Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bruce RitchieMarch 30, 2015

$fracking-well-1024x1024.jpg$

An amendment filed Monday — and later withdrawn — by the chairman of a Senate committee would have placed a ban on state permits for oil and gas fracking until a study of the practice can be completed in 2016. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Bradenton, requires the state to develop […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

3-25-15-Joe-Guthrie-Mallory-Lykes-Dimmitt-copy-1024x1024.jpg

Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2015

Bills are gaining momentum in both the House and Senate and to rein in a rapidly-growing insurance scam in which sketchy trial lawyers and remediation firms are getting stressed-out homeowners to sign over their policy benefits and rights after a burst water pipe or similar home emergency. Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is a long-used legal […]

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2015

Bills are gaining momentum in both the House and Senate and to rein in a rapidly-growing insurance scam in which sketchy trial lawyers and remediation firms are getting stressed-out homeowners to sign over their policy benefits and rights after a burst water pipe or similar home emergency. Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is a long-used legal […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 25, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman is backing up his criticism of Amendment 1 funding in the Senate proposed spending plan for 2015-16 with budget amendments to provide $350 million for conservation land-buying. The Senate Committee on Appropriations is scheduled Wednesday to consider the proposed $80.4 billion Senate budget. Amendment 1, approved by voters in November, provides an […]

James CallMarch 16, 2015

A measure that could help Gov. Rick Scott fulfill his promise to cut taxes by $670 million continues to roll through the Legislature. The Senate Finance and Tax Committee on Monday approved on a 7-0 vote to reduce a communications tax by 3.6%. “This is broad-based and consumer friendly,” said Sen. Dorothy Hukill who is sponsoring the $431 million tax […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 12, 2015

$fracking-well-1024x1024.jpg$

The Democratic sponsor of a Senate bill that would ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, said Thursday that local governments are creating a groundswell of support for the legislation. Fracking can involve using water, sand, and chemicals to force oil and gas from underground rock. Environmentalists have raised concerns that the process is a threat to […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 6, 2015

$fracking-well-1024x1024.jpg$

Bills that would regulate hydraulic fracturing and restrict the public disclosure of chemicals used in the process have been filed again after similar bills died amid opposition in previous Legislative Sessions. Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a process of using sand, water, and chemicals under pressure to extract oil and gas from oil shale […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2015

On Friday, the Rick Scott Administration recognized what had been reported weeks earlier: Florida is losing $1.3 billion of federal money that would otherwise go to help hospitals treat poor and uninsured patients. When Eliot Fishman, director of the Children and Adults Health Programs Group in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) at […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2015

On Friday, the Rick Scott Administration recognized what had been reported weeks earlier: Florida is losing $1.3 billion of federal money that would otherwise go to help hospitals treat poor and uninsured patients. When Eliot Fishman, director of the Children and Adults Health Programs Group in the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) at […]

Tag: Darren Soto
Lake County breaks another record development deal. Image via GT Homes.

Senate committee chair seeks to ban fracking during study

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

'Assignment of benefits' a bonanza for trial lawyers and vendors, bad for consumers

‘Assignment of benefits’ a bonanza for trial lawyers and vendors, bad for consumers

Senate budget amendment would provide $350 million for land-buying

Senate support for communications tax gets louder

Darren Soto says cities, counties pushing for fracking ban

Fracking regulation bills filed again after years of opposition

Janet Cruz says Florida in “dire straights” with LIP funds now off the table

Janet Cruz says Florida in "dire straits" with LIP funds now off the table