Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

The right way to put the new constitutional amendment on medical marijuana into effect is to “treat (it) like medicine,” supporters said Tuesday. The Senate Health Policy committee held its first workshop for the 2017 Legislative Session on medical cannabis implementation. “The states that have done it poorly, with a lack of regulation, allowed folks to market […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

With establishment lobbyists now representing it, the medical marijuana cause appears to have become—grab your pearls—respectable. Florida for Care, the nonprofit organization that is advocating for “well-regulated” medicinal pot in the state, has hired Brecht Heuchan and The Mayernick Group to advocate for its interests. Heuchan, who says he voted against the medical marijuana constitutional amendment this November, has […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 7, 2016

Count them in for 2018. Dozens of state lawmakers have already filed to run for the state House and Senate in 2018. For some, their decision comes before their first bills get a hearing. Others have their eye on the higher office as they embark on their final term in the House. State elections records […]

Jim RosicaDecember 6, 2016

Sydney Ridley, former right-hand woman to lawmaker Dana Young, is joining Southern Strategy Group‘s Tampa office. The top-tier lobbying firm announced the move Monday. “Sydney represents the future of the lobbying business,” said Seth McKeel, managing partner of SSG’s Tampa Bay office and a former House member. “She’s sharp, respected, energetic, and she’s very excited about […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2016

With Tallahassee a four-hour drive away, the annual meeting of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to be held in two weeks in Tampa could very possibly be the only time local residents can address their state representative(s). That meeting will take place on Friday, December 16 at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water […]

Mitch PerryNovember 29, 2016

Dana Young has been named as chair of Health Care policy in the Florida state Senate. The South Tampa Republican, who was elected to the Legislature’s upper chamber earlier this month in SD 18, will also serve as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Senate President Joe Negron handed out such assignments to his charges in the […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2016

At Tuesday’s Organization Session in Tallahassee, all forty state Senators elected earlier this month will take their oath in office. Both senators representing Hillsborough County, Darryl Rouson and Dana Young, are new to the job, though not to the Legislature. Young returns to Tallahassee having fulfilled her goal of advancing into the Senate after six years in the Florida […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2016

With his legacy on the line, Barack Obama went all out during this just-concluded election season to not only get Hillary Clinton elected, but also more than 150 down ballot races for state Senate and House in states across the country, including 13 Democrats on the ballot in Florida. With one House race so close […]

Michael MolineNovember 9, 2016

When the campaigning finally ended, the Florida Chamber had invested $7.2 million in 113 television, radio, and digital ads in state races. It had mailed 600,000 campaign fliers to voters; interviewed more than 200 candidates and endorsed 116. The result was that 76 of 89 Florida Chamber-backed candidates won during the primary elections, and 74 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

Where do you begin? One of the biggest political upsets in U.S. history, to start with, in Donald J. Trump beating Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States of America. Lots of analysis there, including about the Democratic nominee, who for the second time in eight years, thought she had the […]

Tag: Dana Young
Photo of Bob Graham at a Rick Scott State of the State address in 2013. Photo via the Florida Times-Union.

Treat medical marijuana “like medicine,” advocates say

Implementation of medical marijuana amendment brings together unlikely allies

Dana Young, Randy Fine, others file to run for re-election in 2018

Personnel note: Sydney Ridley joins Southern Strategy Group

Hillsborough legislative delegation to meet December 16

Dana Young to chair Health Care policy committee

Darryl Rouson and Dana Young set to start new careers in Florida Senate

Barack Obama goes below .500 in his picks for Florida House and Senate seats

Florida Chamber feels its campaign investments paid off

Mitch Perry Report for 11.9.16 — GOP dominance