Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 28, 2018

The good news out of the first meeting of the Legislature’s general government budget conference, held Wednesday night, was how close the House and Senate already are. A relatively small gulf of about $9.2 million separated the two budgets, worth roughly $2 billion each, from the House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Senate […]

Scott PowersJanuary 30, 2018

In a battle over how far to roll back local control and regulation of vacation rental homes, state Sen. Greg Steube won a key victory Tuesday. The Senate Committee on Community Affairs approved the Sarasota Republican’s bill, advancing a comprehensive preemption of local laws regulating services provided by companies like Airbnb. That ended a legislative […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 29, 2018

Tomorrow, members of the Senate Community Affairs Committee have an important decision to make regarding the future of short-term rentals in the State of Florida. There are two introduced bills on the agenda that would impact the short-term rental industry, but only one that adequately addresses the need to establish a clear, sensible line between […]

Staff ReportsDecember 19, 2017

Legislation being called the “Tobacco 21 Act” has been filed for the 2018 Session to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21. Backing this year’s bills (SB 1288, HB 1029) are Sen. David Simmons, a Longwood Republican, and Reps. Don Hahnfeldt of The Villages (a Republican) and Lori Berman of Lantana (a Democrat). “Raising the age […]

Scott PowersOctober 24, 2017

After hearing a cavalcade of criticisms of short-term vacation rental homes in Florida two weeks ago, the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee heard many positives Tuesday morning, while deliberating whether there need to be any state regulations. The committee’s workshop on vacation rental homes was extended from its initial hearing of the 2018 Florida Legislative […]

Scott PowersSeptember 19, 2017

Bob-Cortes-Chris-Flack-Jason-Broder-Scott-Plakon-David-Simmons.jpg

Duke Energy not only missed its deadlines for restoring power in Seminole and Orange counties and elsewhere but glitches in its information system provided little and often wrong information to customers, leading its lobbyist to apologize and promise better to Seminole’s lawmakers Tuesday morning. Duke, once faced with 1.3 million customers without power following Hurricane […]

Scott PowersSeptember 18, 2017

David-Simmons-Jason-Brodeur-Bob-Cortes-Scott-Plakon.jpg

Seminole County Florida lawmakers have sent a protest letter to Duke Energy for not meeting its electricity restoration goals and state Rep. Bob Cortes has asked Duke officials to attend a county delegation meeting Tuesday to look into delays. “Eight days after Hurricane Irma blew through our districts, the struggle for residents and businesses to […]

Scott PowersAugust 8, 2017

State Rep. Bob Cortes is speaking out about a rate hike approved by the Public Service Commission last week. The Altamont Springs Republican believes the hike will double water and sewer rates for western Seminole County residents. “This decision, which doubles rates for western Seminole residents, demonstrates that the Public Service Commission is not standing […]

Staff ReportsJuly 12, 2017

First-term U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy reportedly raised more than $400,000 in the second quarter of 2017. Murphy’s campaign will report raising more than $410,000 in second quarter of the year, according to POLITICO’s Morning Score. Second quarter fundraising numbers were not available on the Federal Election Commission website late Wednesday morning. Congressional candidates have until […]

Scott PowersJune 30, 2017

Republican state Rep. Mike Miller is running for Congress in Congressional District 7 against incumbent U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, he announced today. Miller, of Winter Park, is running in a district covering Seminole County and north-central and northeast Orange County that had been Republican for decades but shifted to slightly Democrat in the last election, […]

Tag: David Simmons
Image via AP.

Government operations budget conference: ‘How far apart we aren’t’

Senate committee forwards bill preempting local control of vacation rentals

FRLA’s Carol Dover talks short-term rentals

State could raise smoking age to 21

Senate panel hears values of vacation rentals, mulls regulations

Duke Energy acknowledges problems, apologizes in Seminole County

Seminole County lawmakers want response from Duke Energy

Bob Cortes blasts Public Service Commission for Seminole water rate hike

Report: Stephanie Murphy raises $410K in Q2

Mike Miller announces he’s running for Congress in CD 7