Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 3, 2018

Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis became the seventh and final major gubernatorial candidate to say he supports a ban on oil and gas fracking in Florida when the activist group Food & Water Action pinned him down at a campaign event Monday. Following DeSantis’ rally in Tampa Monday he shook hands with members of the crowd, […]

Staff ReportsJuly 3, 2018

It’s almost Independence Day, which in Florida means: Time to scare some birds. Although you can buy fireworks in the state, they’re not actually legal here. Indeed, The Tampa Tribune in 2014 called fireworks sales in Florida an “institutionalized charade,” leading one lawmaker to call for “more freedom (and) less fraud.” Retail sales are allowed only […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

Supporters of a constitutional ban on betting on greyhound racing have fired back with their own letter after ban opponents served a cease and desist letter on the group. The upshot: The Committee to Protect Dogs on Friday said the videos – made by artist Jeff Sonksen – used in an online ad by the Protect Dogs — Yes on 13 campaign aren’t […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2018

A group that supports a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit betting on greyhound racing won’t be allowed to enter a case against the ban, a Tallahassee judge ruled Friday. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers denied a motion to intervene from the Committee to Protect Dogs, but said it could file a friend-of-the-court brief, as can the Animal Law […]

Jim RosicaJune 25, 2018

The battle over a proposed constitutional ban on greyhound racing is heating up, as ban opponents served a cease and desist letter on the group promoting an end to dog racing. The Committee to Support Greyhounds said it hit the Protect Dogs — Yes on 13 campaign with the letter on Monday. At issue: The […]

Staff ReportsJune 25, 2018

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Advocates for a ballot initiative to put an end to dog racing have released a video to bolster their claim that “greyhounds are confined for as much as 23 hours per day at Florida racetracks.” The 1-minute, 33-second YouTube video, titled “Greyhound Racers Can’t Handle the Truth,” was posted on Monday by the Protect Dogs — […]

Staff ReportsJune 25, 2018

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Photo: Van Abernethy The group representing Florida’s greyhound owners and breeders is renewing its pledge not to go ‘negative’ in its battle against a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at outlawing betting on dog racing. The Committee to Support Greyhounds, a separate political group formed to fight the ban, has issued no similar pledge, however. But it […]

Jim RosicaJune 18, 2018

An appellate court has shot down a trial judge’s order to make immediate her ruling that medical marijuana can be smoked in Florida. The 1st District Court of Appeal, in a one-page order dated Monday, quashed Circuit Judge Karen Gievers‘ order allowing patients to smoke. The state’s appeal of the decision placed an automatic ‘stay,’ or […]

Staff ReportsJune 13, 2018

Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding has joined the Florida Greyhound Association‘s (FGA) legal team. The addition of Harding, a high court appointee of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, was announced Wednesday by association general counsel Jeff Kottkamp. Harding served on the Florida Supreme Court 1991-2002; Kottkamp was Florida’s lieutenant governor from 2007-11 under Gov. Charlie […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2018

No surprise: A Tallahassee judge has decided her ruling to allow patients to smoke medical marijuana in Florida should be effective sooner rather than later. In a Tuesday order, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers said her decision will now take effect Monday, according to plaintiffs’ counsel Jon Mills. His clients include Cathy Jordan, a woman with Lou Gehrig’s disease who […]

Tag: ban

Fracking appears to be out: group gets Ron DeSantis to voice support for ban

Florida’s bizarre fireworks law still in place

Legal battle over racing-dog videos stays heated

Lawsuit over dog-racing ban heads to court

Greyhound racing supporters hit back with ‘cease and desist’ letter

‘Protect Dogs’ drops new video on greyhound industry

Greyhound breeders: Stay ‘positive’ in fight against racing ban

Appellate court puts hold on smokable medical marijuana

Personnel note: Major B. Harding joins greyhound group’s legal team

Judge says OK to quick effect of marijuana ruling