Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJanuary 5, 2017

Legislation filed in the Florida Senate would allow Ruth Eckert Hall and similar auditoriums to benefit from taxes raised to promote tourism. SB 68 by Sen. Denise Grimsley would clarify that tourist development tax dollars may flow to facilities, like Clearwater’s Eckerd Hall, that are publicly owned but managed by nonprofit organizations. Existing law allows […]

Scott PowersJanuary 5, 2017

Medical marijuana champion John Morgan has said repeatedly recently that the “now-what?” questions regarding Amendment 2 are in the hands of lobbyists, lawyers, and legislators; but on Thursday a lobbyist, a lawyer and a legislator told told the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce they don’t really know what’s next at this point. Lobbyist Louis Rotundo who represents […]

Staff ReportsDecember 28, 2016

A law taking effect on New Year’s Day will make it more difficult for kids to abuse over-the-counter cough medicine to go “Robo-tripping.” SB 938 makes it illegal for manufacturers, distributors, or retailers to supply medicines containing dextromethorphan, or DXM, to anyone under 18. Anyone who looks younger than 25 would have to supply proof […]

Michael MolineDecember 22, 2016

Florida TaxWatch chief Dominic Calabro conceded Thursday that legislators might balk at spending money next year to improve government efficiency, but pointed to 15 innovations that wouldn’t cost taxpayers a dime. They include prison reforms and requiring the governor and Legislature to pass specific legislation every year directing agency chiefs to find ways to operate more […]

Michael MolineDecember 20, 2016

Senate President Joe Negron wants to start preparing for a day when Congress turns the Medicaid system into a block-grant program administered by the states. “What I’d like to see the Legislature do … is to start building the framework of what a block grant program would look like now that there is a reasonable chance […]

Staff ReportsDecember 20, 2016

Former House Speaker Steve Crisafulli will serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the Fish & Wildlife Commission of Florida. “Steve has been an extraordinary leader in all of his community, business and legislative endeavors,” chairman Rodney Barreto said in a written statement Tuesday. “His thoughtful pragmatism, deep ties to the land, […]

Michael MolineDecember 16, 2016

Members of a state insurance advisory panel called Friday for legislation fixing a regulatory “family glitch” that can make health insurance unaffordable to dependents of employees of small businesses. The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board declined additional proposed recommendations, however — in part because of uncertainty about what Donald Trump and the Republican Congress would […]

Michael MolineDecember 15, 2016

Senate budget chairman Jack Latvala isn’t interested in balancing state government’s books on the backs of counties hit hard by the BP oil spill. And he believes the state might have to let local property taxes increase along with home values. All in the name of meeting pressing needs in a state in decent financial shape now, but […]

Michael MolineDecember 13, 2016

House ethics guru Don Rubottom wrote a poem to explain what the chamber’s new ethics regime is all about: “If you propose it, it should be disclosed before you discuss it, “Before it shows up in any draft of a bill or amendment, “Long before it is filed in the House. “If others propose, disclose […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

Florida House Democratic chief Janet Cruz announced her leadership team Wednesday, saying she strove for diversity in their selection. “In order to build consensus on how to confront the difficult issues facing our state, we must take into account the many varying stakeholders whose futures will be affected by the decisions we make in the […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Bill would qualify Ruth Eckerd Hall for tourism tax dollars

Panel: Amendment 2 firing up big bowl of who-knows-what

New laws target cough-syrup abuse, opioid abuse, legal process

TaxWatch Christmas gift: 15 ways to save Florida taxpayers money

Joe Negron envisions block grant system for Medicaid in Florida

Personnel note: Steve Crisafulli joins Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida board

Health insurance board bracing for Donald Trump, Congress, to act on Obamacare

Jack Latvala not keen on raiding oil spill fund to balance state budget

Tallahassee lobbyists have a learning moment about ethics reform

Janet Cruz highlights diversity in picking Democratic leadership