Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 12, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-05-23-at-4.16.08-PM-3500x5000.png

Florida is likely to basically break even next year in terms of its state budget, lawmakers heard Monday. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission met in the Capitol to hear the latest financial outlook for 2017-18: Present income and outgo estimates leave Florida with a relatively scant $7.5 million left over out of about $32.2 billion in […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 1, 2016

The Florida Bar squared off Thursday against a coalition of corporate and criminal defense lawyers over a change to the state’s expert witness standard. The Florida Supreme Court heard more than an hour of argument on whether to adopt a change to evidence law that lawmakers passed in 2013. The Bar is against it; defense […]

Scott PowersAugust 24, 2016

A group trying to reform — and eventually end — greyhound racing in Florida has announced several endorsements in the upcoming Aug. 30 Florida Legislature primary, including five Republicans and four Democrats. Grey2K USA Worldwide helped fund and promote efforts to get a greyhound protection measure on the Seminole County ballot and has been trying […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 5, 2016

Zika_Mosquitoes.JPG_ne9dCoD-1024x1024.jpg

Gov. Rick Scott told state lawmakers Friday he will continue to take steps to protect its residents and visitors from the Zika virus, but said he was unsure whether their federal counterparts would step up to the plate. The Naples Republican updated lawmakers on the Zika crisis during a conference call Friday. During the 20-minute […]

Jim RosicaJuly 27, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-03-07-at-2.01.56-PM-1024x1024.png

A new task force on the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys will meet in August. The panel will meet on Aug. 3 and Aug. 19, according to a Wednesday press release from the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources. (A membership list is here.) Under legislation (SB 708) passed this year, the panel was […]

Gary FineoutJuly 25, 2016

Amid a major shakeup pushed by Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida agency responsible for luring jobs to the state is paying nearly a half-million dollars to departing employees. Florida taxpayers are picking up the majority of the cost for severance payments and payouts for unused leave. Records requested by The Associated Press show that 10 […]

Drew WilsonJuly 1, 2016

The Florida Government Efficiency Task Force released a 29-point report Thursday that it said could produce billions in annual savings for Florida taxpayers. “These 29 recommendations, if implemented, will lead to over $2 billion in cost-savings for the taxpayers of Florida as well as improving the functions of our state government,” said Task Force Chairman […]

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

Florida legislators passed 279 bills during this year’s session three months ago, and 162 of them take effect on Friday with the start of the state’s fiscal year, affecting school choice, abortion, tax cuts and many more aspects of life in the Sunshine State. Here’s a roundup of some of the measures taking effect: BUDGET: […]

Associated PressJune 24, 2016

Saying he was “profoundly disappointed” with the ongoing federal stalemate over the Zika virus, Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday ordered the state to spend millions in an effort to stop its potential spread. Scott used his emergency powers to authorize spending up to $26.2 million on everything from killing mosquitoes, training mosquito technicians and […]

Jim RosicaJune 21, 2016

As interesting as who’s on the list to be the subject of Florida’s next statue in the U.S. Capitol may be who’s not on the list. Last week, the Department of State released 129 names submitted by the public as recommendations for a new statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. State lawmakers will make the final decision. […]

Tag: Florida Legislature
Now it's time for Florida to start cleaning up.

Lawmakers get grim budget news for next year

Expert witness standard takes center stage at Florida Supreme Court

Greyhound racing reform group endorses in Florida primaries

Rick Scott updates lawmakers on Zika outbreak

Dozier School task force schedules meetings

Florida’s jobs agency gives checks to departing employees

New report suggests ways government efficiency can save Florida taxpayers billions

Abortion, budget, tax cuts among new Florida laws

No help from DC? Florida to spend millions on Zika fight

How state officials decided who made the cut for new statue