Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 26, 2015

The Florida House of Representatives has released committee assignments for the 2016 Legislative Session, including a brand new “Select Committee on Affordable Healthcare Access” created Wednesday. “I am directing the Select Committee to explore policy options to reduce the cost of health care for consumers and improve the transparency of health care information, make recommendations for […]

Mitch PerryJuly 16, 2015

As Michael Kinsley writes in the current Vanity Fair, all politicians say they are going to work to help the middle class. In a new report from Progress Florida, the progressive group says that there were 12 Democrats in the state Legislature who were “champions” for the middle class, based on their votes during the […]

Bruce RitchieApril 25, 2015

The House on Friday teed up a pair of bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing after rejecting Democratic amendments to allow cities and counties to ban the practice. Hydraulic fracturing, also called “fracking,” involves pumping sand, water and chemicals underground to extract oil and gas. Environmentalists say the process threatens to contaminate groundwater […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Florida House Democrats intend to reject the House budget plan Thursday afternoon on three counts: • They will argue the spending plan does not include enough money for education; • Fails to comply with voter intent on Amendment 1, and; • Doesn’t cover a billion-dollar gap in the health care budget created by the end […]

Associated PressMarch 26, 2015

The push to bring Las Vegas-resort-style casinos to South Florida is stalling again this year as the Legislature remains divided over what type of gambling to allow in the state. A major gambling bill sponsored by a top House Republican that includes the casino proposal has yet to be voted on — and it may […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 12, 2015

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The Democratic sponsor of a Senate bill that would ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, said Thursday that local governments are creating a groundswell of support for the legislation. Fracking can involve using water, sand, and chemicals to force oil and gas from underground rock. Environmentalists have raised concerns that the process is a threat to […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 6, 2015

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Bills that would regulate hydraulic fracturing and restrict the public disclosure of chemicals used in the process have been filed again after similar bills died amid opposition in previous Legislative Sessions. Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a process of using sand, water, and chemicals under pressure to extract oil and gas from oil shale […]

Tag: Evan Jenne
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

House committee assignments released; new healthcare panel added

Progress Florida hails 12 House Democrats as championing “Middle Class Champs”

House rejects bill amendments to allow local bans or referendums on fracking

House Democrats to reject budget, cite education, health-care, land-buying flaws

Push for resort casinos stalls in Legislature

Darren Soto says cities, counties pushing for fracking ban

Fracking regulation bills filed again after years of opposition