Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayOctober 21, 2015

Rep. Julio Gonzalez filed his first bill of the 2016 legislative year on Wednesday, and it was a doozy: a proposal to give immunity to certain businesses that don’t want to render certain services on grounds of “religious freedom,” including private child-placement agencies. Specifically, the bill amends the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998” to read that […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2015

Palatka Republican Bobby Payne is locked into a three-way dogfight for the House District 19 nod to replace termed-out Charles Van Zant. One of his opponents is former RPOF Chairwoman Leslie Dougher. The other? Katherine Van Zant, the current representative’s wife. Payne has one built-in advantage: He’s the Putnam County guy in a race against […]

Ryan RayOctober 6, 2015

A House panel Tuesday morning advanced a bill to grant concealed weapons licensees to carry their guns openly in Florida. Or as sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz put it, restore a right “granted not by government, but by God.” Despite an admonishment from chairman Carlos Trujillo to keep questions to the text of the bill itself and avoid “philosophical” […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 17, 2015

Did you know that it’s technically illegal in the Sunshine State to live with a member of the opposite sex in Florida? Not that it’s being actively enforced, but yes, there has been a prohibition on cohabitation in the Sunshine State since 1968. (Michigan and Mississippi are the only other states with such a law). Which […]

Phil AmmannJuly 13, 2015

Citing leadership skills and an understanding of the district, former State Rep. Joe Pickens is endorsing Republican Robert “Bobby” Payne for the House District 19 race. District 19 covers all of Bradford, Putnam, and Union Counties, as well as the southern and central portions of Clay County. Payne, a native of Palatka, is seeing the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 9, 2015

One of the races to watch in the Florida House in 2016 involves Leslie Dougher, the former interim RPOF chairwoman and current chairwoman of the Clay County Republican Party. Dougher filed on July 1, so she has no fundraising reported yet. Her two Republican opponents, however, are slowly but surely building campaign funds. Bobby Payne raised […]

Mitch PerryJuly 1, 2015

Former Republican Party of Florida chairwoman and current Clay County Commission Chairwoman Leslie Dougher is running for state House District 19, becoming the third Republican to get into the contest. HD 19 encompasses southern Clay County and all of Putnam, Bradford and Union counties. “Today I am excited to announce my candidacy for House District […]

Phil AmmannApril 28, 2015

Florida lawmakers approved a medication that could save lives during a drug overdose, with a bill now awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature. On Tuesday, the Legislature passed SB 758/HB 751, known as the Emergency Treatment for Opioid Overdose Act, which increases availability of Naloxone, a drug that immediately reverses effects of opioids — prescription painkillers, […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

Talks to secure a preliminary accord that would limit Iran’s nuclear program continued Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland, a day after negotiators extended the March 31 deadline. There is tremendous pressure on the Obama administration, with members of Congress already prepared to denounce an agreement between the P+1 nations and Iran that has yet to be finalized. A […]

William MarchMarch 30, 2015

The Florida Legislature is considering several new measures to restrict abortions, including one with a strong chance of passage that calls for a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can undergo the procedure. That measure, House Bill 0633, would require that a woman make one trip to the clinic for legally required counseling before coming […]

“Religious freedom” bill to prevent gay adoptions refiled for 2016

HD 19’s Bobby Payne now has raised more than $40K

House panel pulls trigger on open carry

Rena Frazier blasts Ross Spano for opposing repealer on shacking up law

Fmr. state Rep. Joe Pickens endorses Bobby Payne for HD 19

HD 19 sees 2 Republicans with more than $30K banked

Former RPOF chairwoman Leslie Dougher running for House District 19 seat

Florida Legislature passes expanded access to overdose treatment drug

House panel votes to urge more sanctions on Iran

New restrictions on abortion could pass in state Legislature