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Staff ReportsNovember 27, 2018

Senate President Bill Galvano said if incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis can flex his connection to President Donald Trump to land Florida a Medicaid block grant, the state could expand health insurance for the working poor. As reported by Alexandra Glorioso of POLITICO Florida, Galvano isn’t aiming for a repeat of 2015, when the state Senate […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

For the second straight year, Northeast Florida Republican Rob Bradley will chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. With Rep. Travis Cummings chairing the House’s budget panel, that means Clay County has two lawmakers overseeing statewide spending decisions for the 2019 Legislative Session. Bradley replaced Jack Latvala ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session, when the Clearwater Republican quit the Senate amid sexual misconduct […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 26, 2018

The Tampa Bay region is well-represented in Tallahassee for the upcoming 2019 Legislative Session, at least in the Senate. Not only is Senate President Bill Galvano from the region — his district covers parts of southern Hillsborough County and Manatee County — but several other senators from the region have been posted to leadership positions. […]

Christine Jordan SextonNovember 26, 2018

Have no doubt: Incoming House Speaker Jose Oliva wants to expand access to health care by expanding the scope of practice for Florida nurses. He also wants less government regulation in Florida’s health care delivery system and more free-market principles. Oliva, though, denies that reconfiguring the state’s health care delivery system will be his personal […]

Staff ReportsNovember 26, 2018

Senate President Bill Galvano is dubious about the greyhound industry’s chances for compensation now that its livelihood has been taken away by voters. A constitutional amendment aimed at ending live dog racing in Florida won at the ballot box earlier this month with 69 percent of the vote. Amendments need no less than 60 percent approval […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 26, 2018

The new leader of the Florida Senate wants to afford more freedom to state universities wishing to rename buildings previously designated by the state Legislature. Senate President Bill Galvano, after assuming the chamber’s top spot last week, told reporters that he supports “a framework for universities to do their naming and having flexibility, instead of having […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2018

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As expected — and scripted — the Florida Senate unanimously elected Bill Galvano as President of the GOP-controlled chamber for the 2019 and 2020 Legislative Sessions. The move came at a constitutionally mandated “organization session” on Tuesday after the 2018 general elections. Outgoing President and Stuart Republican Joe Negron passed the gavel, and 10 new members also took seats […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2018

The next big debate over gambling in Florida could be on sports betting — with one top lawmaker already flexing his muscle regarding lawmakers’ say over it. This month, voters approved Amendment 3, also known as the “Voter Control of Gambling” amendment, by 71 percent. Its aim: To “ensure that Florida voters shall have the […]

Peter SchorschNovember 18, 2018

In a single election cycle, Florida’s firefighter union destroyed relationships dating back nearly 20 years. Why? Leaders of the Florida Professional Firefighters Union had out-and-out lied to membership. And because of that, the recently ended 2018 election cycle was nothing short of catastrophic for the FPF and its local Miami chapter. The crux of the […]

Peter SchorschNovember 17, 2018

There’s a 50 or so mile stretch of California coast where a staggering amount of the western world’s innovations are born. From San Francisco to Palo Alto, Mountain View and Cupertino, entrepreneurs with big ideas flock there for two reasons: proximity to a highly specialized workforce and access to an embarrassing amount of the most […]

Tag: Bill Galvano

Bill Galvano says Florida could insure working poor with Medicaid block grant

Back again: Rob Bradley returns to chair Senate Appropriations

Tampa Bay lawmakers get Senate committee leadership posts

Jose Oliva: State’s health care is ‘behind the curve’

Top lawmaker skeptical of appropriation for greyhound industry

Bill Galvano outlines path to rename FSU law school

Pledging to be a ‘facilitator,’ Bill Galvano becomes Senate President

‘The will of the people’: The coming brouhaha over sports betting in Florida

Firefighter unions played the worst hand ever in modern politics

In realm of innovation, Florida ’gets there first‘

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.