Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 19, 2018

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A plan to close what’s known as Florida’s “write-in loophole” won a preliminary OK from the Constitution Revision Commission on Monday. Commissioners voted 21-12 to send the proposal (P11) to the body’s Style and Drafting Committee for preparation as a ballot question. The proposal would still face a final vote afterward. Commissioner Sherry Plymale, who filed the measure, said the […]

Scott PowersMarch 13, 2018

Saying there’d been no effort to address assault weapons in the Florida Legislature Session that just ended, Democratic former state Sen. Chris Smith has offered an amendment to the Florida Constitution that would ban them. Smith, the former Senate Democratic leader from Fort Lauderdale who is one of 37 members of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 18, 2018

A proposal to allow the automatic restoration of non-violent ex-felons’ voting rights cleared a Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) committee on Thursday. The CRC’s Ethics and Elections Committee OK’d the measure (P7) by a 6-2 vote. “If successful, Smith and Joyner’s proposal would bring Florida in line with most of the states in the nation that already allow […]

Jim RosicaOctober 2, 2017

The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) on Monday moved forward on two public proposals to amend the state’s governing document: One to close the “write-in loophole,” and another to repeal a provision on high speed rail. The next chance for commissioners to directly sponsor public proposals will be on Oct. 17, during another meeting of the full Commission. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2017

In Philadelphia, police were trying to identify the vandals who knocked over or damaged at least 100 headstones at a Jewish cemetery on Monday, while bomb threats forced the evacuations of Jewish Community Centers in New York and in 10 other states. With the number of anti-Semitic criminal offenses increasing, a bipartisan group of eight U.S. House […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2017

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Former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz and former Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith are among those tapped by current Senate President Joe Negron to sit on the state’s Constitution Revision Commission. Negron, a Stuart Republican, announced his list Wednesday in a press release. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican in the Senate 2006-16, and Smith, a Fort Lauderdale […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 4, 2017

Former Sen. Chris Smith is returning to his legal roots. Smith has joined Tripp Scott, the Fort Lauderdale-based law firm announced this week. “We’re so excited to have you here,” said Edward J. Pozzuoli, the president of Tripp Scott, in a video interview with Smith. The 46-year-old Fort Lauderdale Democrat got his start at Tripp […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

A former Senate President, Secretary of State, and state Supreme Court Justice have applied to Senate President Joe Negron for a seat on the panel that reviews the state’s constitution every 20 years. At last tally, 39 people had applied for one of Negron’s nine picks to the Constitution Revision Commission, according to a list […]

Ryan RayMarch 16, 2016

Florida said hello to its new official state honey – tupelo, of course – when Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a bill to make myriad tweaks to the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on Wednesday. House Bill 7007, which originated in the House sponsored by Rep. Jake Raburn and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, is […]

Ryan RayMarch 11, 2016

After passage of a tax package and budget that snubs Gov. Rick Scott, Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner said Friday afternoon lawmakers had “declared their independence” from an overbearing executive branch. “The 2016 Legislative Session may well go down in the history books as the year Florida lawmakers formally declared their independence from Governor Scott,” said Joyner, who […]

Tag: Chris Smith

Amendment to button up ‘write-in loophole’ gets nod from CRC

Chris Smith proposes adding assault weapon ban to state constitution

Voting rights proposal advanced by constitutional review board

Constitutional panel moves two public proposals

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ted Deutch to be part of bipartisan congressional taskforce to combat anti-Semitism

Don Gaetz, Chris Smith among Joe Negron’s constitutional review panel picks

Personnel note: Former Sen. Chris Smith joins Tripp Scott

Nearly 40 apply to Joe Negron for Constitution Revision Commission

Rick Scott signs Ag Department changes into law

Top Democrat says lawmakers “declared independence” from Rick Scott by rebuffing priorities