Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 31, 2015

Last month, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) voted to forgo purchasing U.S. Sugar-owned land to build a vital reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This decision is a setback to Everglades restoration and communities enduring damaging discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water along Florida’s east and west coasts. […]

Bob SparksMay 28, 2015

Next week the Florida Legislature returns for an overtime session to fulfill their sole constitutional requirement of passing a budget. Not a Washington budget, but one where bean counters must have the same number of beans on the expense side as well as the revenue side. Conversations containing the word “shutdown” have gained a little […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 27, 2015

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is calling on Florida House Republicans to approve a plan to extend subsidized health coverage to 800,000 uninsured Floridians. A couple of House Democrats, a union vice president and a hospital representative joined Castor at a news conference Wednesday at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. They rallied in an attempt […]

Daniel TilsonMay 19, 2015

Simplicity is always in season for some politicians. Cherry-picking what information to share with the public is part and parcel of how some of our most powerful elected officials – Gov. Rick Scott, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and House Budget Chair Richard Corcoran, to name a few – do government business. You may think the […]

Gary FineoutMay 18, 2015

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature will return to the state Capitol in June and try to do what they couldn’t do during their 60-day session that crashed to a halt. GOP legislative leaders announced late Friday that they have come up with a long list of items they want to tackle during a 20-day special session, including […]

Guest AuthorMay 11, 2015

Florida lawmakers passed a life-saving measure which now heads to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature. The newly passed legislation will drastically diminish a tragic and far-too-common occurrence – death resulting from a drug overdose. This public health crisis has, up until now, burdened the citizens and communities of Florida. My organization, Shatterproof, would like […]

Guest AuthorMay 7, 2015

A few days ago we saw an unfortunate failure of leadership in the Florida Legislature. As a businessman still somewhat new to the process, I was disappointed that the will of the majority was bypassed. By putting politics before the work of the people, too many important issues were left stuck in the balance. One […]

Bruce RitchieMay 6, 2015

As I sat in the press gallery looking down into the darkened Senate chambers on the last day of the 2015 Legislative session, I was reminded of how the environment usually seems to lose amid debate and controversy. The O.J. Simpson trial. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael Jackson’s death. A police shooting in Ferguson, […]

Bruce RitchieMay 6, 2015

As I was sitting in the press gallery looking down into the darkened Senate chambers on the last day of the 2015 Legislative session, I was reminded of how the environment usually seems to lose amid debate and controversy. The O.J. Simpson trial. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael Jackson’s death. A police shooting in […]

Guest AuthorMay 6, 2015

Florida lawmakers are required to do two things. First, prior to taking office, each member must take an oath. That oath obliges them to “support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government…of the State of Florida.” “I do solemnly swear…” Second, in upholding that same charter document, they must also pass a budget. The Florida […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation still eager to work with Legislature on water storage

Bob Sparks: Shutdowns, Obamacare and July special sessions

Kathy Castor rallies support for Senate Medicaid plan

Daniel Tilson: Gov. Rick Scott puts KISS principle to work in healthcare debate

ICYMI: Legislators agree to do budget, health care during session

Gary Mendell: Life-saving measure passes Florida Legislature to combat drug overdoses

Wilton Simpson: We must create a statewide plan to restore, protect all environmentally sensitive areas

Bruce Ritchie: Environmentalists think lack of legislation could be a good thing

Bruce Ritchie: Environmentalists think lack of legislation could be a good thing

Ray Hudkins: Imagine if all Florida voters were allowed to have a choice in elections