Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2018

The federal government on Friday said it was opening Florida’s Gulf Coast to “oil and gas exploration and development.” A Interior spokesman, however, soon added that the “small slice available (approximately 944,000 acres) … is more than 100 miles offshore Florida.” A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson also said the proposed area is “currently open to […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has expanded her response to Wednesday’s high school massacre from vowing to ban assault weapons if she is elected to calling on current Gov. Rick Scott to immediately suspend their sales. She also declared that Scott’s “legacy will forever be covered in blood” if he and the Legislature do not […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 13, 2018

Andrew Fay easily and quickly won a Senate panel’s confirmation vote on Tuesday to the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee unanimously cleared Fay for full Senate consideration. The 34-year-old lawyer and Tampa native had been Special Counsel to Attorney General Pam Bondi and served as her Director of Legislative Affairs, Cabinet […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 12, 2018

In response to a federal judge saying that the Florida’s voting rights restoration process is unconstitutional, the state’s legal team said Monday the state’s clemency board should fix its flaws — not the courts. State Solicitor General Amit Agarwal argued that U.S. District Judge Mark Walker should not issue any corrective orders, saying “there is […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 12, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott‘s office said Monday the governor is expected to sign into a law a bill that would permanently set aside millions in taxpayer money to operate pro-life clinics in Florida, a concept that critics call “fake” clinics. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill last week, with Democrats opposed. When the bill becomes law, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2018

Noah Valenstein, Florida’s Secretary of Environmental Protection (DEP), on Thursday sent a letter to the feds in opposition of any exploratory drilling for gas or oil off the state’s coasts. The move comes after Gov. Rick Scott “secured a commitment from (U.S.) Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to take Florida off the table for future consideration for offshore […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 5, 2018

Four times, lawmakers on Monday gave the state’s top medical marijuana regulator an opportunity to speak on their objections to rules and regulations on the drug. And four times, Christian Bax said nothing because it wasn’t yet time to do so, he later explained. “The department has 30 days in order to respond,” Bax, director of […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 1, 2018

Rep. Kathleen Peters‘ attempt to amend an House ethics reform bill resulted in virtual fireworks Thursday, with a prominent lobbyist saying Peters was targeting him and a lawmaker bemoaning “political gymnastics” that temporarily gummed up the measure. One of Peters’ amendments would have banned sitting lawmakers and their immediate family members from working for lobbying firms. The […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2018

What looks like a loss at first blush is a win for John Morgan in his legal effort to overturn the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana. A Tallahassee judge on Friday granted the state’s motion to dismiss as to People United for Medical Marijuana, the association-plaintiff, saying it didn’t have the legal standing to […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 26, 2018

The House on Friday dropped its 83-page omnibus gambling bill for 2018, which reads like a love letter to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a poison pen missive to nearly all the other gambling interests in the state. Industry representatives privately admitted the legislation—overseen by Speaker-designate Jose Oliva—was a placeholder for the House to pass, […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Feds announce opening of Florida to offshore oil drilling, but it’s not not as bad as you might think

Gwen Graham: Rick Scott should address AR-15s or his legacy ‘will forever be covered in blood’

Andrew Fay nomination clears Senate panel

State, voting rights group disagree on how to handle clemency process

Gov. Rick Scott to sign state-funded pro-life clinics into law

DEP head formally opposes offshore drilling in Florida

Medical marijuana regulator’s silence vexes lawmakers

‘Political gymnastics’: House panel kills Kathleen Peters’ ethics proposals

Judge allows medical marijuana ‘no smoke’ case to go forward

House gambling bill to pari-mutuels: Drop dead