Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 8, 2016

The questions are posed by progressive groups and conservative ones; from organizations focused on business, agriculture and education. They come from well-known power brokers and lesser-known influencers. In the months leading up to an election, candidates are asked to fill out dozens of questionnaires detailing their positions. The surveys act as both an educational tool […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 31, 2016

A coalition of consumer and physicians’ groups isn’t backing away from its request for an investigation into insurance mergers. The Florida Campaign for Consumer Choice on Friday launched a statewide petition drive to encourage Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the mergers of Aetna and Humana, and Anthem and Cigna. The petition effort is the […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 8, 2016

Lawmakers could only raise money for the first 11 days of the year, but that didn’t stop some of the top Republicans in Legislature the posting six-figure hauls to start the year. Campaign and committee finance reports aren’t due until Wednesday, though Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee, Innovate Florida, leads early filers after posting $216,000 […]

Drew WilsonNovember 16, 2015

Tallahassee-based firm Heffley & Associates enjoyed a healthy third quarter, collecting $430,000 in lobbying earnings between July 1 and Sept. 30 according to recently filed lobbying compensation reports. Topping the list of the firm’s 25 clients last quarter was the Florida Medical Association, which accounted for an estimated $50,000 of the firm’s earnings during that […]

Ryan RayOctober 22, 2015

State lawmakers are in Tallahassee for the fourth time this year to amend Senate maps found by courts to contain improper political bias. With little committee action on the calendar Thursday, several majority-party legislators got to work on their priorities ahead of the 2016 Legislative Session, which begins in January. Here’s a quick look at […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2015

For the past three years in the Florida Legislature, attempts to enact a pilot needle exchange program in Miami-Dade County have been unsuccessful. Plantation House Democrat Katie Edwards , though, is going to give it another shot next year. Edwards has filed legislation that aims to alleviate transmission of the HIV and Hepatitis viruses among intravenous drug […]

Phil AmmannAugust 3, 2015

Dr. Ralph Nobo Jr. is now the 139th president of the Florida Medical Association. Nobo, an obstetrician/gynecologist with a private practice in Bartow, was officially sworn in Saturday at the 2015 FMA Annual Meeting at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Orlando. “Dr. Nobo has served organized medicine and the FMA at every level, […]

Phil AmmannJuly 27, 2015

Florida Medical Association PAC (FMA PAC) is endorsing dermatologist Ralph Massullo in his bid for Florida House District 34. In announcing the group’s support, FMA PAC President Chris Pittman noted the importance of supporting one of their own. “As founder and president of his dermatology practice,” Pittman said Monday in a statement, “Dr. Massullo has […]

Guest AuthorJuly 12, 2015

Florida is not an early adapter. Most of the time, our state takes a “wait-and-see” attitude regarding nearly any health policy, social program or economic strategy that has been attempted by another state’s legislature. In some cases, no amount of positive data on a successful program is enough to convince our leadership to move in […]

Peter SchorschJuly 1, 2015

With more than a decade of public service experience, insurance regulation expert Monte Stevens is now moving to the private sector, joining Southern Strategy Group (SSG) as a lobbyist. SSG, one of the largest advocacy firms in the South, is adding Stevens to its roster of leading Tallahassee power players, who represent a broad range […]

Tag: Florida Medical Association

An inside look at the legislative candidate questionnaire gauntlet

Coalition launches petition to encourage Pam Bondi to investigate insurance mergers

Republican committees post 6-figure hauls in first days of 2016

Lobbying compensation reports show Heffley & Associates enjoyed a healthy Q3

Legislative roundup: Slew of Republican bills introduced Thursday

Katie Edwards introduces needle exchange bill in Legislature

Florida Medical Association installs Ralph Nobo as president for 2015-2016

FMA PAC endorses one of their own, Ralph Massullo for House District 34

Gary Stein: Needle exchange is the one-buck no-brainer

Personnel note: Monte Stevens moves to private sector, joins Southern Strategy Group