Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJanuary 9, 2019

Rep. Brad Drake filed a bill Wednesday that would redirect settlement money from the BP oil spill into a new economic development fund in Northwest Florida. HB 191 would create the Northwest Florida Rural Inland Affected Counties Recovery Fund, which would receive 5 percent of all payments the state receives from BP after July 1, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday rolled out two VISIT FLORIDA Hurricane Michael assistance programs to offer “critical relief and support” to storm-ravaged Panhandle and Big Bend counties. Per a media release: “The Tourism Recovery Grant Program for Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Michael Recovery Marketing Program are available to Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2018

A noon Friday deadline to make the ballot for a state legislative seat has come and gone, and 25 incumbent lawmakers (and two fresh faces) have already punched their tickets to Tallahassee. Of the 27 races that are now officially over, Republicans won a half-dozen. Most notable among that crowd is incoming House Speaker Jose […]

Drew WilsonJune 19, 2018

Republican Rep. Brad Drake is no longer unopposed in his bid for another term in House District 5. Miami Democrat Heath Bennett Rassner, who lives 600 miles away from the Panhandle district filed for the seat Tuesday. That’s a bigger step than any Democrat living in the district has taken since the seat was redrawn […]

Drew WilsonMay 1, 2018

The Associated Industries of Florida on Tuesday released a report measuring how closely Florida lawmakers’ votes aligned with its interests. The conservative business group’s 2018 Voting Records report found a slight uptick in lawmaker support for AIF-backed legislation, with 78 percent of the Senate and 91 percent of the House voting in favor of its […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 8, 2018

The state is one step closer to removing a barrier for a black farmer to receive a medical marijuana growing license. The Senate on Thursday passed a bill (HB 6049) that would delete a provision from statutes requiring a black farmer to be a member of the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association Florida Chapter to […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2018

A group supporting a wave of first-time candidates for elected office took out a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Sun-Sentinel calling on Floridians to run against NRA-backed state lawmakers in 2018. The Run for Something ad states “The NRA is killing our kids” at the top and then includes an sheet with […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Austin Kernan is a new legislative analyst in the Senate Majority Office. Off: Cathy Boyett is no longer a committee administrative assistant for the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. Off: Administrative support staffer Lindsey Locke is no longer with […]

Scott PowersJanuary 23, 2018

Specialty license plates supporting Orlando City Soccer and declaring the University of Central Florida Knights as the National Champions got approvals Tuesday from the Florida House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. The soccer plate was approved under House Bill 1263, seeking specialty plates for what sponsor state Rep. Mike Miller of Winter Park noted was the […]

Phil AmmannNovember 7, 2017

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With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Aisha Bien-Aime is the new legislative assistant for Ocoee Democratic Sen. Randolph Bracy. On: Amelia Johnson Smith is district secretary for Melbourne Republican Sen. Debbie Mayfield. On and off: Staz Guntek has replaced Joseph […]

Tag: Brad Drake

Brad Drake bill would bring BP money to inland Northwest Florida

VISIT FLORIDA ponies up for Panhandle, Big Bend

25 state lawmakers re-elected without opposition

Brad Drake draws challenger in HD 5

Republican lawmakers earn high grades on Associated Industries’ report card

Legislature backs bill removing black farmer medical marijuana requirement

Run for Something ad highlights unopposed Florida lawmakers with NRA ties

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

UCF ‘National Champions,’ Orlando City Soccer plates move along

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round