Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2016

A version of “Storage Wars” came to the Capitol this week as one bill that would change the law governing self-storage facilities and involve Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater got jammed up in committee. The measure (SB 720) is stalled in the Senate after being postponed in the Regulated Industries Committee. But its House companion (HB 559) could be heard on […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 27, 2016

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The state House passed a controversial measure to regulate fracking, despite significant opposition from Democrats who said the practice could harm the state’s natural resources. The House voted 73-45 after more than an hour of passionate debate to approve the bill (HB 191), with just a few Republicans joining Democrats in opposing it. “Yesterday, over […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 21, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed several pieces of legislation deemed a priority for Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. One measure (SB 672) expand the personal learning scholarship account program and the Florida postsecondary comprehensive transition program for students with intellectual disabilities. It also renames the scholarship program to the Gardiner […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 14, 2016

A major trio of political players at the Florida Capitol are happy with the progress made Thursday on big-ticket priorities in the Legislature. The H2O Coalition, a water policy consortium affiliated with Associated Industries of Florida, applauded the further progress of what it calls comprehensive water reform in the Legislature. The praise comes after the […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 13, 2016

On Wednesday, the Senate passed a major water bill, a major priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and the object of much interest on the part of environmentalist community as well. Reactions from significant groups and individuals will continue to flow in as the debate goes forward, but for now here’s a look at what some of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 13, 2016

Floridians overwhelmingly support increased water quality and quantity standards, according to a new poll released Wednesday. The survey, commissioned by Associated Industries of Florida’s H2O Coalition, found 82 percent of respondents said they support a plan that creates new standards for Florida’s water policy and efforts to improve water quality. State lawmakers are expected to […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 11, 2016

During the 2016 Florida Legislative session, lawmakers will be asked by the self-storage industry to end the current system of publishing a public notice in a local newspaper before the seizure of property or an auction is going to occur. Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) is opposed to this because we represent the interest of […]

Guest AuthorDecember 14, 2015

Right now, in Florida, there’s a debate over the future of onshore oil and gas activities and, more specifically, the use of high-pressure well stimulation techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing. During the course of this debate, there have been several common misconceptions surrounding the use of those advanced techniques and their effect on the environment, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 1, 2015

In yet another odd coupling driven by obscure policy, the state’s premier business lobby is sticking up for the news media — sort of — in a battle about changing the law affecting self-storage facilities. Legislation in both chambers (SB 720/HB 559) would take away the monopoly that newspapers have for public notices when storage […]

Staff ReportsNovember 3, 2015

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Darrell Smith told a Senate appropriations panel that voluntary standards adopted by the agriculture industry in South Florida – so-called “best management practices,” in Capitol-speak – are helping to clean up the Everglades by reducing water waste and nutrient levels. The practices include new water control structures to help slow the […]

Tag: Brewster Bevis
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Bill would put Jeff Atwater at center of Capitol’s “Storage Wars”

House approves controversial fracking bill, despite opposition from Democrats

Capitol Reax: Rick Scott signs priority legislation; court clerks highlight talk funding needs; fracking bill heads to House floor

Big-name groups, leaders trumpet progress on legislative priorities

Major players react to Senate passage of water legislation

Poll: Floridians overwhelmingly support improving water quality standards

Brewster Bevis: Legislature shouldn’t limit public notice

Brewster Bevis: Misconceptions surround hydraulic fracturing

Business lobby sticks up for newspapers in storage wars

FDACS, DEP say best management practices are working, reducing ‘Glades pollution