Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonMarch 10, 2017

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Florida will require a unanimous jury recommendation before the death penalty can be imposed under a bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Friday. Lawmakers rushed to get the bill passed on the fourth day of their legislative session in hopes of fixing a death penalty law that’s been found unconstitutional twice since January […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2017

A bill requiring the state Supreme Court to produce a yearly report on how many cases it’s finishing with opinions got the thumbs up from the Florida House on Friday. The legislation (HB 301), which has an identical companion in the Senate, was approved 78-37. The bill, by Republican state Rep. Frank White of Pensacola, would […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2017

The Enterprise Florida economic development organization and a multitude of business incentives would be eradicated under legislation passed by the Florida House Friday. The bill (HB 7005) passed on an 87-28 vote, with some members voting against their respective parties’ position, including 12 Republicans. The measure was pushed by Speaker Richard Corcoran, who has derided Enterprise Florida as a dispenser […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2017

The Florida House has approved extend the state’s lobbying ban on former lawmakers and statewide elected officers from two to six years. With no debate, House members on Friday voted 110-3 for the measure (HB 7003), a priority of House Speaker Richard Corcoran. The bill now heads to the Senate. If signed into law, the measure would […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

The Florida House Thursday began its consideration of a bill to obliterate the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, castigated by Speaker Richard Corcoran as a dispenser of “corporate welfare.” The bill (HB 7005) also gets rid of a swarm of business incentive programs that sponsor Paul Renner said fail the return-on-investment test. (They are listed in the bill analysis.) Several […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

Get ready for a rumble: Lawmakers will again tackle the sticky issue of alimony in the 2017 Legislative Session. Companion bills filed in the House and Senate aim to overhaul state alimony law to toughen the standards by which alimony is granted and changed. That’s despite unsuccessful tries in the last few years. Neither bill […]

Scott PowersFebruary 21, 2017

State Rep. Eric Eisnaugle has declared himself an applicant for the open seat on the 5th District Court of Appeal. Eisnaugle, 40, of Orlando, is an attorney with Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell in Orlando. The Republican served two terms representing House District 40 before stepping aside in 2012 when redistricting put him and Steve Precourt in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 20, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran offered a compromise Monday in his plan to kill the public-private VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency, but Gov. Rick Scott rejected it as a “massive cut.” One day before a bill (HB 7005) aimed at eliminating the organization gets its second and final committee review, an amendment to be offered by GOP state Rep. Paul Renner would save […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has released an opinion column on the “Florida House playing politics with Florida jobs” one day before a House panel discusses killing Enterprise Florida, VISIT FLORIDA and many business incentive programs. Scott’s office emailed the op-ed to news media Monday afternoon. The House Appropriations Committee meets Tuesday to consider a bill that would eliminate […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 17, 2017

The Florida House of Representatives quietly released its gambling overhaul for 2017 Thursday afternoon, setting it for a hearing next Thursday. As expected, the 81-page bill (PCB TGC 17-01) includes a renewed blackjack deal, or “compact,” between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as first struck by Gov. Rick Scott. No Casinos, the anti-gambling expansion […]

Tag: Florida House of Representatives
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Florida’s death penalty fix heads to Rick Scott

Supreme Court case reporting bill passed by House

House to Enterprise Florida: Drop dead

House passes 6-year lobbying ban on former lawmakers, others

House looks at bill to kill Enterprise Florida

2017 Legislative Session preview: Alimony rears its head

Eric Eisnaugle applies for 5th District Court of Appeal opening

Florida House, Rick Scott again at loggerheads over VISIT FLORIDA

In op-ed, Rick Scott still swinging against GOP opposition to incentives

House gambling bill teed up for next week