Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 29, 2017

Nine of Florida’s 11 Democratic members of Congress signed a letter Tuesday urging President Donald Trump to reconsider his recently announced ban on transgendered people in the military. “There is no place for discrimination in our Armed Forces or indeed anywhere else in American society,” the letter signed by most Democrats in the U.S. House […]

Jim RosicaJuly 3, 2017

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 RosicaMay 1, 2017

A bipartisan bill banning the use of steroids on greyhound racing dogs is likely dead for the 2017 Legislative Session. The last committee of reference for the Senate bill (SB 512) had been Appropriations, which did not hear it Monday at its last meeting. The House version (HB 743) passed earlier this month on an […]

Scott PowersApril 20, 2017

A bipartisan bill banning the use of steroids on greyhound racing dogs was approved Thursday by the Florida House of Representatives. House Bill 743, cosponsored by Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando and Republican state Rep. Alex Miller of Sarasota, was approved in the house by a vote of 84 to 32, despite strong […]

Scott PowersApril 14, 2017

Airbnb and five of its clients filed suit against the city of Miami Friday over a controversial move the city made last month to ban vacation rental homes in residential districts. At issue is whether and how cities can regulate vacation rental homes, a rapidly increasing part of the lodging industry in which homeowners turn […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

Decrying that racing dog owners are “doping greyhounds,” state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith joined state Rep. Alexandra Miller and Dana Young Friday in another effort to tighten regulation of dog racing in Florida, with a bill explicitly banning the use of steroids. Smith, the Orlando Democrat, and Miller, the Sarasota Republican, introduced House Bill 743 […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 5, 2017

Senator Linda Stewart and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith announced Thursday that they had filed a bill in both the Senate and the House that would ban the sale of military-grade assault weapons in Florida. The bill, SB 254, would prevent the sale or transfer of assault weapons as well as owning them in general. Speaking at […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A South Florida lawmaker is trying again to establish pilot programs in coastal communities to outlaw plastic shopping bags. State Rep. David Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat, filed his bill (HB 93) on Tuesday. Similar legislation has been filed in recent years. Richardson’s bill would let municipalities with pilot programs “enact an ordinance for the regulation […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 10, 2016

Florida House members better get used to flying commercial. House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran is expected to announce new rules Thursday, including one that would prohibit members from flying on planes owned, leased, or paid for by lobbyists. The proposed rule change is meant to end a common practice among lawmakers and the influence industry, according […]

Scott PowersJuly 1, 2016

Undeterred by the fact that every other gun bill considered in the past three weeks has been shot down, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson introduced another Friday, seeking to reinstitute the assault weapon ban that was in place from 1994-2004. Grayson, the Orlando Democrat running for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida, said he would push […]

Tag: ban

Nine Florida Democrats urge Donald Trump to rescind transgender ban

Florida’s bizarre fireworks law still in place

Greyhound steroid ban dies in Senate

Ban on steroids for greyhound racing dogs passes House

Showdown in Miami: Airbnb sues over vacation rental home ban

Carlos Smith, Alexandra Miller, Dana Young push new greyhound bill, banning steroids

Linda Stewart and Carlos Guillermo Smith introduce bill to ban assault weapons in Florida

Ban the bag, South Florida lawmaker says

Richard Corcoran to lobbyists: Cool your jets

Alan Grayson introduces assault weapon ban bill