Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 19, 2018

As a member of Florida’s legal community, I take very seriously any proposed changes to our state’s constitution. In my role as a member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), I will carefully weigh any proposal before us based on the need to have these proposals embedded in our state’s most powerful legal document. […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 17, 2018

Democrat Dianne Hart announced Wednesday that she will give it another go in House District 61, which is opening up this year due to Tampa Democratic Rep. Sean Shaw’s entry into the Attorney General race. “I know firsthand the struggles and the needs facing this District and spent a lifetime working to help our children […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 10, 2018

A bill that would allow police to pull over and ticket drivers who are texting cleared its second Senate panel Wednesday, with a unanimous vote from the Senate Committee on Transportation. Texting while driving is currently a ‘secondary offense’ in Florida, meaning law enforcement can tack on an additional charge for texting motorists who are […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 4, 2018

Former Margate Sen. Jeremy Ring announced Thursday that 19 Democratic state lawmakers have endorsed him in the chief financial officer race. “From the very beginning I have believed that our campaign is all about people power,” Ring said. “I am proud to have the support of each and every one of these legislators. Over the […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 15, 2017

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No one should lose their driver’s license over an infraction that isn’t related to driving. That’s the premise of a bill (SB 1270) filed Friday by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. “It is time to address the growing problem of non-driving related license suspensions,” Brandes said in a press release announcing the bill. “Stop the […]

Ana CeballosDecember 12, 2017

A Constitutional Revision Commission panel on Tuesday cleared a proposal that would give lawmakers the power to adjust criminal sentencing guidelines retroactively. Commissioner Darryl Rouson, appointed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, is sponsoring the measure (P 20), which he says would “remove an archaic provision” added to the state constitution in 1885. “This clause was […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2017

Placing a constitutional amendment up for a vote can be problematic when the proposal itself might be unconstitutional. That’s what Lisa Carlton, the chair of the Constitutional Revision Commission’s Declaration of Rights Committee, concluded on Tuesday, when she said she could not support expanding the rights of grandparents to visit their grandchildren. “I think that […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2017

While red-leaning states like Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana have made significant criminal justice reforms over the past decade, Florida’s GOP-led Legislature has stood still. Thirty-three states have implemented such reforms since 2007, while Florida’s prison population continues to grow, with the state now spending more than $2.4 billion a year to incarcerate nearly 100,000 people […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2017

Vito Sheeley, who has filed to oppose Wengay Newton in 2018 for House District 70, blasted the St. Petersburg Democrat Friday for proposing legislation that would criminally charge car theft victims. “This is one of the worst ideas I’ve ever heard out of Wengay Newton,” Sheeley said. “And that’s saying a lot.” Making his first run […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2017

Legislation providing for a review of efficiency in government procurement is making its way through the Legislature. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes’ SB 368 cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Thursday with a unanimous and undebated yes vote. Brandes’ bill — which is accompanied in the House by Wauchula Republican Rep. Ben Albritton’s […]

Tag: Darryl Rouson

Tim Cerio: Marsy’s Law for Florida brings fairness to criminal justice system

Dianne Hart already emerging as frontrunner to replace Sean Shaw in HD 61

Texting while driving ban clears second Senate panel

Jeremy Ring snags a pile of endorsements from state lawmakers

Bill seeks to prevent driver’s license suspensions in non-driving offenses

Proposal allowing retroactive criminal law changes heads to full CRC

Proposal to expand grandparents visitation rights temporarily postponed

Tampa panel talks criminal justice reform ahead of Session

Wengay Newton shrugs off Vito Sheeley criticism of car theft measure

Bill to review government efficiency sails through committee