Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorNovember 22, 2018

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for all who cherish its traditions involving friends, family and food. Some love preparing dishes from recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Others enjoy experimenting with new flavors. The newest culinary trend is using organic ingredients, and serving wild turkey for Thanksgiving is a delicious, clean-eating option. […]

Ryan NicolNovember 19, 2018

Republican candidate Matt Caldwell on Monday conceded the race for Agriculture Commissioner to Democratic opponent Nikki Fried. Caldwell was the last of three trailing statewide candidates to concede after recounts in their respective races were completed Sunday. In a statement, Caldwell — most recently a North Fort Myers state representative — says he’s giving up his […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJune 14, 2018

Although his department issued concealed-weapons licenses to 291 applicants who should have been disqualified, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday the breakdown has been corrected and there was no threat to the public. “Public safety was not at risk,” Putnam told reporters after a state Cabinet meeting. “Two-hundred and ninety-one people who should not have […]

Jim RosicaJune 13, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose department handles concealed weapon licenses, didn’t directly answer questions about why he didn’t sooner divulge problems with applicants’ background checks. Putnam, also a Republican candidate for governor, spoke with reporters Wednesday after a Florida Cabinet meeting. The Tampa Bay Times reported last Friday that Putnam’s Division of Licensing stopped using a […]

Peter SchorschJune 11, 2018

Richard Corcoran must be kicking himself right now. If the House Speaker knew a month ago what the rest of the state does now — that a former employee of Adam Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services failed for more than a year to conduct national background checks on applications for concealed weapons licenses — […]

Phil AmmannJune 10, 2018

File this under womansplaining. Florida’s most influential gun advocate is countering reports that hundreds of people may have mistakenly received the state’s concealed weapons permits without proper background checks. “The media isn’t getting it right, and anti-gun Democrats don’t want to get it right,” says Unified Sportsmen of Florida Executive Director Marion Hammer, a past president […]

Guest AuthorApril 16, 2018

Agriculture has continued to be Florida’s second largest industry for many years now. Even so, the industry itself is still a mystery to many who live in Florida’s sprawling suburbia. Our congressional district proudly boasts the top cattle producing county (Osceola) and usual top citrus producing county (Polk). Just take a short drive out of […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2018

A leading gun-rights activist on Friday said his group didn’t draft controversial language on concealed weapon licenses (CWLs) in a bill backed by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. It would have allowed the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services‘ Division of Licensing to issue concealed-carry permits without complete criminal background information. Putnam’s department grants permission for concealed carry in the state. Jacksonville attorney Eric Friday, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Thursday said he was asking lawmakers to postpone a measure including language that would allow his department to issue concealed weapon licenses without complete criminal background information. But Putnam, also a Republican candidate for governor, did not say whether he asked for the provision to be withdrawn from the bills. The announcement […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2018

Some members of the Fourth Estate have had a field day with GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, following the report that the current Agriculture Commissioner is seeking a rewrite of Florida’s concealed weapons law so that people can receive gun licenses even when criminal background checks are incomplete. Putnam’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services issues […]

Tag: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Wild turkey: A different twist on a Thanksgiving favorite

Matt Caldwell concedes race for Agriculture Commissioner following recount

Adam Putnam says public safety ‘not at risk’ in license snafu

Adam Putnam sidesteps timing question about background check investigation

Time for Florida GOP to draft Pam Bondi?

Calling it ‘political attack,’ NRA (wo)mansplains weapons permit snafu

Darren Soto: The future of agriculture lies in Central Florida

Florida Carry says it’s not behind Adam Putnam’s concealed carry language

Adam Putnam asks for delay on gun license-background check bill

Adam Putnam: Media wrong on his gun license stance