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Associated PressJanuary 12, 2016

The Florida Legislature has started its annual 60-day session. Leaders of the Florida House and Florida Senate officially gaveled lawmakers back to work on Tuesday morning. They’re expected over the next few weeks to grapple everything from guns to gambling. Florida Gov. Rick Scott will give his “State of State” speech later Tuesday and is […]

Staff ReportsNovember 11, 2015

A memorial service will be held for former First Lady Rhea Chiles next Monday in Tallahassee. The service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Faith Presbyterian Church. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Children’s Home Society or to the Lawton Chiles Foundation. Condolence cards and letters may […]

Gary FineoutNovember 11, 2015

A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The hope is that the court will soon end three years of lawsuits, court hearings and special sessions by finally endorsing a new map […]

Associated PressNovember 8, 2015

Marco Rubio, who has been attacked by GOP rivals and others for using an American Express card issued by the Republican Party of Florida for some personal spending as a state lawmaker, released two more years of charge card statements Saturday to help quell the furor. The statements, covering January 2005-October 2006, show Rubio spent […]

Jim RosicaNovember 8, 2015

Rhea Chiles, widow of former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, died Sunday, according to a statement from her family. She was 84. Chiles, who was being attended by hospice workers, died at her home on Anna Maria Island along the coast of Manatee County. Mrs. Chiles was known for her efforts in 1973 to create Florida […]

Jim RosicaNovember 5, 2015

The Legislature’s two redistricting chairs hastily agreed Thursday on a map the House passed earlier this week as the one lawmakers should adopt to redraw the state’s Senate districts. It’s the same map that senators already had rejected to force this week’s conference process between House chair Jose Oliva and his Senate counterpart, Bill Galvano. In a one-and-a-half-minute long […]

Ryan RayOctober 19, 2015

The Florida House of Representatives briefly gaveled into Session Monday and Speaker Steve Crisafulli told his 120-member chamber to expect to take a back seat to the state Senate, who like the House returned to Tallahassee this week for the third time this year. “Since the subject of this session is the Senate map, we’ve established […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2015

Five years after running for the Florida House as a Tea Party candidate, John Ferentinos has filed to run against incumbent Republican Mike LaRosa in House District 42 as a Democrat. During his 2010 campaign, the 33-year-old from Kissimmee couldn’t have looked less like a future Democrat if he tried, but he said he’s changed […]

Bob SparksOctober 1, 2015

John Boehner sure knows how to make news. At least he waited until Pope Francis left Washington before he dropped his resignation bombshell last week. The soon-to-be-former Speaker set off a media and Capitol frenzy with his Friday announcement. Boehner’s decision elicited respectful reflection from one side matched by jubilation from the conservative wing of the […]

Frank TorresSeptember 29, 2015

Orlando state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle released a memo Tuesday morning outlining his plan to decentralize power in the Florida House of Representatives. Eisnaugle is currently slated to become the House Speaker in 2020, and the report comes after months of tension between house members regarding how future speakers are selected. The proposal identifies the amount of […]

Tag: Florida House

Legislature opens annual session

Rhea Chiles memorial service set for Monday

Supreme Court considers changes to Florida’s political map

Marco Rubio releases GOP charge card statements from 2005-06

Rhea Chiles, former Florida first lady, dies at 84

Redistricting chairs agree to go back to House-approved map

Speaker Steve Crisafulli says Senate will (mostly) take the lead in redistricting Session

Former Tea Party candidate files as Democrat to face Mike LaRosa in HD 42

Bob Sparks: Dan Webster runs for Speaker; for whom will Gwen Graham vote?

Eric Eisnaugle drafts plan to decentralize power in the house