Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayFebruary 4, 2016

A key Senate panel narrowly passed a proposal to effectively end the use of red light cameras around the state of Florida on Thursday. The Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill by a 4-3 party-line vote. Bill sponsor St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes, who also chairs the panel, said the bill simply reflects the public policy reality […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLC) has announced its 2016 legislative agenda, and at the top of the list is a bill calling for transparency in how political committees help fund campaigns around the state. The legislation, sponsored in the House by New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy and Orlando Democrat Darren Soto in the […]

Brendan FarringtonJanuary 15, 2016

A bill that would limit the number of Florida Lottery scratch-off games and cap ticket prices at $5 was overwhelmingly approved by a House committee Wednesday after lawmakers criticized the department for using the games to prey on the state’s poorest residents. The House Government Operations Subcommittee voted 12-1 in favor of the bill. Rep. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2016

The start of the 2016 Legislative Session means a cessation of political fundraising – sitting lawmakers are barred from ginning up cash while they legislate. But session begins Tuesday, so the Monday before is the usual orgy of tippling, grip-and-grinning and check writing. House Majority 2016, Senate Majority 2016 and others sent out emails last week detailing the various events, subject […]

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments – that’s what we get […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 15, 2015

A key difference between the Senate campaigns of Rep. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: the endorsements they roll out. DeSantis has been heavy on big national names, whereas Lopez-Cantera’s list has been heavy on local and state Republicans, as seen with Tuesday morning’s rollout of endorsements from people who arguably know him best: Republicans […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

The last committee week before the 2016 Legislative Session means — what else — a post-Thanksgiving cornucopia of fundraisers. The Republican Party of Florida sent an email last week listing all the events, coinciding with the December committee week, the last one before session begins Jan. 12. In chronological order, here are the events, subject to change and […]

Peter SchorschOctober 26, 2015

In a few weeks, Facebook certainly will unleash its Year In Review app, which automatically compiles some of the most-liked photos from your feeds over the past year and puts them into a neat little timeline. For most folks, the algorithm does its job. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fine way to look back at your year and remember […]

Ryan RayOctober 21, 2015

A trio of Republican lawmakers – and one Democrat – are pursuing a measure in 2016 to boost the legal standing of firefighters who contract cancer while serving the public. Sen. Jack Latvala‘s SB 456 would create a presumption in statute that firefighters employed by the state or local governments who become ill with cancer did so in […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 9, 2015

State Rep. Frank Artiles soon will be literally ‘loaded for bear’: His name is on the state’s list of permit holders for next month’s black bear hunting season. A list provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday after a public-records request shows Artiles’ name among the 2,055 who have received […]

Tag: Frank Artiles

Senate panel passes red light camera preemption 4-3

Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida lays out its 2016 legislative agenda

Lawmakers seek to limit Lottery scratch-off games

Fundraising galore before start of 2016 Legislative Session

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

Carlos Lopez-Cantera rolls out big South Florida/Miami-Dade endorsements

Email insights: More House GOP fundraising

Frank Artiles’ very interesting year

Jack Latvala rolls out proposal to aid stricken firefighters

Frank Artiles’ name on list of bear hunting permits