Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressDecember 1, 2015

The Florida House wants to dedicate as much as $200 million a year on projects to help restore the state’s fabled Everglades. House Republicans on Tuesday announced their “Legacy Florida” initiative. It would require that each year that the state set aside conservation money for a variety of Everglades restoration projects. The list would include […]

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow dying patients to use medical marijuana as a palliative treatment passed its first hurdle in the House Tuesday morning. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved House Bill 307 by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and Democratic prime co-sponsor Rep. Katie Edwards by a vote of 9-4. Panel chair Rep. Carlos Trujillo was among the four Republicans voting ‘No.’ The […]

Drew WilsonOctober 31, 2015

Early committee finance numbers for Republican Sens. Jack Latvala and Joe Negron show the two rivals for Senate President are as close as ever in fundraising. Latvala’s outfit, Florida Leadership Committee, entered October with a little more than $1.6 million on-hand, and the committee should get a little boost above that mark once final reports […]

Sally SwartzSeptember 28, 2015

Two members of Martin County’s legislative delegation listened for hours last week while more than 30 residents buttered them up, begged for money, griped about the Florida Legislature’s recent bad decisions and brought wish lists for 2016. Republican Rep. Gayle Harrell of Stuart turned the annual event, held at the Martin Commission headquarters in Stuart, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 8, 2015

The Florida League of Cities is recognizing 36 Florida lawmakers for their dedication to ensuring home rule powers of local governments. Home rule allows local cities and counties to function with limited interference at the State level. Clearwater Sen. Jack Latvala is included in the group. The League of Cities had previously announced he and […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 9, 2015

The House and Senate could be moving closer to agreement on a health care bill. The House Health Care Services Committee on Thursday tagged a strike-all amendment onto its direct primary care proposal, HB 7047, to include “medical tourism.” The move makes the bill near identical to a proposed committee bill that the Senate Health […]

James CallMarch 24, 2015

Rep. Matt Gaetz proclaimed in February that “no tax is safe” and Tuesday he released a $690 million tax-cutting plan that moves the House budget plan further away from the Senate’s version. Gaetz wants to enact two tax cuts, create four tax credits, implement 10 sales tax exemptions and schedule a back-to-school tax holiday. The Senate will […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 3, 2015

A bipartisan group of House and Senate members on Tuesday announced their support of a 21-page bill that would better fund community mental health services and, among other things, establish a data collection system populated with information about individuals receiving publicly funded substance abuse and mental health disorders. In kicking off the press conference on […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 3, 2015

A bipartisan group of House and Senate members on Tuesday announced their support of a 21-page bill that would better fund community mental health services and, among other things, establish a data collection system populated with information about individuals receiving publicly funded substance abuse and mental health disorders. In kicking off the press conference on […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 17, 2015

Florida’s child-welfare system is once again under Tallahassee’s microscope, further consequence of the death of 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck, whose father threw her off a St. Petersburg bridge into Tampa Bay on Jan. 8. Senate President Andy Gardiner is calling for an “across the board” examination of the state’s mental health care and abuse hotline procedures, […]

Tag: Gayle Harrell
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Florida House: Use conservation money on Everglades

Expanded medical marijuana regime bill passes House panel

Fundraising reports show Senate rivals Jack Latvala, Joe Negron close as ever

Sally Swartz: Constituents still want environmental action

Florida League of Cities recognizes 36 lawmakers as Home Rule Champions

House amends direct primary care to (almost) mirror new Senate health care train

The day that was in Florida politics — March 24

Legislators say now is the time to fix the state's mental health and substance abuse delivery sytem

Legislators say now is the time to fix the state’s mental health and substance abuse delivery sytem

Andy Gardiner calls for full analysis after death of Phoebe Jonchuck