Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 24, 2015

Counties, agriculture, industry groups and environmentalists all raised concerns Tuesday as a Senate committee passed its first version of a water bill. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner have said passing water legislation is a top priority in the 2015 Legislative Session. The House bill, opposed by environmentalists, passed the chamber 106-9 […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 24, 2015

A Senate bill that shifts from utilities to local government the cost of moving power lines and other utilities in easements for roadway expansions passed a Senate committee on Monday despite opposition from local governments. SB 896 by Sen. Jeff Brades, a Republican from St. Petersburg, was prompted by a dispute between the city of Cape […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Environmental groups continued Wednesday to criticize a House water bill in advance of a Senate committee workshop while an industry group said the legislation offers a statewide approach to Florida’s water needs. HB 7003 recognizes the Central Florida Water Initiative in state law while eliminating a South Florida Water Management District farm permitting program for […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 17, 2015

House bills that involve oil and gas “fracking” passed their first committee stop with support from some environmental groups and opposition from others and tense questioning by Rep. Ray Pilon. HB 1205 would establish a permitting program for hydraulic fracturing and acid fracturing, which are processes used to extract oil and gas from rock. HB […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 10, 2015

There’s infighting among the “business” ranks this session on the health care front. By the second week of session it’s clear that National Federation of Independent Business, Florida; the Florida Chamber; and Associated Industries of Florida differ on how Florida should approach the loss of federal Medicaid finding that’s used to pay hospitals and federally […]

Ryan RayMarch 5, 2015

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The Florida H2O Coalition – a water policy vehicle backed by Associated Industries of Florida – applauded today’s action by the Florida House of Representatives to pass HB 7003, a sprawling piece of water legislation aimed at protecting ecologically sensitive waterways. “Today, the Florida House took a giant step forward in adopting a policy that will […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 5, 2015

House Republican leaders praised a water policy bill they passed Thursday as a good start while the chamber’s Democratic leader called it bad legislation and joined environmentalists in hoping for a better version from the Senate. HB 7003 passed the House 106 to 9 on the third day of the legislative session after about 45 […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 4, 2015

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave the green light Wednesday to the Florida Medical Association’s top priority: a bill that precludes insurance companies and HMOs from limiting direct access to medications without prior approval from a government-housed clinical committee. It’s being called the “Right Medicine, Right Time Act” and it most likely will be […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 4, 2015

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee gave the green light Wednesday to the Florida Medical Association’s top priority: a bill that precludes insurance companies and HMOs from limiting direct access to medications without prior approval from a government-housed clinical committee. It’s being called the “Right Medicine, Right Time Act” and it most likely will be […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 4, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida announced Wednesday it’s forming a “Florida Mineral Rights Working Group” to focus on oil and gas production — with no mention of the even more controversial idea of offshore drilling. The announcement comes as legislation (SB 166/HB 169) has been filed to ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which is a process […]

Tag: Associated Industries of Florida

Senate panel clears water bill; environment, industry groups concerned

Cities, counties say bill would stick them with costs for moving roadside utilities

Debate on House water bill moves to Senate

Fracking bills pass House panel after testy exchanges

Business leaders find no unity on health care this session

AIF group lauds passage of Florida House water bill

House water bill passes as critics hope for better Senate legislation

Senate insurance panel OKs FMA’s “Right Medicine, Right Time Act”

Senate insurance panel OKs FMA's "Right Medicine, Right Time Act"

Associated Industries of FL working group to discuss onshore oil and gas production