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Associated PressOctober 20, 2017

The Florida Senate is refusing to turn over dozens of emails involving a state budget website that was shuttered despite taxpayers paying $5 million for it so far. The contractor that built the website has sued the Senate for a final payment of $500,000. While the case moves along, attorneys for both sides are arguing […]

Joe HendersonOctober 12, 2017

State Sen. Dennis Baxley just couldn’t resist. At a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday to investigate the 14 deaths of elderly patients at a Hollywood Hills nursing home, Baxley made the reasonable point that the tragedy was “outrageous.” But then, as Scott Powers reported for Florida Politics, Baxley ventured into what-is-he-talking-about land. “We keep getting new […]

Peter SchorschOctober 12, 2017

Session hasn’t even started, and we already have a winner for “Legislative Nice Guy of 2018″—Senate President Joe Negron. Negron, who we’ve already reported as having found a new gear as he enters his last year in leadership, gave up his primo parking spot in the Capitol garage so that his colleague, Dorothy Hukill, can […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

The Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up hurricane effects and recovery efforts across the business community in Florida at its first meeting of the 2018 session, Chairman Bill Montford announced Wednesday. That is assuming the committee’s hearing is not postponed because of a hurricane. Very early projections of Tropical Depression 16 forming off […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 29, 2017

Sen. Dana Young has again filed a bill to exempt fantasy sports play from regulation under the state’s gambling laws. Young, a Tampa Republican, filed her measure (SB 374) Friday afternoon. She introduced similar legislation this past session. The bill for the 2018 Legislative Session would prohibit a fantasy contest operator from offering “contests based on the performances of […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican set to be the next Senate President, is expected to be officially designated on Oct. 24. Senate Republican Leader Wilton Simpson, who’s in line to be President after Galvano, made the announcement Monday. Galvano will succeed Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican, as head of the chamber for 2018-20. The designation will […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 6, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran have cancelled next week’s legislative committee week because of Hurricane Irma, they said in separate memos to members Wednesday. Negron also said Senate offices in the Capitol “will remain open during regular business hours tomorrow (Thursday) … District staff should contact each Senator to determine appropriate office hours in your […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 5, 2017

The approach of Hurricane Irma may affect the upcoming legislative committee week, currently set for Sept. 12-15. “We are closely monitoring the developments of Hurricane Irma as the storm approaches our state,” House Speaker Richard Corcoran wrote in a Tuesday memo to members. “As the path of the storm becomes more clearly defined, we will, […]

Scott PowersAugust 30, 2017

When the public agency that runs the Tri-Rail commuter trains in South Florida dumped five less-expensive proposals and awarded a ten-year, $511 million, operations and maintenance contract last winter, the agency followed rules spelled out in that particular proposal but they conflicted with the agency’s standing internal procurement rules, a draft state investigation report concludes. […]

Gary FineoutAugust 29, 2017

Florida taxpayers have already spent $5 million on a state budget website that never went public. Now litigation over the failed project could cost another $200,000. The Florida Senate hired a Tallahassee-based contractor six years ago to create the website to help the public understand the state budget. Legislative officials say it didn’t work as […]

Tag: Florida Senate
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Senate withholding secret emails linked to website

Joe Henderson: Dennis Baxley’s misdirection play

Joe Negron’s class act: ‘Here, Dorothy Hukill, take my spot’

Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee plans hurricane talk

Dana Young files ‘fantasy contests’ bill

Bill Galvano’s designation ceremony set

Legislative committee week cancelled

Hurricane could affect legislative committee week

Draft investigation report: Tri-Rail did not follow rules in $511 million, one-bid deal

Take it to court: Florida Senate sued over doomed website