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Associated PressFebruary 18, 2016

The heads of 10 Florida state agencies will keep their jobs. The Florida Senate voted Thursday to confirm top officials appointed by Gov. Rick Scott. They also confirmed Rick Swearingen who was appointed the head of Florida’s law-enforcement agency by Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet. The vote was important because state law would […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

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House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Thursday said the budget conference process won’t begin just yet. The Merritt Island Republican announced the news to members of this chamber in an email: From: Crisafulli, Steve Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 9:16 AM Subject: Conference will not begin this weekend Members: There is positive forward progress in the […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

Dozens of state officials whose appointments need Senate approval will be considered Thursday by the Florida Senate, records show. Among Gov. Rick Scott‘s top officials on the docket are Corrections Secretary Julie Jones, Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Mike Carroll, and Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Rick Swearingen. Swearingen replaced former Commissioner Gerry Bailey, forced […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2016

The Florida Senate Health Policy Committee today will decide Dr. John Armstrong’s fate as a group of bipartisan senators confront Florida’s surgeon general with tough questions that include his absent leadership on HIV/AIDS. Florida leads the nation with the highest rate of new HIV infections. Like that of President Ronald Reagan’s shameful legacy of refusing […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 12, 2016

Florida’s top elections official intends to appeal a federal judge’s decision to keep him in U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown‘s lawsuit concerning the recent congressional redistricting plan. Secretary of State Ken Detzner filed a notice of appeal on Thursday, court records show. Detzner wants the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overrule a decision to deny his motion […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 11, 2016

A bill to replace a statue of a Confederate army general as one of Florida’s two entries in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall was passed by the Florida Senate Thursday. The Senate skipped debate and OK’d the bill (SB 310) by a vote of 33-7. That move, however, puts the two chambers at odds: A House version (HB […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 11, 2016

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Now the horse-trading begins. The Florida Senate on Thursday unanimously passed its $80 billion budget 40-0, setting up the conference process where legislators grind out a budget each year. Both sides of the aisle united to pass the spending plan, though some Democrats still raised concerns. Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth, for instance, suggested extra money would […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 11, 2016

The state House approved its nearly $80 billion spending plan, despite oppositions from Democrats over a decision to defund Planned Parenthood. The House voted 85-29, largely along party lines, to approve the chamber’s $79.9 billion budget. Among other things, the spending plan sets aside $3.2 billion in reserves, increases per student funding to $7,231 and […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2016

Two years ago Thursday Orange County Deputy Sheriff Jonathan “Scott” Pine was gunned down while pursuing a suspect. On Wednesday the Florida Senate did all it could to make sure his surviving family – and others – won’t have to wait another year for financial security. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 7012, which would increase […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 10, 2016

Florida’s supervisors of elections might be getting a pay raise. The Senate Fiscal Policy committee on Wednesday OK’d a proposal changing the calculation used to determine how much a county’s election boss is paid. The measure (SB 514), sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, increases the base salary and the group rate used to determine a […]

Tag: Florida Senate
Image via the Associated Press.

Florida Senate confirms 10 agency heads appointed by Rick Scott

Steve Crisafulli says no budget conference yet

It’s confirmations day in Florida Senate

Michael Emanuel Rajner: Senate must reject Dr. John Armstrong, demand leadership on HIV/AIDS

Ken Detzner files notice of appeal in Corrine Brown lawsuit

Senate OKs replacing Confederate general’s statue

Senate unanimously passes its proposed 2016-17 budget

House votes 85-29 to approve its $79.9 billion spending plan

Senate approves first responders’ survivors’ benefit bill honoring Orange County deputy

Bill giving raise to county elections officials heads to Senate floor