Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment on solar power now say they have 1 million signatures, further ensuring the question will be on the 2016 ballot. “More than 1 million Florida voters have gone on record in support of our Smart Solar amendment,” Consumers for Smart Solar co-chair Dick Batchelor said in a prepared statement released Wednesday. “We are […]

Jim RosicaDecember 29, 2015

A proposed constitutional amendment has crossed the 500,000 signatures line on its way to being approved for voter consideration on the 2016 ballot. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” As of Tuesday morning, it had reported 513,375 valid signatures, according to the state Division of […]

Jim RosicaDecember 10, 2015

A political committee affiliated with Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam reported $129,000 in fundraising for November, down from nearly $694,000 the month before. Reports were due to the state’s Division of Elections on Thursday. Putnam’s two top contributors were the Florida Medical Association and Ware Oil and Supply Co. of Perry, a petroleum products wholesaler, with […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

Adam Putnam is in his second and ostensibly last term as Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner and “loves” the job so much he won’t comment on his future political aspirations – despite the open secret that he’s the GOP heir apparent to the Governor’s Mansion in 2018. Asked to clarify his future plans, Putnam again punted on the 2018-and-beyond […]

Jim RosicaNovember 24, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday formally asked the Florida Supreme Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment on solar power, one of two competing initiatives on the subject. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar is sponsoring the amendment titled “Rights of Electricity Consumers Regarding Solar Energy Choice.” Bondi is bound as part of the constitutional amendment process to petition the Supreme […]

Jim RosicaNovember 11, 2015

Of the groups behind two solar-power constitutional amendments competing to get on the 2016 ballot, one currently has more signatures, but the other now has raised gobs more cash. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar has raised nearly $3.8 million, including $2.3 million in October alone, according to online campaign finance reports. The latest disclosures were due […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2015

The lawyer for the group behind one of two proposed constitutional amendments on solar power Monday told a panel of state economists he expected the initiative would have “no fiscal impact” if passed. Attorney Neal McAliley of the White & Case law firm, representing Consumers for Smart Solar, spoke before the Financial Impact Estimating Conference on Monday. McAliley told […]

Jim RosicaNovember 9, 2015

A panel of state economists on Monday will go over the financial impact of one of two proposed constitutional amendments on solar power. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will meet at 9 a.m. to take public comment on the amendment sponsored by Consumers for Smart Solar, a utility-backed coalition. That initiative so far has reported 139,560 of the 683,149 valid […]

Jim RosicaOctober 22, 2015

A proposed constitutional amendment that would allow Floridians to generate and sell their own solar power passes legal muster, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday. The court’s purview was limited to whether the language embraces one subject and uses “clear and unambiguous language” in the ballot summary. The majority said yes on both counts. Justices Ricky Polston, however, disagreed on […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has ordered oral argument for its review of a proposed constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana. The court posted the order to its website Wednesday; the order was signed Tuesday. Argument was scheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 8. The court ordered briefs by Oct. 30 and “answer” briefs by Nov. 9. Attorney General Pam Bondi had formally asked for the review to […]

Tag: Division of Elections

Solar amendment backers say they have 1 million signatures

Solar amendment now at 75 percent of needed signatures

Adam Putnam political committee reports $129K for November

Adam Putnam still coy about his political future — and still raising money

Pam Bondi asks high court to review “Smart Solar” amendment

Utility-backed solar amendment rakes in campaign cash

Lawyer for solar initiative predicts ‘no fiscal impact’

State economists to review solar power amendment

Supreme Court approves first of 2 proposed solar amendments

Supreme Court orders oral argument for medical pot amendment