Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLC) has announced its 2016 legislative agenda, and at the top of the list is a bill calling for transparency in how political committees help fund campaigns around the state. The legislation, sponsored in the House by New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy and Orlando Democrat Darren Soto in the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2015

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A bill that would create a new regulatory framework in Florida for the controversial practice known as fracking passed a House panel Wednesday, despite overwhelming public testimony against it. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee approved the bill (HB 191), filed by Estero Republican Rep. Ray Rodrigues and Rep. Cary Pigman, an Avon Park Republican, on a 9-3 […]

Ryan RayNovember 20, 2015

A pair of Republican lawmakers will seek approval for a new cabinet-level commissioner of education during the 2016 Legislative Session, reversing the office’s demotion to an appointed position in 2003. The proposals — SB 942 by Sen. Rene Garcia of Miami and HB 767 by Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach — would require a constitutional amendment to reinstate the education commissioner as one […]

Jim RosicaNovember 2, 2015

A panel of state lawmakers going over the first-ever audits of lobbying firm income on Monday started bringing up a common question: Why are we doing this? “I may be an outlier … (but) I don’t understand how the public’s interest is advanced by this exercise,” said state Sen. Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who sits on the Joint […]

Ryan RayNovember 2, 2015

A gaggle of Republican House members gathered outside the Capitol Monday morning to register their opposition to a bill they call the “home tax” – and to smash it in effigy. “Any time you are taking money from homeowners, it’s a tax hike,” Rep. Dennis Baxley said. “We always have to be vigilant because increased costs […]

Ryan RayMay 13, 2015

When we last caught up with House District 54, attorney Erin Grall had just secured the endorsement of Sen. Joe Negron, one of Florida’s few state lawmakers who would get recognized on the street and a preeminent political figure along the Space Coast; Realtor Lange Sykes was hot on Grall’s tail in the fundraising race; Vero Beach Vice […]

Associated PressApril 16, 2015

The House unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would let people use experimental drugs — but not marijuana — if a doctor tells them they have less than a year to live. The “Right To Try Act” will only apply to drugs that have gone through the first phase of federal testing, though several lawmakers […]

Ryan RayApril 16, 2015

During a conference call late Thursday morning, the anti-rail group Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida inveighed against a plan backed by Gov. Rick Scott to build more rail lines in the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County areas. Its main bone of contention is an April poll conducted by Mason-Dixon that CARE says offers stark evidence that […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 30, 2015

State senators and representatives on a panel that oversees state audits responded angrily on Monday when they were told top officials at the Florida Municipal Power Agency were too busy to discuss audit findings that describe lavish spending and risky fuel-trading schemes. Sen. Joe Abruzzo, a Democrat from Wellington who chairs the Joint Legislative Audit […]

Florence SnyderMarch 23, 2015

State Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Not From Panacea, supports small government, except when he doesn’t. Beshears was elected to the House in 2012 from Monticello, in Jefferson County. He’s all in for making a city out of Panacea, located in Wakulla County, inside his sprawling district, but an hour’s drive and a world away from where […]

Tag: Debbie Mayfield

Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida lays out its 2016 legislative agenda

Bill that would regulate fracking in Florida advances in state House

GOP lawmakers want elected education commissioner back on Florida Cabinet

Auditing panel muses whether lobbyists should be audited

Lawmakers vow to “smash the home tax”

Crowded field vies to succeed Debbie Mayfield in HD 54

Lawmaker advises dying patients to smoke pot if it helps

Anti-train group rails against All Aboard Florida

Legislators pound FMPA after top officials fail to appear

Florence Snyder: Republicans seeking a Panacea suddenly like taxes