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Staff ReportsSeptember 19, 2016

The calendars are set. House and Senate leadership announced Monday the schedule for interim committee meetings. Both chambers will head to Tallahassee for committee meetings in December, before meeting for two weeks in January and three weeks in February. According to memos to members, the Florida House will hold committee meetings from Dec. 5 through […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 15, 2016

A Gainesville man has withdrawn his complaint against Rep. Keith Perry. Norman Leppla withdrew his complaint against Perry on Thursday, according to the Gainesville Police Department. The notice of withdrawal comes one day after the police department released surveillance video showing Perry striking Leppla after a disagreement over a yard sign. But Leppla’s decision to withdraw his […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2016

Waterproofing in the Capitol’s underground parking garages now will have to removed because it’s “carcinogenic,” a state official said Wednesday. Tom Berger, director of the Real Estate Development and Management Division, spoke in front of a Cabinet aides meeting in the Capitol. The division is part of the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 6, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala on Tuesday said he is considering calling for legislative action next session to address the City of Tallahassee’s response to Hurricane Hermine. Latvala, a Clearwater Republican, is slated to be the next Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Specifically, he said he questions whether community-based power operations—such as City of Tallahassee Utilities—are positioned […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 6, 2016

George T. Levesque, formerly the top lawyer to the Florida Senate, is joining the GrayRobinson law firm’s Tallahassee office. Levesque will be “of counsel,” meaning he will work on a case-to-case basis and not as an associate or partner. The firm announced the hire Tuesday. “We are excited to add George to our capital city office,” said Mayanne Downs, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 29, 2016

With nearly $3.5 million in the bank and no races to spend it on, some Florida lawmakers are left figuring out what to do with the last of their campaign cash. While their colleagues are sweating out contested races, 42 members of the House and Senate are looking for ways to spend down the war […]

Scott PowersAugust 26, 2016

This used to be Andy Gardiner country, a Florida Senate district at the heart of GOP power, and now three Democrats are fighting for it like it’s theirs for the taking Tuesday. Tuesday’s Democratic Florida Senate District 13 primary will pit three former elected officials, all with at least decent name recognition, one of them, former […]

Associated PressAugust 17, 2016

State Sen. Don Gaetz wants to be the next president of the University of West Florida. Media outlets in the Florida Panhandle report that the Niceville Republican is among more than 70 applicants for the job. Gaetz is serving his second term in the Florida Senate and faces term limits in November. He served as […]

Jim RosicaAugust 15, 2016

Former state Sen C. Welborn Daniel died Wednesday, according to an announcement from the Florida Senate. He was 90. Daniel, a Democrat, served in the House representing Lake County from 1957-63, then in the Senate representing two different districts in 1965-66 and 1968-72. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church […]

Jim RosicaJuly 27, 2016

The Florida Senate’s renovations are on track, spokeswoman Katie Betta told FloridaPolitics.com Wednesday. “Construction is right on schedule,” she said. “We expect the dome to be completed by early next week.” Workers dismantled the chamber’s ceiling and put up scaffolding to install a new dome, modeled after one in the Old Capitol. Outgoing Senate President Andy Gardiner pulled […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Florida House, Senate set interim 2017 committee meeting schedule

Gainesville PD: Complaint withdrawn in Keith Perry case

Capitol parking garage waterproofing is ‘carcinogenic’

Jack Latvala wants answers after Tallahassee’s Hermine experience

Personnel note: George Levesque joins GrayRobinson

Elected unopposed, Florida lawmakers must decide what to do with leftover campaign cash

SD 13 race pits familiar names as Dems hope to flip seat

Don Gaetz applies to be UWF president

Former Sen. C. Welborn Daniel dies

Florida Senate renovations on schedule