Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

Scott PowersJanuary 2, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is kicking off the new year by kicking off his re-election campaign in Florida’s House District 49, with a new internet campaign video featuring a proud, unrelenting Smith, and a fundraiser set for Friday. Smith, who is openly gay and unabashedly liberal, puts those qualities front-and-center with a re-election […]

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2017

‘Tis the season, and the Legislature’s dubious Christmas present this year was moving up the 2018 Legislative Session two months from its usual March start date. We will no doubt have many gifts in store, besides the inevitable policy food fights, such as perhaps seeing some lawmakers in their ugly holiday sweaters (the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts “sunny, turning warm” for […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

Housing continues to be the toughest challenge and most likely the biggest long-term challenge as Central Florida absorbs tens of thousands of people displaced from Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Maria, surmised a new task force formed by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto. There still is no clear idea how many of the more than 260,000 […]

Tag: Carlos Guillermo Smith

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

Carlos Smith re-election video doesn’t hold back

The 12 Days of Christmas, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and politicos

Puerto Rico evacuees to Florida need immediate, long-term housing, task force concludes