Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 13, 2017

Saying that Gov. Rick Scott has done little to address Florida’s opioid crisis compared with how counties and other states are responding, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum pledged Thursday to make it a major effort. Gillum, mayor of Tallahassee, released a statement that offers several initiatives he said he will undertake if elected to take […]

Scott PowersMay 23, 2017

The crisis of heroin and other opioids that is pounding Orlando, every part of Florida and every part of America might not be any easier to solve than it is to blame, as panelists from Orange County’s Heroin Task Force blamed doctors, middle schoolers and dealers. It’s a crisis that is causing three to five […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2017

Rick Scott is declaring a public health emergency across Florida due to the epidemic of heroin and other opioids abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths wracking the Sunshine State. While the governor signed an executive order Wednesday following action by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which declared a national opioid epidemic, it comes months after […]

Guest AuthorMay 2, 2017

Facing yet another drug overdose epidemic, the Florida Legislature has an opportunity to move the needle in the right policy direction — finally. As members of the Florida House and Senate are poised to pass new criminal violations, this time for trafficking in fentanyl and synthetic drugs, the heat is on to include policies that […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2017

In a letter sent today to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson called attention to Florida’s heroin and opioids crisis and sought answers on how Medicaid can do more. In his letter, Nelson declared that the heroin and opioid epidemic is “devastating Florida” and he encouraged Price […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford sounded the alarm about the city’s opioid overdose crisis a few months back, and has mobilized city and outside resources in a fight to stem the epidemic of avoidable deaths. In March and April, Gulliford scheduled well-publicized meetings to discuss what could be done to stem the tide. Now, the next […]

Scott PowersFebruary 20, 2017

Citing reports that heroin and fentanyl overdose deaths and public health costs are exploding in numbers in Florida, Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon called Monday for Florida to declare a public health emergency. In a letter, Braynon urged Gov. Rick Scott to have Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip to declare the public health emergency, which would […]

Florence SnyderFebruary 10, 2017

The Very Best Idea in Florida Right This Minute comes from Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, who is asking Gov. Rick Scott to call Florida’s heroin epidemic by its right name: a public health crisis. This should be a no-brainer for Scott. With heroin-related hospital bills running at close to a billion a year […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 9, 2017

On Friday, Florida Politics brought you the first look at a House bill that would add Kratom to the state’s controlled substance list. House Bill 183 would add Mitragynine and Hydroxymitragynine, constituents of Kratom, to the schedule of controlled substances, offering an exception for any FDA approved substance containing these chemicals. Bill sponsor Rep. Kristin Jacobs, a Coconut Creek Democrat who has […]

Scott PowersDecember 29, 2016

Story co-written by Orlando-Rising staff reporters Scott Powers and Lawrence Griffin. In Orlando, 2016 will always be remembered as the year of the Pulse gay nightclub massacre, and Pulse redefined everything; but it’s not the only major event to have shaped politics in Orlando during the year. Here are a few events that defined politics […]

Tag: heroin

Andrew Gillum pledges major response on heroin/opioid crisis

Opioids epidemic crisis blamed on careless doctors, unsupervised children

Rick Scott declares opioid emergency in Florida

Jason Pye, Sal Nuzzo: Mandatory minimum reform needed in overdose epidemic

Bill Nelson presses Tom Price on Florida’s opioid crisis, Medicaid’s ability to fight it

Jax Councilman to Governor: Declare ‘opioid emergency’ now!

Oscar Braynon calls for emergency declaration on heroin

Palm Beach County Commissioner has great advice for Rick Scott

Kristin Jacobs: Kratom lobby ‘just like Hitler’

2016 in Orlando politics: Pulse, outside money, hotel taxes, frogs