Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

Last week U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney put out the “Rooney out” message, launching a wave of speculation over who could step in and win the heavily Republican CD 17 in the fall. So far, all the GOP candidates running to replace Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam – former Winter Haven Rep. Baxter Troutman, Lehigh Acres Rep. […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 26, 2018

Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard is facing possibly his biggest challenge yet, representing the Maldives, a nation embroiled in an internal crisis. Last week, Ballard Partners inked a deal with the Indian Ocean island for a one-year contract worth $600,000 to help build support from policymakers and the U.S. government. Ballard has been called on for his considerable […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2018

Bill Nelson is responding to criticism offered by Rick Scott that the Democrat has done “nothing” when it comes to gun safety. “I have voted for and sponsored every major piece of legislation, including the comprehensive background checks, as well as getting the assault rifles off the streets,” Nelson told reporters Sunday following a church service […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

The Florida Education Association hasn’t often championed Gov. Rick Scott‘s education proposals, but it is applauding his $500 million plan to address school safety that he announced Friday in Tallahassee. The suite of proposals most notably does not include arming schoolteachers, an idea that President Donald Trump and other Florida Republican lawmakers have proposed in […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

David Jolly says he’s not sure that a ban on assault weapons is possible in Washington, but believes a solution that could happen immediately is to make them “functionally obsolete” for the average citizen. “Make the requirements to get an assault weapon as hard as it is to get a security clearance in this White […]

Washington PostFebruary 23, 2018

The governor is planning to roll out his legislative proposal Friday that, according to a spokesman, will be “aimed at keeping Florida schools safe and keeping firearms out of the hands of mentally ill people.” With Florida now at the epicenter of a fast-changing national gun debate, the state’s Republican governor is so far refusing […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 23, 2018

On Wednesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry held a media event in which he and City Councilman Al Ferraro filled potholes in roads in a Northside industrial park. Curry wanted to focus on the hard work being done, day in and day out, by city employees to maintain public infrastructure. A laudable goal. Especially given where […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

If the crowd at Wednesday night’s gun discussion at the BB&T Center in Sunrise was indicative of more than just a normally Democratic community now suffering from one of the most horrific school massacres in history, then Republicans such as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and staunch 2nd Amendment advocates can find little place there. In […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 21, 2018

Kathy Castor was part of a six-member group of Democratic members of Congress visiting Cuba over the past few days, but the delegation shrank to five this week when meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro. “I came back to Tampa on Tuesday, ” Castor said in a phone call Wednesday afternoon before the rest of […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2018

Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Hillsborough County’s Republican State Committeeman Jim Waurishuk is the new Chairman of the Hillsborough Republican Executive Committee. Waurishuk defeated political consultant April Schiff, 76-58 Tuesday night during the party’s monthly meeting in Tampa. The military veteran has only been involved with local party politics since 2011 when he joined the […]

Tag: Donald Trump

How the dominoes could fall after ‘Rooney out’

Brian Ballard’s newest challenge: representing Maldives in crisis

Bill Nelson dismisses Rick Scott charge he’s done ‘nothing’ on gun safety

Florida’s largest teacher union backs Rick Scott school safety plan

David Jolly: Assault weapon license should be as hard to get as White House security clearance

Rick Scott stays in sync with the NRA as he faces a reckoning on guns

Jacksonville Bold for 2.23.18 — The Steamroller

CNN Parkland town hall crowd expresses powerful gun-control message

Kathy Castor hopes U.S. can learn truth about diplomat injuries in Cuba

Jim Waurishuk elected chair of Hillsborough GOP, vows to make county party great again