Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 14, 2017

A new state senator who is also a prominent trial attorney is telling Gov. Rick Scott to veto a contentious education policy bill, saying it’s a brew of “bad policy” and “a textbook example of a failure in government transparency.” Sen. Gary Farmer, a Parkland Democrat, wrote a 2-page letter to Scott Tuesday on HB […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott isn’t showing his cards when it comes to a wide-sweeping and contentious education bill, despite rumblings he could sign the measure as early as this week. The Naples Republican said he is still reviewing the bill (HB 7069), which, among other things, creates a “Schools of Hope” charter school program backed by […]

Michael MolineJune 8, 2017

The Senate rejected amendments Thursday that might have blocked a meeting of minds with the House on public schools funding — including bids to tie the legislation explicitly to economic development investments. “These issues have been parsed out separately,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, who offered both amendments. “Let’s put them together. And let’s candidly assert […]

Gary FineoutMay 23, 2017

Debby Dawson, who lives in southwest Florida, has a simple message to Gov. Rick Scott: The state’s existing scholarship program for disabled children is “life changing” and has helped her 7-year-old autistic son “develop by leaps and bounds.” Dawson is part of a chorus of parents from around the state who have mounted a campaign […]

Michael MolineMay 2, 2017

With House and Senate leaders caught up with budget negotiations ahead of Friday’s deadline for adjournment, advocates for legislative fixes for assignment of benefits and workers’ compensation reform confronted this possibility: Their must-pass legislation might not pass. There’s a workers’ compensation bill on the Senate calendar, but it differs in significant respects from the version […]

Scott PowersApril 20, 2017

Five Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon are preparing to file a brief with the Florida Supreme Court in support of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala in her effort to challenge Gov. Rick Scott‘s power to take cases away from her. Braynon, state Sens. Jeff Clemens, Perry Thurston, and Gary Farmer, and state […]

Scott PowersApril 6, 2017

‘The Groveland Four’ were four young men and teenagers who endured one of the darkest known moments of Florida’s Jim Crow history when they were falsely accused of rape, then all of them were beaten, two of them were killed, and two were convicted and imprisoned on what legal researchers are now convinced was false […]

Michael MolineApril 3, 2017

Legislation addressing assignment of benefits abuse comes up in the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee Monday — and it’s not the version insurance and business interests like. The panel will hear SB 1218 by Sen. Gary Farmer, a trial lawyer from Broward County. A rival bill, SB 1038, by Dorothy Hukill and Kathleen Passidomo, has yet to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2017

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved SB 1620 Monday, a bill filed by West Palm Beach Democrat Bobby Powell that would exempt credit unions from regulation under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. However, there were also discussions about rolling back federal consumer protections by President Donald Trump, leading Fort Lauderdale Democrat Gary Farmer to attempt a late-filed amendment. […]

Gary FineoutMarch 23, 2017

Students, their parents and school employees would be guaranteed wider rights to publicly pray and express their religious beliefs in public schools under a far-reaching bill approved Thursday by the Florida Senate. Backers of the legislation, including Senate President Joe Negron, contend that the measure is needed because schools have unnecessarily clamped down on free […]

Tag: Gary Farmer

Gary Farmer to Rick Scott: Veto ‘dreadful’ HB 7069

Amid continued calls to veto HB 7069, Rick Scott says he is still ‘reviewing it’

Senate avoids loading down schools funding bill with hostile amendments

Fate of program for disabled children rests with Rick Scott

Must-pass workers’ compensation, AOB reform languishing in Legislature

Oscar Braynon, four other Democrats, set to file in support of Aramis Ayala

‘Groveland Four’ exoneration resolution passes committee

Assignment of benefits fight finally coming to a Senate committee vote

Bill to exempt Florida credit unions from regulations advances in Senate

Bill would protect religious expression in schools