Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2015

The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections (FSASE), a group of which I am currently the state president, has 66 supervisors of elections from both parties from around the state. We support the passage of online voter registration (House Bill 7143 and Senate Bill 228) in Florida. It is important to us because current […]

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2015

The onshore oil and gas industry has been under heavy scrutiny during the 2015 legislative session, as Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, have filed legislation to provide regulatory certainty to the state of Florida that will ensure this industry is appropriately regulated. This legislation, Senate Bill 1468 and House Bill 1205, […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2015

If the Florida Legislature fails to pass a medical marijuana bill this session the issue is almost certain to resurface as a proposed constitutional amendment in 2016. A similar amendment narrowly failed in 2014. However, it is widely believed that in a presidential election cycle (when Democrats in Florida turn out by 4-6 percent more […]

Daniel TilsonApril 26, 2015

Florida earned its status as America’s favorite political punchline. During the past 15-20 years our electoral systems, public policy formation, lawmaking and regulatory processes all fell under the control of hardcore conservative Republicans. Their dogged pursuit, preservation and expansion of political power has been so successful that the very notion of Florida still being a […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2015

Florida’s schools are supposed to prepare our students for success in life. Whether pursuing higher education or entering the workforce, we expect that students are ready for the real world based on what they learn in the classroom. But there is one area where we are perpetually failing the next generation: financial literacy and managing […]

Guest AuthorApril 25, 2015

Florida’s homeowners and neighborhoods need a doctor. We need someone who can perform surgery on a very bad bill, a bill that sticks homeowners in the heart with what amounts to a legislatively mandated dues increase. I want to be crystal clear about this: CS/CS/CS/SB 736 aka, the “estoppel bill,” will force homeowners’ dues to […]

Associated PressApril 23, 2015

A bill requiring a one-day waiting period for abortions is nearing final passage in the Legislature. It advanced to third and final reading in the state Senate Thursday. It passed the House Wednesday. Senate Democrats sought unsuccessfully to alter or obstruct the bill with a series of amendments, including one to require a similar waiting […]

Peter SchorschApril 23, 2015

As the 2015 legislative session winds down – and the state’s budget standoff heats up – money is on everyone’s mind. With that, the darkening prospects of the House and Senate settling differences over Medicaid expansion lead a casual (and maybe not so casual) observer to ask the obvious question. Why? Why is the Senate […]

Guest AuthorApril 23, 2015

Comedian W.C. Fields quipped, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit.” It seems that Florida lawmakers need to field his advice as their debate over proposed assisted living reform draws to an unceremonious close. Since 2011, the Legislature has worked on hammering out a reform bill that would tighten assisted living […]

Guest AuthorApril 23, 2015

Once again, the leadership of the Florida Legislature has decided to play politics with women’s health. Case in point, the “mandatory abortion delay” bill. If this bill becomes law, even when a woman has already received state-mandated counseling and made a deliberate and fully informed decision, she will still be forced to wait 24 hours […]

Tag: Florida Legislature

Jerry Holland: Online voter registration is faster, cheaper and more secure

Brewster Bevis: Ignore 'fracking' charge; support commonsense oil & gas regulations

Jeff Kottkamp: Medical marijuana amendment could sway 2016 presidential election

Daniel Tilson: America worries about Florida politics more than Floridians do

Jeremy Ring: Money matters for Florida's high school students

Roger Kesselbach: Bad bill for homeowners needs major surgery

Abortion waiting period bill moves forward in Senate

Peter Schorsch: In the deadlock over the state budget, follow the money

Brian Lee: Bills to reform assisted living facilities would reduce oversight

Julie Hauserman, Laura Goodhue: Florida's legislative leaders don't trust women