Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2018

Photo above: Greyhounds racing on the track in Bonita Springs. Credit: Van Abernathy. As promised, the group that represents Florida’s greyhound owners and breeders is suing to keep a proposed constitutional amendment to rid the state of dog racing off the November ballot. But a top greyhound racing opponent quickly called the suit “dead on […]

Staff ReportsMay 15, 2018

Florida-TaxWatch-Amendment-2-presser-05-15-2018-e1526400570127.jpg

Asked for a 30-second ‘elevator speech‘ on why voters should choose ‘yes’ for Amendment 2 in November, Florida TaxWatch president Dominic M. Calabro didn’t blink. “If you don’t vote ‘yes,’ either you or your neighbors will see massive tax increases and great deal of property tax dissatisfaction … anger even, if we see property taxes jump […]

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2018

As a May 25 deadline to complete discovery approaches, depositions continue in a lawsuit over how the state funds environmental conservation. Court dockets viewed Friday show a flurry of notices filed late last month for what are called “depositions duces tecum,” which compel witnesses to produce documents and be interviewed before a trial. Environmental advocacy groups […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2018

A Tallahassee judge has dismissed one of the plaintiffs in John Morgan‘s legal effort to overturn the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana. Roberto Pickering of Leon County, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, was one of three patients with a chronic illness who want to smoke medicinal cannabis under a state constitutional amendment passed in 2016. In an […]

Jim RosicaApril 17, 2018

The group that represents the state’s racing-greyhound breeders and owners will challenge a proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw dog racing, its spokesman and lobbyist told Florida Politics Tuesday. Jack Cory, who represents the Florida Greyhound Association (FGA), said former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former appellate judge Paul Hawkes, who also now represent the group, are working on […]

Staff ReportsApril 16, 2018

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Monday said the voting down of a constitutional amendment to create a ‘Florida E-Verify’ system “was a win for protecting Florida’s Constitution.” “Proposal 6010 would have placed an ineffective federal government system into Florida’s foundational document,” said Frank Walker, the Chamber’s vice president of Governmental Affairs. “The Florida Chamber […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2018

Billionaire GOP contributor Mike Fernandez and nearly 70 other business and political leaders are objecting to a proposed constitutional amendment to require employers to verify their workers’ immigration status and employment eligibility. Fernandez, a health care entrepreneur who also chairs the Immigration Partnership and Coalition Fund (IMPAC Fund), sent a letter Tuesday to members of Florida Constitution Revision Commission in […]

Jim RosicaMarch 28, 2018

Despite the end of a legal truce between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state this Saturday, don’t expect the Tribe’s gambling money to stop flowing to Florida’s coffers, its longtime outside lawyer said. That’s also despite lawmakers’ failure, once again, to pass comprehensive gambling law reform or renew the revenue sharing agreement between […]

Jim RosicaMarch 20, 2018

A proposed constitutional amendment to give equal rights to crime victims won preliminary approval from the full Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) on Monday. Commissioners voted 30-3 to send the measure (P96) to the panel’s Style and Drafting Committee for preparation as a ballot question. Hank Coxe, Arthenia Joyner and Bob Solari voted against it. The proposal still faces a final […]

Jim RosicaMarch 15, 2018

The lawyer that successfully represented a pig farmer who sued over the state’s ‘pregnant pig’ constitutional amendment now says another proposed amendment to do away with greyhound racing is legally sound. Broad & Cassel attorney M. Stephen Turner, who represented Florida pig farmer Stephen Basford, wrote an opinion letter – provided to Florida Politics Thursday – […]

Tag: constitutional amendment
Image via AP.

Greyhound owners sue over proposed dog racing ban

TaxWatch stumps for property-tax cap on November ballot

Amendment 1 lawsuit still moving toward trial

John Morgan’s ‘no smoke’ marijuana lawsuit loses a plaintiff

Greyhound owners plan legal challenge of dog racing ban

Chamber of Commerce cheers failure of ‘E-Verify’ measure

Mike Fernandez, others oppose Florida ‘E-Verify’ system

Sure bet? Seminole gambling money will keep flowing, lawyer says

‘Marsy’s Law’ wins initial OK as state constitutional amendment

Greyhound racing ban passes legal muster, ‘pregnant pig’ lawyer says