Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2017

Florida Department of Corrections’s troubled security operations were big talkers Wednesday in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice. DOC Secretary Julie L. Jones addressed staffing patterns, contraband reduction efforts and use-of-force incidents. Major issues faced by the DOC are familiar to longtime observers, including continued staff attrition, overcrowding, increases in contraband, and a secretary confronting […]

Drew WilsonOctober 23, 2017

South Florida Democratic Sen. Gary Farmer is resurrecting the debate over whether police should be required to let people know their rights when it comes to searches without a warrant. SB 262 would prohibit police officers from searching a person or their property without telling them they have a right to decline the search. State […]

Joe HendersonOctober 12, 2017

State Sen. Dennis Baxley just couldn’t resist. At a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday to investigate the 14 deaths of elderly patients at a Hollywood Hills nursing home, Baxley made the reasonable point that the tragedy was “outrageous.” But then, as Scott Powers reported for Florida Politics, Baxley ventured into what-is-he-talking-about land. “We keep getting new […]

Mitch PerryOctober 11, 2017

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Legislation to establish a slavery memorial at the state Capitol in Tallahassee passed its first committee Wednesday. The bill (HB 67) would authorize the Department of Management and Services, upon a recommendation from the Florida Historical Commission, to create and establish a Florida Slavery Memorial on the Capitol Complex. It would “honor the nameless and […]

Drew WilsonAugust 23, 2017

Democrat Annette Taddeo has crossed the six-figure mark in total fundraising for her SD 40 campaign, but the perennial candidate’s spike was overshadowed by another banner campaign finance report from Republican Rep. Jose Felix Diaz. The pair are running to take over for former Republican Sen. Frank Artiles, who was pushed out of office in […]

Peter SchorschAugust 16, 2017

State Sen. Dennis Baxley is scheduled to appear at a September banquet put on by a Save Southern Heritage Florida, a pro-Confederate group. Baxley, a Republican who represents Sumter County and parts of Lake and Marion, is on the slate for a panel discussion on the “War on the South” during the Sept. 2 event […]

Staff ReportsAugust 15, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the most recent movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On and off: Barbara Crosier is replacing Michael Poche as policy chief for the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. Off and on: Alex Bickley changed roles from district secretary to legislative assistant for Lady Lake Republican Sen. […]

Staff ReportsJuly 25, 2017

Fifty legislators received top marks from Americans for Prosperity-Florida, the largest number of A+ legislators since the organization began issuing its annual legislative scorecard. The organization released its 2017 Economic Freedom Scorecard, which graded 5,500 votes on 96 issues, on Tuesday. The scorecard showed 50 legislators — 11 senators and 39 representatives — received an […]

Jim RosicaMay 3, 2017

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The Senate on Wednesday tacked language onto a professional deregulation bill that could lead to the expansion of certain kinds of slot machines. The provision came under the guise of trying to move fantasy sports into the non-gambling realm before the end of the Legislative Session. Lawmakers failed to agree on comprehensive gambling legislation this year, […]

Jim RosicaMay 2, 2017

A change that critics said will neuter the state’s Sunshine Laws by allowing any two elected officials of a local governing body to meet without notice in private failed in the House on Tuesday. The bill (HB 843), filed by Naples Republican Byron Donalds, received a vote of 68-48—less than the two-thirds needed to change […]

Tag: Dennis Baxley

Florida Corrections head: ‘We’re working staff to death’

Bill requiring police to read rights before a search stalls

Joe Henderson: Dennis Baxley’s misdirection play

Bill to establish slavery memorial at Capitol advances in House committee

Jose Diaz stomps Annette Taddeo in new SD 40 fundraising reports

Dennis Baxley to attend pro-Confederate banquet

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

50 Florida lawmakers earn A+ on AFP-FL scorecard

Senate adds slot machine provision onto House bill

House beats back shroud over Florida’s open meeting law