Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

If the Seminole Compact and related legislation don’t pass this session, lawmakers will have no one to blame but themselves, the tribe’s Tallahassee-based attorney said Tuesday. Barry Richard, who represents the Seminole Tribe of Florida, blamed the apparent Tuesday morning collapse of the 2016 gambling bills on lawmakers bending over backward to appease the state’s dog […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2016

This is one of two gambling stories in advance of the 2016 Legislative Session. For a separate preview of gambling issues besides the Seminole Compact, click here. The back-and-forth and backroom dealing is over, and lawmakers soon will publicly comb through the new blackjack deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The 63-page document […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2015

A panel of state economists on Monday will go over the financial impact of one of two proposed constitutional amendments on solar power. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will meet at 9 a.m. to take public comment on the amendment sponsored by Consumers for Smart Solar, a utility-backed coalition. That initiative so far has reported 139,560 of the 683,149 valid […]

Peter SchorschOctober 30, 2015

With its compact with the state of Florida expired and now in federal court to protect its multibillion dollar gambling interests, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has retained one of Tallahassee’s most prominent governmental affairs firms. Floridian Partners, the lobbying shop headed up by Charlie Dudley, was inked this week to represent the Tribe before the […]

Jim RosicaOctober 29, 2015

The games are still on. The Seminole Tribe of Florida will continue to offer blackjack at its casinos despite the end of an agreement with the state allowing it to offer card games, a spokesman said Thursday. “The Tribe believes the games have been authorized for the reasons stated in the complaint, and it is seeking […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

A proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Floridians to generate and sell their own solar power passes legal muster, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The court’s purview was limited to whether the language embraces one subject and uses “clear and unambiguous language” in the ballot summary. The majority said yes on both counts. Justices Ricky Polston, however, disagreed on […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

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The ad war between the two competing solar amendments flared up Tuesday with the release of a new commercial slamming one of the initiatives for creating a “shady solar tax.” Two groups are competing for votes for a proposed constitutional amendment: The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar and Floridians for Solar Choice, aligned with a coalition of […]

Jim RosicaAugust 31, 2015

A new poll says only a minority of voters supports a proposed constitutional amendment on solar-generated electricity. The poll results came in a news release about 17 hours before lawyers are scheduled to argue for and against that amendment before the state Supreme Court. Of likely Florida voters, 41 percent support the amendment, according to the poll […]

Ryan RayAugust 18, 2015

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The Miami-founded international law firm Greenberg Traurig made its presence felt in Tallahassee last quarter, to judge by its earnings: the firm took in some $1.3 million in lobbying fees according to recently filed compensation reports. That figure broke down into some $1,039,000 from 108 legislative lobbying clients and $245,000 from 102 executive branch clients. Among the highest-paying […]

Tag: Barry Richard
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Effort to appease pari-mutuels is killing Seminole Compact

2016 Legislative Food Fights: Seminole Compact faces skeptical Legislature

State economists to review solar power amendment

Seminole Tribe of Florida lobbies up with hire of Floridian Partners

Seminole Tribe refuses to take down blackjack tables

Supreme Court approves first of 2 proposed solar amendments

Solar amendment slammed as creating new tax

Poll shows less than 50 percent support for solar amendment

Greenberg Traurig collects $1.3 million in second-quarter lobbying fees