Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallMarch 19, 2015

A marijuana lobbyist said to me a couple of weeks ago that he suspected the latest challenge to the Charlotte’s Web rule would “smoke out” people’s true intention, whether they disliked the rule or disliked the law. It’s the end of the third week of the session and we’re getting to the “smoke out” point on a […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

A record number inmates — 346 — died last year in Florida prisons. Most were from natural causes, but Federal and state law enforcement agencies are investigating why there were so many deaths. In recent legislative hearings, several prison guards testified under oath about the stressful conditions they work under. Republican Sen. Greg Evers of Baker […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

The House and Senate are $5 billion apart on Medicaid spending but they appear poised to give an additional $2.6 million to the state Agency for Health Care Administration to cover increased litigation costs. Both the House and Senate budgets contain $2.73 million to hire outside legal counsel in lawsuits. It was exactly what the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio took to the Senate floor Thursday afternoon to lash out at President Barack Obama for failing to congratulate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after his Likud Party victory in Israel’s elections on Tuesday. “In March of 2012, he was among the first to call Putin in Russia,” Rubio said. “Or that […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio took to the Senate floor Thursday afternoon to lash out at President Barack Obama for failing to congratulate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after his Likud Party victory in Israel’s elections on Tuesday. “In March of 2012, he was among the first to call Putin in Russia,” Rubio said. “Or that […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

Stephen R. Wise served 25 years as a lawmaker, first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1989 and term-limited out of the Senate in 2014. Wise was a skillful lawmaker in the area of education, as chairman of both education appropriation and policy committees he would hold up bills until he thought them ready […]

James CallMarch 19, 2015

An administrative law judge has scheduled a hearing for April 14 on a rule challenge for the state’s Charlotte’s Web law. Judge Elisabeth W. McArthur has scheduled the hearing for 9:30 a.m at the DeSoto Building in Tallahassee. It’s the second legal challenge filed against the Department of Health over proposed regulations to grow marijuana […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

A House committee approved an overhaul of the state group health insurance plan with little to no debate Thursday morning. The House Health Care Services Committee — which had wrapped up lengthy debate on an adoption bill — had moved to extend the two-hour meeting in case the state group health debate ran long. The […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

One week after striking down a ban on gay adoption, a House panel on Thursday approved a proposed committee bill that would allow private child-placing agencies to refuse an adoption if the placement violates their religious or moral convictions. The proposed bill, PCB HHSC 15-03, was supported by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2015

Tampa City Council members Yolie Capin and Frank Reddick have endorsed Guido Maniscalco in his race for the District 6 Tampa City Council seat that will be decided Tuesday. They made that announcement Wednesday night in Ybor City. Maniscalco is battling Jackie Toledo in a fierce contest to complete the seven-member roster of the council. […]

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Florida Politics' Drew Wilson a few pounds heavier and with a bit more hair next to Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell ... (guess who we're rooting for?).

The day that was in Florida politics — March 19

House prepares Corrections bill; Democrats say it lacks oversight

House, Senate agree to hire more lawyers to defend more Medicaid lawsuits

Marco Rubio lambastes Obama for failing "to respect" Benjamin Netanyahu

Marco Rubio lambastes Obama for failing “to respect” Benjamin Netanyahu

4th Floor Files talks with Steve Wise about shoes, spaghetti, and Ronald Reagan

Charlotte’s Web hearing scheduled for April 14

House panel OKs state insurance overhaul, but will Senate bite?

House panel OKs bill to give private adoption agencies refusal option

Yolie Capin, Frank Reddick endorse Guido Maniscalco in Tampa runoff