Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

Florida Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner‘s bill to increase salaries of all state legislators from (SB 712) was shot down in committee on Tuesday. Under her bill, the salaries of the members of representatives and senators would rise from $29,600 to $50,000 annually. The House Speaker and Senate President’s salaries would rise to $57,000. Joyner, […]

William MarchFebruary 15, 2016

Some two dozen bills have been filed in this year’s Legislative Session to compensate people injured by the mistakes or negligence of government agencies: wrongly convicted prisoners, children abused by foster parents, people maimed or killed in accidents with police vehicles, and even a football player who died during practice. Many have waited for years, […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 11, 2016

Legislation that would reform Florida’s civil forfeiture laws advanced in a Senate committee on Thursday. The bill (SB 1044) sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, eliminates civil forfeiture in the state of Florida. Under the proposal, a seizure of assets or property may only take place after the arrest of a property owner, and the final […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

As the Florida Senate began considering its proposed $80.9 billion budget, state Sen. Don Gaetz on Wednesday defended his recommendation for a $30 million competitive grants program for after-school mentoring instead of direct funding. Gaetz, who chairs the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said he wanted to save nonprofits on “expensive lobbying and the anguish of the Legislative Session.” […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

Equal time for both parents after a divorce would be the starting line in child custody cases under a bill heading to the Senate floor. The Rules Committee cleared the measure (SB 250) on a 7-4 party-line vote on Wednesday. The legislation, sponsored by Brandon Republican Tom Lee, creates a legal assumption that 50-50 time-sharing is in the best […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 3, 2016

Sen. Don Gaetz defended a proposal that shifts how after-school and mentoring programs are funded, saying the proposal increases total funding for these programs. “There is nothing in this budget that cuts one penny out of any of these programs,” said Gaetz, chair of the education appropriations subcommittee, during the Senate Appropriations meeting Wednesday. “Instead, […]

William MarchFebruary 2, 2016

Two Florida legislators and a group of NFL players say this is the year the Legislature should finally compensate the family of Florida State University freshman football player Devaughn Darling, who died after overexertion during a workout in 2001. Darling’s identical twin brother Devard Darling, who also played at FSU and later played professionally, appeared […]

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 […]

Tag: Arthenia Joyner

Committee shoots down pay raise for lawmakers

Floridians injured by government struggle for compensation

Jeff Brandes’ civil forfeiture reform bill moves in Senate

Senate budget: Don Gaetz questioned over mentoring funding

Bill on equal time in child custody heads to full Senate

Don Gaetz defends decision to shift mentoring funding to a grant system

Lawmakers seek compensation for deceased FSU player’s family

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

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.