Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 25, 2016

A trio of federal judges on Friday will hear arguments from an attorney for U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown on her move to temporarily stop a congressional redistricting scheme ordered by the Florida Supreme Court. The one-hour hearing is set for 9 a.m. in the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee. U.S. Circuit Judge Robin Rosenbaum and U.S. District Judges Mark Walker […]

Jim RosicaMarch 24, 2016

An appeal court in Tallahassee has upheld a trial judge’s denial of attorney fees to the plaintiffs who won a congressional redistricting case. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal agreed with Circuit Judge Terry Lewis that the League of Women Voters of Florida, Common Cause and others “waived their right” to get their […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 23, 2016

Campus carry will be back, at least according to one co-sponsor of the 2016 legislation. Rep. Dane Eagle said a bill to allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns on college and university campuses will be proposed again in the next Legislative Session. However, he seemed less sure about the future of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2016

The stack bills on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk just keeps getting higher. The Florida Legislature sent 20 bills — including ones to repeal the state’s ban on cohabitation, legislation to allow All Aboard Florida riders to drink beer on trains and a bill to create the Florida Holocaust Memorial — to Scott on Tuesday. The […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2016

Former state Sen. Gary Siplin is trying again to return to the Florida Senate, this time, for the moment, without his rival state Sen. Geraldine Thompson in the race. Siplin filed last Friday to seek another term in the senate, after having served the area in the Senate District 19, prior to redistricting that pushed the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 16, 2016

Planned Parenthood supporters are calling on Gov. Rick Scott to veto a bill that could restrict access to reproductive health care. The organization plans to deliver more than 12,000 petitions opposing the bill (HB 1411) to Scott on Thursday. Among other things, the bill requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to perform annual inspections […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took a pre-emptive strike Tuesday, saying he plans to veto more than $250 million in projects when lawmakers send him the fiscal 2016-17 budget. The move comes just days after the Legislature voted overwhelmingly — 40-0 in the Senate and 119-1 in the House — to approve the $82.3 billion spending plan. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

As elections officials across the state are focused on Election Day, Gov. Rick Scott is tasked with pondering giving them a pay raise. The Legislature on Tuesday sent Scott more than a dozen bills, including a proposal that would increase the base salaries of the state’s 67 county elections chiefs. The bill (SB 514) puts […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 10, 2016

A controversial bill that shields clergy members who refuse to perform gay marriages is now law. The so-called “Pastor Protection Act” was one of more than two dozen bills Gov. Rick Scott signed into law Thursday. Rep. Scott Plakon, the House sponsor, said this month the proposal offered protections to clergy who have concerns about […]

Ryan RayMarch 10, 2016

A representative of Uber personally delivered what he said were 32,588 petitions to Senate President Andy Gardiner on Thursday morning, continuing the intensifying fight between Senate leadership and the ride-hailing industry. They have sparred for months over insurance regulations and the preemption of local ordinances. The two parties are locked in a heated debate over whether the Senate should […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Judges to consider Corrine Brown challenge to congressional redistricting

Court strikes down fee request in redistricting case

Dane Eagle talks gun legislation during SWFL Tiger Bay Club

Cohabitation repeal, All Aboard Florida beer bill among the 20 latest bills sent to Rick Scott

Gary Siplin enters Senate District 11 race, faces Bob Sindler and Chuck O’Neal

Planned Parenthood calls on Rick Scott to veto abortion bill

Rick Scott says he’ll veto more than $250 million from state budget

Legislature sends bills on elections supervisors’ pay raise, Dozier School to governor

“Pastor Protection” bill now state law

Uber drops off thousands of pro-ridesharing petitions to Andy Gardiner