Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineJune 9, 2017

The House passed the economic incentives package Friday over complaints it would hand Gov. Rick Scott a “slush fund” and make a mockery of the leadership’s professed opposition to picking winners and losers in the economy. The vote was 111-4. The “no” votes were John Cortes, Evan Jenne, McGhee, and Emily Slosberg — all Democrats. The […]

Mitch PerryJune 6, 2017

Miami Beach House Democrat David Richardson will run for the Congressional District 27 seat being vacated next year by Republican Illeana Ros-Lehtinen. Richardson has served in the Florida House since 2012, when he became the first openly-gay lawmaker elected in Florida. He had been considering entering the race after Ros-Lehtinen announced in late April that she would step […]

Mitch PerryMay 15, 2017

Hialeah-based Republican state Sen. Rene Garcia is not running for Florida’s 27th Congressional District, the seat being vacated next year by 29-year incumbent Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. “While the district represents a great part of the community and county that I love, I cannot continue to serve the public knowing that I would be abandoning the city of Hialeah and the […]

Scott PowersMay 10, 2017

Democratic state Rep. David Richardson is preparing for a run for Congress in Florida’s Congressional District 27 now that Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros–Lehtinen is retiring. Richardson, of Miami Beach, who won his last re-election with 65 percent in his House District 113 entirely inside CD 27, said he is traveling to Washington D.C. in […]

Erin ClarkApril 18, 2017

With last year’s styrofoam ban upheld by a Miami-Dade judge, the city of Coral Gables, south Florida’s “City Beautiful,” is stepping into the eco-regulation fray with another initiative. This time, to “ban the bag.” At a March 14 meeting, the Coral Gables City Council gave initial approval to an ordinance prohibiting plastic bags being used […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 17, 2017

A recent poll shows an overwhelming number of Floridians believe conversion therapy should be illegal, leading LGBT advocates to renew their call for a statewide ban. According to a recent Orlando Political Observer-Gravis Marketing poll, 71 percent of Florida voters think conversion therapy should be illegal for minors in Florida. The poll found 18 percent […]

Mitch PerryApril 4, 2017

Legislation to regulate transportation network companies (TNC) in Florida advanced Tuesday on its second reading through the Florida House. The bill sponsored by Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls and Tampa Republican Jamie Grant (HB 221) requires ride-sharing companies to have third-parties conduct local and national criminal background checks on drivers. “That includes a multistage, multi-jurisdictional background check, a […]

Les NeuhausMarch 29, 2017

Legislation intended as a “what if’ scenario for potential snags in future political redistricting received a fair amount of blowback from several House committee members. Nevertheless, the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee passed the bill Wednesday. HB 953, sponsored by Rep. Larry Ahern, received a thorough level of skepticism and interrogation due to 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 […]

Les NeuhausMarch 16, 2017

Florida lawmakers advanced two key pieces of legislation through the House Thursday, including one to lengthen the period before elected officials could begin lobbying after their time in office. The other bill would make state attorneys and public defenders in each judicial district eligible for impeachment under the governor’s power. In an overwhelming vote, the […]

Tag: David Richardson
Secretary of State Marco Rubio/ Image via AP.

The economic incentives bill clears the House by a lopsided vote

David Richardson seeks to bring his brand of reform politics to D.C.

Rene Garcia opts not to run for CD 27 seat

David Richardson preparing for run in CD 27

Florida cities closer to banning the bag

71% of Floridians think conversion therapy for minors should be illegal, bills to prohibit it stalled in Legislature

House gets one step closer to passing statewide regs on Uber, Lyft

2015 redux? House committee hotly debates, passes redistricting reform

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

House committee advances lobbying ban; impeachment power for attorneys, public defenders