Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

A Senate budget amendment that would have provided $350 million for land-buying was withdrawn Wednesday but the senator who sponsored it said it could come back. In November, 75 percent of voters approved a ballot initiative called Amendment 1 that provides an estimated $741 million in fiscal 2015-16 for water and land conservation. The proposed Senate budget […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman is backing up his criticism of Amendment 1 funding in the Senate proposed spending plan for 2015-16 with budget amendments to provide $350 million for conservation land-buying. The Senate Committee on Appropriations is scheduled Wednesday to consider the proposed $80.4 billion Senate budget. Amendment 1, approved by voters in November, provides an […]

Mitch PerryMarch 24, 2015

President Barack Obama‘s diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba in December has been met mostly with approval in the Tampa Bay area from political and business leaders. A Pinellas County delegation visited the communist island for the first time in January, while the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce is planning another visit in May. Tampa area U.S. […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 23, 2015

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Sen. Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, the Senate Democratic leader, is filing a budget amendment to redirect $80 million toward the Florida Forever land-buying program and away from other purposes she said are not consistent with Amendment 1. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 is supposed to direct $742 million toward water […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2015

A bill exempting taxpayers’ email addresses from the state’s open record law advanced in the Florida Senate on Wednesday. Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala argues the proposal protects consumers from scammers who use digital skills to defraud people. Latvala says he’s sponsoring the bill because tax collectors requested he do so. Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner questioned the […]

James CallMarch 12, 2015

A Florida TaxWatch study finds the state’s network of nonprofit mental health providers is doing such a good job it deserves more money. Florida provides substance abuse and other services to the uninsured through seven regional Behavioral Health Managing Entities. The network enables services to be tailored to the community needs. TaxWatch found the model […]

Mitch PerryMarch 12, 2015

Although many people in Tampa are hoping a Cuban consulate comes to Tampa, a committee in the state Senate on Thursday officially disapproved of any such diplomatic outpost coming to Florida. The Senate Rules Committee approved SM 866, a largely symbolic bill that puts the committee on the record as expressing “profound disagreement” with President Barack Obama‘s […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2015

Democrats with an extra twenty bucks (and change) can support Hillary Clinton’s not-yet-announced presidential run in Tampa next week. Ready for Hillary, the Super PAC backing the nascent campaign of the former First Lady and Secretary of State, is holding a “low dollar” reception on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Mise en Place, 442 West Kennedy […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2015

Democrats with an extra twenty bucks (and change) can support Hillary Clinton’s not-yet-announced presidential run in Tampa next week. Ready for Hillary, the Super PAC backing the nascent campaign of the former First Lady and Secretary of State, is holding a “low dollar” reception on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at Mise en Place, 442 West Kennedy […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 3, 2015

A bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers met with reporters on Tuesday to express confidence a telemedicine bill would successfully pass the Florida Legislature this year. Telemedicine, otherwise known as “telehealth,” helps provide remote healthcare access to patients in rural communities and underserved regions. It often involves the Internet and other telecommunications for services such as […]

Tag: Arthenia Joyner

Budget amendment for land-buying withdrawn but may be back, senator says

Senate budget amendment would provide $350 million for land-buying

Senate denounces Obama overture to Cuba

Arthenia Joyner filing budget amendment to boost land-buying

Jack Latvala bill to exempt taxpayers’ email addresses from open records law moves forward

Florida TaxWatch: Mental health providers do good job, deserve more money

Senate panel opposes opening Cuban consulate in state

Ready for Hillary to hold "low dollar" fundraiser in Tampa Feb. 24

Ready for Hillary to hold “low dollar” fundraiser in Tampa Feb. 24

Lawmakers confident telemedicine bill will pass Florida Legislature in 2015