Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschNovember 18, 2017

The head of the panel now eyeing the state’s constitution for changes says “more than 50 percent of the 103 proposed constitutional revisions filed by (its) commissioners represent public ideas.” Carlos Beruff, chair of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), this week recounted how his board “traveled the state listening to Floridians and reviewed thousands of […]

Jim RosicaNovember 17, 2017

Chris Hart IV, who last was with Florida TaxWatch, will be the next CEO of the statewide Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association, according to a Friday press release. He starts Dec. 4. Hart “will provide strong leadership to our association,” said Marcia M. Johnson, Franklin County Clerk and Comptroller and 2017-18 Board President, in a statement. […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), a nursing home industry trade association, recently attacked my proposed “Resident’s Bill of Rights” amendment to the state constitution saying that it does not belong there, that it “weakens protections for residents,” and that it is “glaringly bad.” Unfortunately, they offered nothing in the way of evidence to support these claims and […]

Jim RosicaNovember 15, 2017

State Sen. Tom Lee fired off a tweetstorm Wednesday in support of his proposed constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Lee—a Thonotosassa Republican, previous Senate president and current candidate for Chief Financial Officer—called dog racing “cruel and inhumane,” and added the “greyhound industry opposes any real reform.” (His tweets are at bottom.) He filed […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 13, 2017

With Constitution Revision Commissioner William “Bill” Schifino Jr.’s recent proposal to open Florida’s primaries, a nationwide movement has some steam in the Sunshine State. Specifically, the change proposed by Schifino—a Tampa attorney and 2016-2017 president of The Florida Bar—would allow independent voters to cast ballots in primary elections. Florida’s constitution currently provides for closed primaries: Elections […]

Staff ReportsNovember 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced that he will propose $178 million to support active military, veterans and their families in Florida as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget, according to a Monday press release. “He also announced his support for a proposal being considered by the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) to provide free tuition to the families of fallen first […]

Jim RosicaNovember 8, 2017

In an acutely personal attack, the head of a nursing-home advocacy group slammed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a “nursing home and assisted living facility residents’ bill of rights.” The Florida Health Care Association’s Emmett Reed, this week called the amendment, filed by Constitution Revision Commissioner Brecht Heuchan, “glaringly bad.” Reed’s organization advocates […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerNovember 5, 2017

State college leaders are advancing the idea of having their 28-school system embedded in the Florida Constitution. The Council of Presidents, which represents the school leaders, voted unanimously Thursday to support the concept as part of the ongoing Florida Constitution Revision Commission, a panel considering constitutional changes for the 2018 ballot. “We are the only […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

As expected, Constitution Revision Commissioner Tom Lee has filed a constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Lee, a state senator from Thonotosassa and a previous Senate president, filed the 2-page proposal late Tuesday, the deadline for commissioners to submit proposed amendments for the state’s governing document. Lee last month said he had been considering filing such […]

Jim RosicaNovember 1, 2017

The Tallahassee-based First Amendment Foundation, the state’s public records and open meetings watchdog, is giving a thumbs down to a proposed Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) amendment on “privacy” for the 2018 ballot. Foundation President Barbara Petersen, in a letter this week to Lisa Carlton, chair of the CRC’s Declaration of Rights Committee, said her group […]

Tag: Constitution Revision Commission
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Carlos Beruff’s ‘constitutional’ angst

Personnel note: Chris Hart IV to head Court Clerks group

Brecht Heuchan: FHCA ‘wrong on all’ counts

Tom Lee defends dog racing ban; Pam Bondi noncommittal

Open the primaries, former Bar president says

Rick Scott wants millions for active-duty military, vets

Nursing home group denounces proposed residents’ ‘bill of rights’

State colleges look for place in constitution

Tom Lee files greyhound racing ban in Florida

Open government watchdog barks at privacy measure