Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 26, 2016

State lawmakers are taking steps to update Florida’s 2-year-old THC cannabis law during the 2016 Legislative Session. The state passed the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act in 2014. It allows patients to take a low-THC cannabis with the permission of their doctor. Supporters of the 2014 effort said it could help children with epilepsy and patients […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2016

Florida legislative candidates, as well as political committees, had until Jan. 11 to report their campaign finance activity for the month of December. Now that the figures are in, here are 15 things I think I think about these latest reports. Thank you to LobbyTools for assembling much of the data relied on in this report. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 13, 2016

Floridians overwhelmingly support increased water quality and quantity standards, according to a new poll released Wednesday. The survey, commissioned by Associated Industries of Florida’s H2O Coalition, found 82 percent of respondents said they support a plan that creates new standards for Florida’s water policy and efforts to improve water quality. State lawmakers are expected to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 12, 2016

A bill to allow Floridians to sue for damages sustained in a terrorist attack cleared its first Senate hurdle Monday, receiving unanimous support from the Senate judiciary committee. The bill (SB 996), sponsored by Sen. Joe Negron, creates a civil cause for a person injured by an act of terrorism. Under the Stuart Republican’s bill, […]

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 […]

Tag: Florida House
The reopening of the Caloosahatchee (C-43) reservoir. (Florida Channel)

Proposal to “clean up” Florida’s medical marijuana law clears House panel

15 things I think I think about the latest Florida House campaign finance reports (Part 1)

Poll: Floridians overwhelmingly support improving water quality standards

Bill to let victims of terrorism sue for damages clears Senate panel

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