Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 12, 2017

Rep. Matt Caldwell is getting a little help from his friends in bid for Agriculture Commissioner. Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, Rep. Dane Eagle, and Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen are among the more than three dozen Southwest Florida officials scheduled to host a fundraiser for Caldwell on Monday night. The fundraiser, according to a copy of the […]

Associated PressMarch 31, 2017

People who receive cash assistance from the Florida government and fail to comply with work requirements could be left without money for a longer time. A House panel on Thursday advanced a bill (HB 23) that would toughen sanctions for individuals who do not work toward furthering their education or careers while in the program. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2017

A bill that would increase the penalties for certain violent offenses if the defendant is an undocumented immigrant advanced in a Florida House Committee on Monday. The legislation, sponsored by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle (HB 83), would upgrade penalties for five different violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, including sexual battery, aggravated assault with a […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

A bill approved by a Florida House committee Tuesday would increase penalties for Floridians receiving food stamps and cash aid that have not met obligations to find work. HB 23 would return those penalties to levels before the 2008 Great Recession. Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle, who introduced the same measure in the 2016 […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2017

The Consul of the Mexican Consulate in Orlando and several groups blasted a Florida senate bill Wednesday that would make one set of criminal codes for undocumented immigrants and another for everyone else. Mexico Consul Juan Sabines Guerrero called Senate Bill 120 “condemnable by society as a whole” as he and representatives of the ACLU and […]

Phil AmmannMarch 14, 2017

The University of Florida would get about $2.5 million to study the effectiveness of medical marijuana under a bill that cleared the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. HB 3159 by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Dane Eagle is aimed at the compassionate use bill lawmakers approved in 2014, which legalized low-THC, high-cannabidiol marijuana for the […]

Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee has brought on budget analyst Bryan Mielke, formerly a legislative assistant for Sebring Republican Rep. Cary Pigman. On: Brandon Miller is replacing Mielke as Pigman’s legislative assistant. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

On Wednesday, a Florida House panel took the baton from a Senate committee, addressing a problem-riddled Auditor General’s IT audit of the Agency for State Technology. The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee discussed a January Auditor General report about the Agency for State Technology and State Data Center operations. Despite the findings of that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Addressing what he called the “obvious elephant in the room,” Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson criticized Florida House members who backed an effort to end economic incentive programs, calling the move political. “I want to be blunt for a few minutes,” said Wilson. “This is not a Legislature trying to seek how to diversify the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott met with Lee County community and business leaders, holding the first in a series of round table discussions across the state meant to rally support for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida funding. “Right now, I’m going to fight every day to make sure we keep this funding because it’s good for your […]

Tag: Dane Eagle
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Ray Rodrigues, other SWFL leaders host fundraiser for Matt Caldwell’s bid for Ag Commissioner

Florida welfare recipients could face tougher sanctions

Bill that would increase penalties for undocumented violent offenders advances in Florida House

Some lawmakers worry children will suffer under new Florida work-for-welfare bill

Mexico Consul, ACLU, Civil Rights groups blast immigrant crime bill

House bill advances to give University of Florida $2.5M for medical marijuana study

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Agency for State Technology audit scrutinized by Florida House panel

Mark Wilson calls House push to eliminate Enterprise Florida ‘a political conversation about ideology’

Rick Scott talks Enterprise Florida, Visit Florida with SWFL business, community leaders