Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 15, 2015

Abortion rights opponents and proponents packed a Senate meeting room Wednesday when the Judiciary Committee took up a proposal to mandate a 24-hour waiting period. SB 724 requires a face-to-face meeting between a physician and a woman to discuss the procedure at least 24 hours before it is performed. “When one makes a major decision […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson said “climate change” three times during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday in response to a senator’s question about whether there is a department policy against using the phrase. Steverson was responding to Sen. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Kissimmee who was wearing a climate change button on […]

James CallApril 10, 2015

Growers, investors, and patient advocates are reading Rep. Matt Gaetz’s words on medicinal marijuana as if they were ancient tasseographers reading tea leaves. They are trying to discern whether medicinal marijuana will become available under SB 1030, approved in 2014, or SPB 7066, which is moving through the Florida Senate. “What are they doing in […]

Ryan RayApril 9, 2015

A bill to prohibit the sale of powdered alcohol — known as Palcohol — before it has even arrived in Florida retailers passed another test in the Senate on Thursday. The ban was unanimously approved the Rules Committee. Sen. Gwen Margolis’ SB 998 now awaits a vote by the full Senate. Brandon Sen. Tom Lee spoke for many […]

Bruce RitchieApril 6, 2015

What had become the “year of the environment” for the 2015 legislative session has become a year of disappointment for some environmentalists. Amendment 1 and statewide water policy were major issues heading into the session, with growth management also emerging once the opening gavel dropped. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 provides […]

Bruce RitchieApril 5, 2015

What had become the “year of the environment” for the 2015 legislative session has become a year of disappointment for some environmentalists. Amendment 1 and statewide water policy were major issues heading into the session, with growth management also emerging once the opening gavel dropped. Approved by 75 percent of voters in November, Amendment 1 provides […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

e’s lot of stories in the news this week about the Republican Party and social issues. Both Mike Pence in Indiana (considered a 2016 presidential possibility) and Asa Hutchison in Arkansas have asked for tweaks in their Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills, after the firestorm it’s created nationally, particularly amongst business groups. Another issue that […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Florida’s so-called “dreamers”- undocumented youth who were brought to this country as children – received a rude April Fools joke from the Senate majority this afternoon. Sen. Darren Soto introduced an amendment to SB 2500, better known as the Senate budget proposal, that would have prevented Attorney General Pam Bondi from pursuing a lawsuit against the Obama […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

Amendment 1 supporters on Tuesday flooded senators with calls urging them to support funding for land-buying in advance of Senate floor action on the state budget Wednesday. In November, 75 percent of voters statewide supported the water and land conservation funding initiative that provides an estimated $741 million in the 2015-16 state budget. The proposed […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

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Bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing in Florida passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday after a state environmental official said they would provide needed regulation for the industry. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Naples, requires the state to develop rules for permitting “high-pressure well-stimulation,” which includes hydraulic […]

Tag: Darren Soto

Abortion waiting period advances, constitutional questions unanswered

DEP’s Jon Steverson repeats “climate change” phrase at confirmation hearing

Will 1030 or 7066 put medicinal marijuana in the ground?

Gwen Margolis’ Palcohol ban progresses in Senate

Bruce Ritchie: At session midpoint, disappointment replaces promise

Bruce Ritchie: At session midpoint, disappointment replaces promise

Mitch Perry Report for 4.2.15 — Florida Republicans and immigration

Senate passes language preventing Pam Bondi suit against feds, takes it back

With Senate budget amendments teed up, calls flood senators

Fracking bills pass Senate committee with DEP support