Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutMarch 5, 2017

The outcome of this year’s Florida Legislature session may depend largely on a 51-year-old firebrand attorney with a deep conservative streak and a love for cigars and the band U2. New House Speaker Richard Corcoran has taken on rapper Pitbull, gotten in a knock-down fight with fellow Republican Gov. Rick Scott and vowed to keep […]

Michael MolineMarch 2, 2017

Affordable housing advocates urged the Legislature Thursday to spend all of the state’s dedicated housing money for its intended purpose, saying that more than 910,000 Floridians pay more than half their income for shelter. Representatives of the Sadowski Housing Coalition — including Associated Industries of Florida, AARP, the Florida Realtors Association, the Florida Chamber of […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 2, 2017

As Florida Gov. Rick Scott steels himself for a Session showdown with the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature, he got some good news from a new poll. A University of North Florida survey shows that, among registered voters in Florida, Scott is more popular than the legislative branch. 46 percent of those surveyed approve of Scott, with 40 percent […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

As at least one key lawmaker pushes to open Florida’s coming medical marijuana industry to a free market and the current seven licensed companies fight to keep it tight, a new advocacy group is emerging saying it wants to help develop a middle ground. Smart Medicine For Florida will be pushing for regulations that would assure quality, safety, […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 6, 2017

Short-term rentals have become a vital component of Florida’s tourism industry, granting property owners and visitors more flexibility when planning the duration and location of their stay. These types of rentals also help lift financial burdens off family renters by allowing them to stay together in a home instead of multiple hotel rooms, which can […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 1, 2017

When I was a member of the Florida Legislature, I always supported efforts to expand access to justice. It’s a right that’s enshrined in the Pledge of Allegiance, the U.S. Constitution and the Florida Constitution: “The courts shall be open to every person for redress of any injury, and justice shall be administered without sale, […]

Associated PressJanuary 28, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is announcing his annual budget recommendations next week. Scott plans to release details of his spending plan on Tuesday during the annual legislative planning session hosted by The Associated Press. The Florida Legislature will consider Scott’s budget request during the session that starts in March. The Republican governor has already outlined […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 26, 2017

Sen. Keith Perry has filed a bill calling for a 10-day back-to-school tax holiday in August. Under the proposed legislation (SB 490), certain school supplies would be tax exempt from Aug. 4 through 14. “As I talk to folks across north central Florida, I hear the same thing over and over – people are working […]

Michael MolineJanuary 24, 2017

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A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers have endorsed proposed legislation to ban extraction of oil and gas via hydraulic fracturing in Florida. “This bill is concise and straightforward. It bans fracking of all types in Florida,” Senate sponsor Dana Young said Tuesday during a news conference outside the Senate chamber. “As a sixth generation Floridian and avid […]

Anne LindbergJanuary 18, 2017

State Rep. Kathleen Peters filed two bills Wednesday aimed at helping pay for sewer improvements in St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. Peters, a Republican from Treasure Island, asked for $5.5 million in state funding. Of that, $3 million in state funding would be earmarked for St. Petersburg to smoke test sewer pipes for leaks, […]

Tag: Florida Legislature
Image via AP.

Combative House Speaker vows contentious Session

Sadowski Coalition seeks full funding for affordable housing in state budget

Poll: Rick Scott more popular than Florida Legislature

New group seeks to steer medical marijuana between control, free market

Greg Steube: Local rental rules hurt the economy

Carl Domino: Bridging the justice gap pays off for Floridians in multiple ways

Rick Scott to roll out his spending plan

Keith Perry files bill to create 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday

Bill to ban hydraulic fracking attracts bipartisan support

Kathleen Peters asks state for millions to help solve sewage problems in St. Pete, St. Pete Beach