Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 11, 2016

On Monday, the Florida Senate’s Committee on Higher Education passed Don Gaetz’s Senate Bill 962, which imposes metrics and a performance improvement plan for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. The legislation also requires the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to submit a performance report to Governor Rick Scott and presiding officers of the Florida Legislature. “Supporting adults with […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 9, 2016

With Florida’s Legislative Session only days away, one of the hottest issues to face lawmakers this year is Open Carry. Two bills (SB 300/HB 163) filed by the Republican father-son tag team of State Sen. Don Gaetz of Niceville and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach, would allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry a […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 8, 2016

With the 2016 Legislative Session right around the corner, Sen. Joe Negron is in his element. The Treasure Coast lawmaker is known as a workhorse (although he might have to be more of a show horse now that he is Senate President Designate), and in Tallahassee is where he does some of his best work. Riding high […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Julie Jones: The head of the embattled state Department of Corrections has been making headlines since her appointment this January, and 2016 promises a no less busy year. Reports of inmate deaths and abuses and criminal activity behind bars have been unfortunate staples of prisons coverage. Earlier this year, Republican state Sen. Greg Evers grew so concerned […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable “Caddyshack”: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments. That’s what […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments – that’s what we get […]

Ryan RayDecember 14, 2015

George Gainer isn’t slowing down his campaign for state Senate against Rep. Matt Gaetz just because Sen. Jack Latvala – who recruited him to run in the Panhandle Senate District 1 seat – recently gave up the ghost in his bid for Senate President. Gainer, a longtime Bay County Commissioner with deep roots in Northwest Florida, played on those origins […]

Jim RosicaDecember 2, 2015

Richard Corcoran, who will be Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives at the same time Joe Negron is Senate President, called him a “good friend” and “an intelligent and principled leader.” Corcoran sat in the front row at Negron’s designation ceremony Wednesday. The Land O’ Lakes Republican had his own designation ceremony in September. “I […]

Phil AmmannDecember 2, 2015

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Florida students with disabilities could have expanded educational options in a bill that passed its final Senate committee hearing Wednesday morning. LobbyTools is reporting that SB 672, sponsored by Niceville Republican Don Gaetz, is now on its way to the Senate floor. If passed, the bill would expand the one-year Personal Learning Scholarship Account program, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 1, 2015

Before you scan through to see who made the very first INFLUENCE 100 list, please allow me to make something very clear. (A link to the digital copy of INFLUENCE Magazine is here.) It’s my list. I’m responsible for the facepalming, out-of-left-field choices, as well as the glaring sins of omission. I’m the one who […]

Tag: Don Gaetz
Orlando Pride

Don Gaetz’s Vocational Rehabilitation bill clears Higher Ed Committee

Open Carry advocates in Florida should take careful note of Texas’ new gun-toting law

Five questions with Senate President Designate Joe Negron

Jim Rosica’s 5 people to watch in state government in 2016

Peter Schorsch: The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

George Gainer goes local in latest TV ad in SD 1

Richard Corcoran promises blue skies with Joe Negron

Bill to expand education for students with disabilities passes final Senate committee

Here is the INFLUENCE 100: The most influential people in Florida politics