Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 21, 2017

A bill to create statewide regulations for ridesharing companies easily advanced in its last committee stop Tuesday in the Florida House, but not without some dissent from a handful of Democrats on the panel. The bill (HB 221) is sponsored by Tampa Republican Jamie Grant and Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls, and officials with Uber and Lyft are hoping that this is finally the […]

Associated PressFebruary 21, 2017

Florida Republicans are more determined than ever to pass bills expanding gun rights in the wake of the deadly Pulse nightclub and Fort Lauderdale airport shootings. They say law-abiding gun owners should be allowed to take their weapons to airports, government meetings and state universities, and would be in a better position to protect themselves […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

Decrying that racing dog owners are “doping greyhounds,” state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith joined state Rep. Alexandra Miller and Dana Young Friday in another effort to tighten regulation of dog racing in Florida, with a bill explicitly banning the use of steroids. Smith, the Orlando Democrat, and Miller, the Sarasota Republican, introduced House Bill 743 […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2017

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Citing email obtained through open-records requests, NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer declared the League of Women Voters of Florida as “Florida’s newest gun ban organization,” working in secret. “The League of Women Voters is not who you think they are. The Florida League of Women Voters is Florida’s newest gun ban organization,” Hammer wrote in a letter […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2017

The social fallout from Puerto Rico’s multi-fasceted financial crisis must be dealt with in more immediate ways in Central Florida where so much of the diaspora is fleeing, a panel of scholars urged key Puerto Rican political leaders in Orlando Friday. Their call for concern for recognizing, assisting, and empowering Puerto Ricans settling by the […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 25, 2017

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a UCF graduate himself, wants you to have more access to higher education – that’s why his new bill, HB 489, introduces sweeping expansions to the Bright Futures scholarship. The bill, called the “Restore Our Bright Futures” act, will return the scholarship to the levels of the 2010-11 school year and make […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 17, 2017

In front of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio‘s office Tuesday morning, Sen. Victor Torres and Reps. Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith called on Rubio to protect the state’s immigrant population – especially those not here legally. Their message was that time is of the essence – now that the Donald Trump administration is just days away […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 5, 2017

Senator Linda Stewart and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith announced Thursday that they had filed a bill in both the Senate and the House that would ban the sale of military-grade assault weapons in Florida. The bill, SB 254, would prevent the sale or transfer of assault weapons as well as owning them in general. Speaking at […]

Scott PowersJanuary 2, 2017

A before-and-after time line now exists for Orlando – June 12, 2016 – and on this side of the Pulse massacre the city may be seen by the world and through its own citizens’ eyes as a very different place, with a new political perspective. Before June 12, Orlando was a city without an an […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2016

While no one from Central Florida will be chairing full committees in the Florida House of Representatives this spring, several local representatives will be chairing key subcommittees, Health Care Appropriations, Tourism & Gaming Control, and Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs. The committee appointments came down Monday from House Speaker Richard Corcoran. State Rep. Mike La […]

Tag: Carlos Guillermo Smith

Ridesharing bill advances 21-1 in House committee

Florida looks to expand gun rights in wake of Pulse shooting

Carlos Smith, Alexandra Miller, Dana Young push new greyhound bill, banning steroids

NRA declares League of Women Voters as ‘gun ban organization’

Puerto Rico crisis panel brings it home to Florida

Carlos Guillermo Smith’s ‘Restore Our Bright Futures’ act aims to help more students go to college

Central Florida House members call on Marco Rubio to protect illegal immigrants

Linda Stewart and Carlos Guillermo Smith introduce bill to ban assault weapons in Florida

Politics in Orlando now takes place in a post-Pulse city

Central Florida reps pleased with tourism, health care subcommittee chairs