Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressSeptember 24, 2015

Beginning on Thursday morning, a Florida judge will try to sort out the political mess left because of squabbling over the state’s 27 congressional districts. The Florida Supreme Court in July ordered the Republican-controlled Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts after finding the current map violated standards adopted by voters. But the House and Senate […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2015

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis will have at least seven proposed maps to sort out as he determines the best way to fix Florida’s congressional district boundaries. As of Tuesday, those maps include the House’s original “base map,” unchanged since last month’s Special Session, and two from the Senate, one of which puts the southern flank of eastern […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 11, 2015

Circuit Judge Terry Lewis has given parties in the ongoing congressional redistricting case until Monday to submit their final versions of how to draw boundary lines for those districts. At a brief hearing on Friday, Lewis set the date for all competing maps to be submitted. A final hearing on the matter still is set for Sept. 24, court […]

Jim RosicaAugust 26, 2015

As expected, Circuit Judge Terry Lewis has asked the Florida Supreme Court for guidance in the ever-complicated challenge to the state’s congressional redistricting. In a 2-page filing submitted Wednesday, Lewis noted that the high court charged him with overseeing the details of the case, including the actual redrawing of a new map. The problem is […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2015

Although the Florida Supreme Court has yet to rule on the legality of state Senate districts that a coalition of groups contend were drawn unconstitutionally in 2012, Florida’s political leaders said today that the Court’s ruling earlier this month to invalidate eight of the state’s 27 Congressional Districts guarantees that they will have to redraw […]

Ryan RayMay 28, 2015

A hallmark of the White House pre-campaign of Jeb Bush has been a genteel, understated approach. Jeb, the most erudite of the Bushes and the proverbial “adult in the room” among the bomb-throwers and firebrands in the 2016 Republican field was not known for singeing his rivals, other than his Democratic bête noire Hillary Clinton. That’s changing as […]

Ryan RayApril 15, 2015

a-conversation-with-florida-senate-president-don-gaetz-1c8bb35c-1024x1024.jpeg

A lengthy debate over a lobbying ethics reform bill ended with with former Senate President Don Gaetz moving to TP his own bill. The proposal — Gaetz’s SB 1372 — would tighten many restrictions on lobbying in Florida. Most notably, it would hold Gov. Rick Scott‘s brainchild — Enterprise Florida Inc., housed within another Scott innovation in […]

Martin DyckmanDecember 15, 2013

There’s a phrase in Shakespeare that ought to be printed on every politician’s paycheck: Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed That he is grown so great? It might remind him or her that, all too often, it’s all too easy to forget who is supposed to be serving whom. So it is a […]

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Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

Redistricting trial set to begin today

Maps come in for congressional redistricting challenge

Judge gives redistricting parties extra time for maps

Judge formally asks Supreme Court for redistricting direction

Legislature to convene to draw up new Senate lines October 19 – Nov 6

Jeb Bush sharpens elbows as GOP presidential field grows crowded

Lobbying ethics bill stumbles in Senate Rules

Martin Dyckman: Crucial court appointments face next governor