Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

William MarchFebruary 15, 2016

Some two dozen bills have been filed in this year’s Legislative Session to compensate people injured by the mistakes or negligence of government agencies: wrongly convicted prisoners, children abused by foster parents, people maimed or killed in accidents with police vehicles, and even a football player who died during practice. Many have waited for years, […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 12, 2016

A bill aiming to help Floridians with disabilities find work and get job training passed through the full Senate Thursday with a unanimous vote. Senate Bill 962, sponsored by Niceville Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, requires the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, or VR, to come up with an improvement plan by Oct. 1 that lays out […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

As the Florida Senate began considering its proposed $80.9 billion budget, state Sen. Don Gaetz on Wednesday defended his recommendation for a $30 million competitive grants program for after-school mentoring instead of direct funding. Gaetz, who chairs the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said he wanted to save nonprofits on “expensive lobbying and the anguish of the Legislative Session.” […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 3, 2016

Sen. Don Gaetz defended a proposal that shifts how after-school and mentoring programs are funded, saying the proposal increases total funding for these programs. “There is nothing in this budget that cuts one penny out of any of these programs,” said Gaetz, chair of the education appropriations subcommittee, during the Senate Appropriations meeting Wednesday. “Instead, […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 1, 2016

Bills that would iron out rules for direct primary care contracts and encourage healthcare companies to give free health care to low-income Floridians passed the Senate Committee on Health Policy Monday. SB 1144, sponsored by Niceville Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, would allow new medical facilities to bypass a lengthy review process known as “certificate of […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 29, 2016

State Sen. Joe Negron, a former budget panel chief, told his colleagues last month in an acceptance speech for his upcoming Senate presidency that the state must do more for its troubled children and teens. “We should not and we will not tolerate serious wrongdoing by young people but, at the same time, let’s not criminalize adolescence,” he said, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although Pasco County Republican John Legg’s bill in the Senate that would remove the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith from Florida’s place in the National Statuary Hall Collection in Washington, D.C. advanced in committee on Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, in the immediate aftermath of the South Carolina Legislature voted […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2016

Although the Senate bill to remove the statue of a Confederate general from one of Florida’s two places in the National Statuary Hall Collection advanced in committee Wednesday, it was hardly smooth sailing. Momentum for such legislation began last summer, after the South Carolina Legislature removed the Confederate battle flag from its statehouse grounds after a racist […]

Ryan RayJanuary 20, 2016

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz will speak to reporters and the public about a pair of controversial gun bills circulating in the Legislature at her old state Capitol stamping grounds Thursday. Broward Sen. Chris Smith will join the Democratic National Committee chairwoman in Tallahassee to oppose legislative proposals to allow Floridians to openly carry firearms and to strike […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

Florida Department of Environmental Protection head Jon Steverson was formally confirmed in his position by members of the Senate’s Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. That affirmation, though, came only after he was grilled by the panel about controversial decisions or statements made under his watch the past year. The Senate refused to confirm him in last year’s regular […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

Floridians injured by government struggle for compensation

Senate unanimously passes job training bill for Floridians with disabilities

Senate budget: Don Gaetz questioned over mentoring funding

Don Gaetz defends decision to shift mentoring funding to a grant system

Senate committee passes 2 key bills expanding health care access

Senate budget eliminates direct funding for youth mentoring

Proposal to remove Confederate Statue passes thru Senate Committee, but not without considerable debate

Proposal to remove Confederate statue passes through Senate panel after debate

Chris Smith to appear with Debbie Wasserman Schultz to address state gun measures

Jon Steverson grilled on fracking, timber harvesting, hunting in state parks by Senate panel