Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 18, 2018

In a potential breakthrough bipartisan agreement on gun issues following last week’s horrendous high school mass murder in Parkland, Republican Congressman Carlos Curbelo tweeted his support for a bill Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy is pushing to renew federal research into gun violence. The apparent deal was struck via Twitter late Friday and Saturday after U.S. […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 7, 2018

Facing of one of the deadliest flu epidemics in the history of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, a Senate committee temporarily postponed a measure which would give Floridians greater access to antiviral medication, critical in the treatment of the flu and strep. SB 524, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would allow […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 25, 2018

As the nation faces another aggressive flu season in 2018, potentially one of the worst in several years, a Florida lawmaker wants to allow testing and treating influenza right at the pharmacy counter. As those of you who follow me on Twitter, I went down with the flu Tuesday night. The flu sucks under normal […]

Associated PressMay 5, 2017

The Florida House has rejected a Senate proposal to loosen mandatory-minimum-sentence requirements in a bill that cracks down on synthetic drug traffickers, putting the legislation in jeopardy with only one day left for it to pass. The bill’s primary sponsor, Republican Rep. Jim Boyd, said the purpose of the bill would be defeated without the […]

Associated PressMay 4, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency Wednesday to combat opioid abuse in the state, where he said the number of overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions. Scott’s executive order will free up nearly $30 million in federal funds for prevention, treatment and recovery services. And it comes as a series of workshops […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 15, 2017

With the Affordable Care Act — aka Obamacare — already beginning to be phased out by Republicans in Washington this month, congressional Democrats took to the streets in Florida and around the country Sunday afternoon. Congressional representatives held rallies and press events featuring regular citizens whose lives have benefited by Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement. In South St. […]

Staff ReportsNovember 1, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott demanded Tuesday that the Obama administration speed delivery of $1.1 billion in federal money to fight the Zika virus, “to protect pregnant women and their developing babies” in Florida. Congress approved the spending, which President Obama signed off on in September, but the money has yet to arrive, Scott said in a written […]

Associated PressOctober 20, 2016

The government on Wednesday recommended Zika testing for all pregnant women who recently spent time anywhere in Florida’s Miami-Dade County. The county is the only area in the continental U.S. where mosquitoes have been spreading the virus since the summer. Testing is recommended for pregnant women who lived in — or visited — Miami-Dade since […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 13, 2016

The Department of Health has identified a new transmission zone for locally acquired Zika. Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday that health officials confirmed local transmissions are occurring in a small area in Miami-Dade County. The one-square mile area straddles Interstate 95 and stretches from N.W. 79th Street to the north to N.W. 63rd Street to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 19, 2016

Zika_Mosquitoes.JPG_ne9dCoD-1024x1024.jpg

The Zika zone has been lifted. Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday that Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood was no longer considered a zone of active Zika transmission. In a statement, Scott said the state was able to lift the zone because it has been 45 days since there was evidence of active Zika transmission in the area. […]

Tag: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kathleen King and Joe Gruters. Image via Max Goodman.

Carlos Curbelo pledges to back Stephanie Murphy’s CDC gun violence research bill

With hundreds dying from the flu, lawmakers choose inaction

House considers bill allowing flu tests, treatment at pharmacy counter

House puts fate of fentanyl trafficking bill at risk

Florida bolsters response to opioid-addiction crisis

Charlie Crist calls GOP Obamacare repeal without replacement ‘unacceptable’

Rick Scott decries ‘bureaucracy and politics’ in federal Zika aid

Zika test urged for pregnant women throughout Miami-Dade

Rick Scott identifies new Zika transmission zone in Miami-Dade County

Rick Scott says Wynwood no longer an active Zika zone