proposed map redrawing the state’s Senate districts. For instance, Simmons’ map creates a 16th District that takes in about the same area currently represented by GOP Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, not by jumping the bay, […]

Tag: Arthenia Joyner
Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Image via AP.

Senate health care panel narrowly advances CON, balance billing changes

HART members contemplate WWJD – What will Jack Latvala do on fare box plan?

New Florida Senate seal limited to U.S. and Florida flags

State Senate seal could be changing – again

Mitch Perry Report for 12.31.15 — Say goodbye to hottest year ever. Until next year.

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Hillsborough Legislative Delegation OKs measure to regulate Uber and Lyft, but future unclear

Senate budget run-down from Rick Scott’s budget chief calmer than in House

Devaughn Darling claim bill filed again

David Simmons files map for Senate redistricting