Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMarch 10, 2015

A House panel takes up a disputed bill that would allow select employees and volunteers to carry guns at public schools. HB 19 gets its debut hearing Wednesday with the K-12 Subcommittee. Supporters of the bill, filed by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube, say it improves school safety. If passed, the measure would allow school […]

James CallMarch 10, 2015

No movement Tuesday in clearing up confusion over next year’s state budget. While state economists counted up how much money Florida will have to spend for the year beginning July 1, the stances of the players involved seemed to harden. The Revenue Estimating Conference met but by sunset had yet to release the report lawmakers will […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 9, 2015

The war on designer drugs no longer is limited to synthetic substances. Kratom — an herb derived from the leaf of a tropical tree indigenous to areas of Southeast Asia — has been gaining popularity in kava bars and smoke shops as the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency labeled it as substance of growing concern. It […]

Peter SchorschMarch 8, 2015

Somebody has to be first, right? Last month, Florida Politics reported on the surge of Kratom, a plant-based product used as a homeopathic medicine that has begun to concern Florida authorities. Traditionally, Kratom leaves — indigenous to Thailand and Malaysia — are chewed to treat a variety of ailments: reducing pain, an anti-diarrheal, and to reduce […]

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2015

A Florida League of Women Voters announcement Wednesday finds the group linked with strange bedfellows such as University of Florida’s W. Kent Fuchs and, stranger still, John Thrasher of Florida State University in an effort to prevent overturning a state law that outlaws firearms on college campuses. In light of Monday’s shooting at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach — […]

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2015

A Florida League of Women Voters announcement Wednesday finds the group linked with strange bedfellows such as University of Florida’s W. Kent Fuchs and, stranger still, John Thrasher of Florida State University in an effort to prevent overturning a state law that outlaws firearms on college campuses. In light of Monday’s shooting at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach — […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 23, 2015

Is Kratom next up in the controlled substance cavalcade? The battle usually begins with an outrageous anecdote. A shady doctor prescribing pain pills from a golf course; a deranged man spiked up on some “bath salt” derivative and chewing off someone’s face; or a shocking suicide by a young man with a bright future. First, […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 23, 2015

Is Kratom next up in the controlled substance cavalcade? The battle usually begins with an outrageous anecdote. A shady doctor prescribing pain pills from a golf course; a deranged man spiked up on some “bath salt” derivative and chewing off someone’s face; or a shocking suicide by a young man with a bright future. First, […]

Ryan RayFebruary 17, 2015

Following weeks of testimony, hostile op-eds and public recriminations about the sordid state of affairs in some Florida prisons, members of the Senate Criminal Justice committee unanimously approved a committee-sponsored bill aimed at beefing up intra-prison security and accountability, SB 7020, late on Tuesday afternoon. Committee chairman Sen. Greg Evers of Baker hailed the passage of the bill through […]

Ryan RayFebruary 17, 2015

Following weeks of testimony, hostile op-eds and public recriminations about the sordid state of affairs in some Florida prisons, members of the Senate Criminal Justice committee unanimously approved a committee-sponsored bill aimed at beefing up intra-prison security and accountability, SB 7020, late on Tuesday afternoon. Committee chairman Sen. Greg Evers of Baker hailed the passage of the bill through […]

Tag: Greg Evers
Marco Rubio. Image via AP.

School gun bill gets House panel debut Wednesday

The Day That Was in Florida Politics – March 10

Senate committee schedules kratom legislation

Tampa Bay Times finally arrives at the Kratom party

League of Women Voters joins Florida’s university presidents to oppose guns on campus

League of Women Voters joins Florida's university presidents to oppose guns on campus

First it was pill mills, then it was bath salts; now it’s Kratom

First it was pill mills, then it was bath salts; now it's Kratom

Senate Criminal Justice Committee passes bill to reform embattled Corrections Dep’t

Senate Criminal Justice Committee passes bill to reform embattled Corrections Dep't