Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 5, 2016

With work well underway on renovations of the Florida Senate chamber, there’s still no word on the fate of the decades-old mural that greets visitors to the chamber’s fifth floor public gallery. Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta said Tuesday no final decision has been made about the artwork’s future. This past October, Betta said the mural will be taken down because it’s showing […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2016

State Sen. Kelli Stargel on Monday said Governor Rick Scott now has “all the information he needs” on her bill to overhaul the state’s alimony system. The measure (SB 668) was the final bill of the 2016 Legislative Session to be sent to Scott for review. It was delivered to his office after Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, briefly […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 4, 2016

Senate President Designate Joe Negron is hitting the road to tour Florida’s universities. Negron announced Monday he plans to visit all 12 state universities in four days. Negron has said that improving the state university system is one of his top priorities for his two-year term as Senate President. “Over the last several years, I […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 4, 2016

For Lizbeth Benacquisto, the 2016 Legislative Session was filled with wins. She backed legislation to create universal school choice, supported a proposal allowing Floridians to break into a vehicle to rescue a person in distress or an unattended animal, and backed a bill requiring insurers to take a proactive approach to paying out life insurance […]

Jim RosicaMarch 31, 2016

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The plaintiffs who won a congressional redistricting case won’t be getting paid by the state for appellate attorney costs, the Florida Supreme Court decided Thursday in a 4-3 decision. The denial of a request for attorney fees – two lines in the 8-page order – was the second blow in a one-two punch: A three-judge panel of the 1st District […]

Jim RosicaMarch 30, 2016

Long overdue renovations in the state’s Senate chamber are under way. Most of it has been gutted in preparation for a fresh look. FloridaPolitics.com reported last month that the Senate would finally jettison its 1970s look, unchanged since the Capitol first opened, with a nearly $5 million renovation this year. The very day after the Legislature adjourned this […]

Phil AmmannMarch 28, 2016

Fear just secured another victory. Under pressure from green activists, the Florida Senate voted down a bill that would have helped expand fracking, the drilling process used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground. Activists recycled discredited arguments to scare citizens and legislators alike into believing that fracking will harm Florida’s environment. If […]

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

A lawyer for U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on Friday told a panel of federal judges that Florida’s new congressional map flies in the face of 100 years of history and would do violence to the voting rights of her black constituency. William Sheppard argued that the former district, which meanders from Jacksonville through Gainesville to Sanford, follows […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 25, 2016

Nearly six dozen new laws went on the books Friday. Gov. Rick Scott signed 68 bills into law, including ones that clarify when physicians’ assistants can prescribe medication, a bill revising the state’s building codes and a host of local laws. The Naples Republican also vetoed his first bill, which would have created the Gainesville […]

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

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With the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. standing behind her, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown held a master class in political theater at a Tallahassee buffet restaurant Friday. It came after a court hearing on her legal challenge of the state’s new congressional district map. In the morning, a panel of federal judges heard […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Still no decision on Florida Senate’s “Five Flags Mural”

Kelli Stargel meets with Rick Scott on alimony bill

Joe Negron begins State University System listening tour on April 18

Lizbeth Benacquisto racks up legislative victories during 2016 session

Supreme Court denies request for attorney fees in redistricting case

Florida Senate renovations proceed apace

Dennis Freytes: Activists shut down fracking with fear

Corrine Brown’s lawyer argues that old district lines follow historical precedent

Governor signs 68 bills into law, including ones to help veterans

Corrine Brown, fired up and ready to go – to lunch