Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

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Budget conference chairs are now ironing out funding differences between the House and Senate dealing with a wide-range of policy issues. Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Carlos Trujillo are figuring out funding for beach restoration, land acquisition and water projects. Currently, the state Legislature is split over nearly $172 million on appropriations for programs funded through Florida […]

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

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After leading the charge to oust Broward Sheriff Scott Israel in the wake of Florida’s worst school shooting, Republican state Rep. Bill Hager tried to gut funding from a program run by the Sheriff’s Office. Hager oversees the House’s criminal justice budget, which gives him large sway over funding for law enforcement-related projects and issues. […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 2, 2018

The state Legislature is split on appropriations for programs funded through Florida Forever — by nearly $172 million. The House wants to fund projects under the state’s land-buying trust at $36 million. A Friday budget offer from the Senate proposed close to a $208 million spend on the same programs — just ahead of the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2018

Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley told reporters Thursday “major (budget) issues are still unresolved” but “we’re having great communications” with the House. “It’s been a very smooth process,” he said. No doubt helping matters is the relative closeness of the two chambers in terms of total spending for next year. The House and Senate went […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 28, 2018

As many speculate that Florida’s affordable housing issues will be exacerbated by the influx of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, the state Legislature intends to sweep millions from the Sadowski Trust, which funds the state’s affordable housing programs. Speaking with reporters late Tuesday night following an organizational meeting of the newly announced budget conference, Senate […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 27, 2018

With two weeks left in Session, the Florida Legislature on Tuesday agreed to the outline of the 2018-19 state budget that will use roughly $32 billion in state funds. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Conference Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and state Rep. Carlos Trujillo will hold an organization meeting in 212 Knott Building. Conference subcommittees have […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 26, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Andrea Jahna is no longer legislative assistant to Lake Placid Republican Sen. Denise Grimsley. Off: Karen Riggien is no longer legislative assistant for Jacksonville Democratic Rep. Kimberly Daniels. Off: Daniel Martinez is no longer legislative assistant for […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2018

Andrew Vargas has won the Republican primary in House District 114, vacated last year by Daisy Baez. Vargas is a 35-year-old political newcomer who works as an insurance attorney and a law partner of influential Miami-area state Rep. Carlos Trujillo. From the 7 p.m. poll closing, Vargas took a definitive lead, getting more than 76 percent […]

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 […]

Ana CeballosDecember 5, 2017

As Florida House members work to roll out their budget, the chairman of that chamber’s budget committee said Tuesday they are aiming for a simpler version of the massive $87 billion budget Gov. Rick Scott has proposed. “Our goal is to pass a balanced budget — I don’t want to say one that is more […]

Tag: Carlos Trujillo

Final budget items start getting ‘bumped’

Bill Hager’s battle with Broward Sheriff spills over into Florida budget talks

House, Senate face $172M difference in Florida Forever funding

Rob Bradley on the budget: ‘A smooth process’

Budget remarks don’t bode well for Sadowski Trust

Budget conference begins tonight, state allocations unveiled

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Andrew Vargas overwhelmingly takes GOP primary in HD 114

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Florida House aims to roll out slimmer version of budget than Rick Scott