Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

No progress has been made to bridge the $4 billion-plus gap between the House and Senate proposed spending plans as the Legislature closes in on completing the sixth week of session. However, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli didn’t seem worried that the impasse could throw the chambers into overtime. At least […]

Bruce RitchieApril 2, 2015

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As lobbyist Stephanie Kunkel, representing the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Clean Water Action, approached the podium on Tuesday to speak on a Senate oil and gas fracking bill, there was a murmur through the committee room packed with fracking opponents. “Sellout,” one man muttered before Kunkel started speaking. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and […]

James CallMarch 31, 2015

This day at the state Capitol lawmakers continue to clear their desks of items before getting down to serious budget work. They dealt with the contentious issues of marijuana, abortion and fracking before having to deal with the $4.2 billion of really contentious differences in the spending plans they are developing. • • • Sen. Garrett […]

Gary FineoutMarch 31, 2015

Amid growing budget discord that could derail this year’s session of the Florida Legislature, Senate President Andy Gardiner dispatched two top Republican senators to Washington to talk with federal officials about more than $1 billion in health care grants the state could soon lose. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican who works for a hospital, took the […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 31, 2015

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Bills dealing with oil and gas hydraulic fracturing in Florida passed their first Senate committee stop on Tuesday after a state environmental official said they would provide needed regulation for the industry. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Naples, requires the state to develop rules for permitting “high-pressure well-stimulation,” which includes hydraulic […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 30, 2015

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An amendment filed Monday — and later withdrawn — by the chairman of a Senate committee would have placed a ban on state permits for oil and gas fracking until a study of the practice can be completed in 2016. SB 1468 by Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican from Bradenton, requires the state to develop […]

Ryan RayMarch 19, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed legislation that will move Florida’s 2016 presidential primaries back two weeks, from March 1 to March 15. Scott’s approval of HB 7035, shepherded by Melbourne Republican Rep. Ritch Workman and Sen. Garrett Richter, a Republican of Naples, in their respective legislative chambers, puts Florida in position to take advantage of new […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2015

The Florida Senate today unanimously approved a bill that will move the state’s presidential primary moves from January to March 15, 2016. This is significant because that date is the first day the state can conduct, if it chooses as expected, a primary with a winner-take-all prize for the victor. New rules announced by the Republican National Committee […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

There’s a development in the Gerald Bailey affair I want to tell you about, but first its FSU Day. Not that I attended the school or anything, but if I’m put on a beat it’s what’s in the front of my mind, you know? Like, I’m all FSU, fascinated by Charlotte’s Web rule-making, intrigued by the personalities […]

Ryan RayMarch 16, 2015

Editor’s note: As the 2015 Legislative Session kicks into high gear, FloridaPolitics.com is continuing to report on several “legislative food fights” during the annual lawmaking period. These kerfuffles don’t always make the front page of the traditional media outlets, but they are the kind of industry vs. industry or intra-industry turf battles that drive Tallahassee — […]

Tag: Garrett Richter

Budget impasse continues as time ticks away on regular session

Enviro groups that support fracking bills thread the needle

The day that was in Florida politics — March 31

Florida senators meet with feds on health care money

Fracking bills pass Senate committee with DEP support

Senate committee chair seeks to ban fracking during study

Rick Scott signs presidential primary date push-back into law

Senate votes to move Florida presidential primary to March 15, 2016

The day that was in Florida politics — March 17

Where does sh*t stand — the “legislative food fights” edition