Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonMarch 15, 2018

Tobacco Free Florida is working. The number of Floridians using tobacco has declined dramatically. As Jim Rosica reported for Florida Politics, former state Attorney General Bob Butterworth said the number of high school students using tobacco has dropped to 4.2 percent. It was at more than 27 percent two decades ago when Tobacco Free Florida […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2018

If passed, a proposed constitutional amendment to redirect dollars from tobacco-prevention efforts to cancer research would turn “a bad idea into a hard reality,” one opponent said Wednesday morning. Later that same day, however, the amendment’s sponsor deleted the section about cancer research funding. Longtime Tallahassee PR man Ron Sachs joined former Attorney General Bob Butterworth […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 11, 2017

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Fleming Island Sen. Rob Bradley took over the Appropriations Committee earlier this year. Perhaps predictably, Bradley’s political committee — Working For Florida’s Families — had its best month ever in November … both in terms of money raised and the purpose of money spent. The committee raked in $124,000 of new November money, spending $55,487 of that. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2017

Tobacco companies are hoping next year’s try at a bond cap repeal doesn’t go up in smoke. Legislation that would do away with the limit on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds has again been filed, this time for the 2018 Legislative Session. The one-line bill (SB 124) simply repeals the section […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

A House bill (HB 6011) that would repeal the cap on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds was “temporarily postponed” Thursday. With its Senate companion (SB 100) also indefinitely put off, the proposal’s fate is uncertain for the 2017 Legislative Session. The House version was slated to be heard in the Civil […]

Michael MolineJanuary 5, 2017

The Florida Legislature could consider legislation that would make it more expensive for tobacco companies to appeal verdicts in liability cases filed by smokers made sick or injured by their products. SB 100, filed by Sen. Greg Steube, contains just two lines: “Section 569.23, Florida Statutes, is repealed.” And “This act shall take effect July 1, […]

Phil AmmannMarch 15, 2016

Every now and then, who doesn’t want to kick some butts to the curb? On March 16, the Florida Tobacco Cessation Alliance will be participating in the 20th annual Kick Butts Day, which gives everyone an ideal opportunity to tell the world how and why you fight tobacco. Kick Butts Day is an annual event […]

Ryan RayApril 12, 2015

Ahead of the 2015 Legislative Session, one of the most intriguing legislative food fights brewing was that between major tobacco manufacturers seeking to limit payouts to claimants suing them under the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement and the trial attorneys who stand to gain substantially from pursuing those claims. The Florida Justice Association, those attorneys’ primary influence […]

Guest AuthorMarch 23, 2015

As with most issues, there is another side to legislation pertaining to punitive damages that is now being considered by the Florida Legislature. A Tampa Bay Times editorial, “Don’t change law to limit damages for Big Tobacco” on Feb. 26, suggests this bill is a bailout, and one that changes the rules long after the […]

Peter SchorschMarch 1, 2015

Almost all of the headlines surrounding the annual session of the Florida Legislature will have already been written by the time lawmakers are gaveled into business on March 3. Those headlines will involve calls to expand Medicaid; a budget hole created by the federal government’s refusal to fund the Low Income Pool health care program; […]

Tag: Big Tobacco
Image via AP.

Joe Henderson: Leave Tobacco Free Florida funding alone

Advocates rally to save Tobacco Free Florida funding

Rob Bradley political committee spends $50K on Irma relief

Tobacco bond cap repeal teed up again in Legislature

Tobacco bond repealer is again postponed, this time in House

Bills would eliminate tobacco companies’ discounted appeals

Kari Jacoby: Time for adults to join youth in kicking butts, saving lives

Support for Big Tobacco claims reform snuffed out as Florida Justice pivots

Tom Feeney: Time is now for common-sense damages reform in Florida

2015 Legislative Session Preview: Big tobacco, Brecht Heuchan, and the most interesting food fight this Session