Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 23, 2018

While saying he was impressed by the passion and delivery of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who came to Tallahassee to ask for gun legislation, Republican state Rep. Mike La Rosa on Friday denounced the procedural vote taken in front of them as “a political stunt” and the bill itself “a gun grab” attempt. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2018

On the debate over assault rifle bans, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King believes the Florida Legislature is a bunch of cowards. With the eyes of the nation on them, the GOP-led state House blocked a move by Democrats Tuesday to debate a ban on assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines in Florida, six days after a massacre […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith picked up his campaign-fundraising pace in early January for his 2018 re-election effort in Florida House District 49, bringing in nearly $24,000 even as his only opponent dropped out of the race. Smith, of Orlando, reported that his campaign raised $23,838 in the first eight days of January prior […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 7, 2018

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill by Sarasota Sen. Greg Steube, SB 1168, that the Consumer Protection Coalition said would “do little to protect consumers” from Assignment of Benefits abuse. The group said it prefers HB 7015 by Rep. Jay Trumbull, which includes modifications to one-way attorney fees which proponents say […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 5, 2018

State-based activists are breathing new life into a campaign originally organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. The Poor People’s Campaign took to the fourth-floor of Florida’s Capitol on Monday to “serve notice to state and local legislative leaders that their failure to address systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation and America’s distorted national morality […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 31, 2018

Bipartisan support for a statewide fracking ban doesn’t seem to carry any weight in the Legislature. Legislation filed by Treasure Coast Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters (HB 237) and Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young (SB 462) would ban fracking — an oil and gas excavation method that involves stimulating wells with a mixture of water, sand and chemicals. […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 31, 2018

On the first day of FEMA’s ending of new supply shipments to Puerto Rico, some legislators highlighted the need for Florida to provide support for the islanders displaced by Hurricane Maria. A large group of Puerto Rican advocates gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday at a press conference hosted by VAMOS4PR, a network that supports […]

Scott PowersJanuary 29, 2018

Before and after scenes from the Pulse nightclub slaughter of 2016 and before and after images representing the Sandy Hook Elementary School slaughter of 2012 and the Las Vegas concert slaughter of 2017 are part of a new series of anti-assault weapon videos that The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence has produced and is […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 18, 2018

There was a slew of committee meetings at the Capitol Thursday, but the public stage outside committee halls belonged to those pushing for LGBT protections in private businesses and state offices, two arenas where such discrimination is not explicitly barred by state law. A sizable group of bipartisan lawmakers attended a press conference on Thursday in […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 17, 2018

Mayors Buddy Dyer and Andrew Gillum have signed on to a letter to the Florida congressional delegation demanding it includes a plan to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in any proposal to keep the government running. Congress must pass a spending bill by midnight Friday or else parts of the government will shut down. […]

Tag: Carlos Guillermo Smith
3d rendering. woman driving with big turkey on car roof.

Mike La Rosa calls gun bill vote ‘political stunt,’ and bill a ‘gun grab’

Chris King: Legislature ‘cowardly’ for running from assault rifle ban

Carlos Smith tops Orange County legislative candidates, raising $23K

Capitol reax: AOB, Publix PrEP, campus ‘free speech,’ criminal justice, Rick Scott

Florida revitalizes Poor People’s Campaign

Capitol rally calls for statewide fracking ban

Lawmakers stress state’s need to support Puerto Ricans

Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence launches social media video campaign

Legislators want laws, executive order protecting LGBT rights

Buddy Dyer, Andrew Gillum call on Congress to include DACA fix in budget bill