Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMay 3, 2018

Education, particularly early education, is a key avenue in the fight against intergenerational poverty, says Children’s Movement of Florida founder Dave Lawrence. Lawrence gave the elevator speech version of his organization’s mission during the Florida Chamber of Commerce Summit on Prosperity & Economic Opportunity. “We are, believe it or not, the most unequal of all […]

Scott PowersOctober 16, 2017

Carlos-Guillermo-Smith-Bruce-Antone-Linda-Stewart-Amy-Mercado-and-Randolph-Bracy.jpg

State Sen. Linda Stewart and state Rep. Bruce Antone announced Monday they are pushing legislation that would require day care centers to install sensor alarms on their transport vans and other vehicles that would alert workers if a child was left inside. Joined by other Democratic members of the Orange County Legislative Caucus, many of […]

Jim RosicaMarch 30, 2017

Good news for opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul, and bad news for its supporters: The bills are dead for the year. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, the Naples Republican who’s carrying the Senate version (SB 412), on Wednesday said the chair of its first committee of reference has refused to hear the bill. Rene Garcia chairs the Committee on […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

Get ready for a rumble: Lawmakers will again tackle the sticky issue of alimony in the 2017 Legislative Session. Companion bills filed in the House and Senate aim to overhaul state alimony law to toughen the standards by which alimony is granted and changed. That’s despite unsuccessful tries in the last few years. Neither bill […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 23, 2017

Representative Frank White filed a new ‘Safe Families bill’ Monday morning, which would set up provisions for what to do with children in need of a place to go, but who do not necessarily need the foster care system. The bill, HB 363, will authorize qualified nonprofit organizations to establish programs for temporary respite for children […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2017

Update: State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican, on Friday filed the Senate companion to the House bill, which she says is identical save for “a few punctuation differences.” State Rep. Colleen Burton will try again to overhaul the state’s alimony law, filing a bill on Wednesday. The Lakeland Republican still aims to toughen the standards by which alimony is […]

Shannon NickinsonMay 21, 2016

For good or ill, the world the today’s kindergartners will graduate into demands more of them than it did of their parents. Florida’s antidote to that was supposed to be free preschool for every 4-year-old in the state. The voter-approved initiative that launched voluntary prekindergarten said the program should be “voluntary, high quality, free and […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2016

Alimony overhaul supporters may need to take a break next legislative session, state Sen. Kelli Stargel says. “I don’t know that I’m willing to take this on again next year,” she told FloridaPolitics.com on Tuesday. “Then again, a lot can happen between now and the next legislative session. But we need to discuss the merits of […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2016

As more than 100 of them crammed the waiting room and hallway of Gov. Rick Scott‘s office on Tuesday, advocates and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill had a hollering battle over the contentious legislation. The opponents, led by Florida National Organization for Women lobbyist Barbara DeVane, scheduled a meeting with Scott’s staff at 11 a.m. to […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2016

Supporters and opponents of this year’s alimony overhaul bill will make their case at the Capitol on Tuesday. As Gov. Rick Scott reviews the legislation (SB 668), representatives of the Florida National Organization for Women, the League of Women Voters of Florida and other groups plan to meet with his staff at 11 a.m., according to FL-NOW lobbyist Barbara […]

Tag: child care
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Chamber Summit: Early education is key for a prosperous Florida

Linda Stewart, Bruce Antone push for day care van alarms

Alimony legislation dead for 2017, sponsor says

2017 Legislative Session preview: Alimony rears its head

Frank White’s ‘Safe Families’ bill would let volunteer families help out children when their parents can’t

Alimony reform bill filed for 2017

Shannon Nickinson: Florida’s 4-year-olds need more friends in high places

Kelli Stargel says alimony reform may have to wait until 2018 session

Alimony bill supporters and opponents square off in Florida Capitol

Both sides of alimony reform putting pressure on Rick Scott