Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineNovember 15, 2016

Darryl Rouson went and said it. He referred to the Florida Senate as the Legislature’s “upper house.” He did it Tuesday while introducing himself to new colleagues during an orientation session for freshman senators. Members of the Florida House of Representatives, where Rouson served before winning the Senate seat for District 19, have been known to […]

Michael MolineNovember 15, 2016

Newcomers to the Florida Senate were met with a dose of reality Tuesday, in the form of a warning about the state’s iffy revenue forecasts. They also got a dose of optimism from Jeff Atwater, the state’s chief financial officer, who told them Florida is in relatively good shape compared to other big states like […]

Staff ReportsNovember 10, 2016

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Lynda Bell, an anti-abortion former Miami-Dade county commissioner who fell short in a Florida House race this year, will serve instead on the Florida Communities Trust. Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment Thursday. Bell finished third in a crowded race for the GOP nomination in House District 118. Bell, president of Florida Right to Life, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 10, 2016

Senate President-designate Joe Negron has picked a longtime ally to be his right hand woman in the Senate. The Stuart Republican announced Thursday he selected Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican, to serve as Senate president pro tempore. The appointment is effective Nov. 22, when the Legislature convenes for its organizational session. “The role of […]

Peter SchorschNovember 5, 2016

House members hoping to get money in the 2017-18 budget will be asked to file a bill for every appropriations request they make. That change is one of several to be coming down the pike as part of new House rules, according to sources close to incoming Speaker Richard Corcoran, who will announce the new rules to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 19, 2016

The Florida Chamber has a message for its members: Go vote. The statewide business advocacy organization’s employer-to-employee news and information program launched its “Let’s Get Local” campaign this week. The get-out-the-vote program is meant to encourage employees to vote in the general election. “There’s more to this election than just the top of the ticket,” […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

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The Florida Senate’s chamber renovations should be done by early-to-mid November. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta tweeted back on Oct. 5: “Chamber Reno Update — About one month to left to go.” She posted photos showing the chamber with redone walls, new desks, and new carpet going down. As planned, the nearly 40-year-old mural that greeted visitors to the […]

Michael MolineOctober 14, 2016

Bill Montford wanted to make one thing clear right away during a candidates’ forum Thursday night in Tallahassee. “I want to make sure you know that the Nancy Miller who is opposing me is not our City Commissioner Nancy Miller,” he said. “My good friend City Commissioner Miller will be doing some advertising for me […]

Mitch PerryOctober 7, 2016

In his speech to the weekly “Cafe Con Tampa” breakfast gathering in South Tampa Friday, independent state Senate candidate Joe Redner said, if elected, he would introduce the most ambitious environmental legislation the state has ever seen. Redner’s agenda would include regulating “polluters in the dumping of toxic chemicals,” as well as eliminating fracking and promoting solar and […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 26, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott Monday nominated two new members of the state panel that oversees Florida’s veterinarians. Subject to confirmation by the state Senate, Rudd Nelson and Sharon Powell would join the Board of Veterinary Medicine for three-year terms ending on Oct. 31, 2019. Nelson, 43, of Lighthouse Point, is himself a veterinarian who owns Bayview Animal Clinic […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Darryl Rouson arrives in the Legislature’s ‘upper house’

Freshman state senators learn the ropes in Tallahassee

Personnel note: Lynda Bell named to Florida Communities Trust

Joe Negron picks Anitere Flores to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore

Incoming Speaker Richard Corcoran to propose dramatic changes to House appropriations process

Florida Chamber: ‘Every vote counts and makes a difference’

Florida Senate renovations near completion

At candidate forum, Bill Montford seeks to allay confusion about his opponent

Bob Buesing says he’s not worried about Joe Redner taking votes away from his effort to defeat Dana Young

Personnel Note: Two nominated to Board of Veterinary Medicine