Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 3, 2018

Hey, we get it. There’s a lot going on in the 2018 Legislative Session — and it’s only Week Five. With budget negotiations, the passage of 27 bills this week and it being an election year, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. So, here’s a brief — very brief — update on some […]

Scott PowersJanuary 29, 2018

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist is bringing a medical marijuana patient. U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch is bringing the wife of an American held hostage in Iran. U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel is bringing a trailblazing anti-sexual harassment advocate. U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy are bringing Puerto Rico evacuees. U.S. Rep. Val Demings is bringing a police […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 27, 2018

A proposal that would restrict local governments from imposing their own regulations sparked a back-and-forth Friday over LGBTQ rights between two individuals who come from completely opposite ends of the political spectrum. Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith told a Constitution Revision panel that the proposal would “eliminate all human rights ordinances” adopted by local […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 25, 2018

First Responder Appreciation Week is a special time when we Floridians recognize law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who help keep us safe. This past year, first responders went above and beyond not only day-to-day but also during Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful hurricanes we have seen in years. They worked […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 22, 2018

On Friday, the Rick Scott administration published new proposed backup-power rules for Florida’s assisted living facilities. It is a move that could mean an end to the legal struggle between the governor’s office and providers, with Scott backing off the controversial mandate that long-term care facilities install generators to provide continuous power in the case […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 22, 2018

— Tampa Bay ranks third statewide in job creation — Tampa Bay added 28,000 new private-sector jobs in the last year, the third-highest number of jobs among all Florida metro areas. In a statement this week from Gov. Rick Scott, Tampa Bay’s unemployment rate had dropped to 3.4 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from the same […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 20, 2018

Citizen groups, the Legislature and the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) are all able to change the state’s governing document, but constitutional amendments still have to pass the final test — the people. That means placement on the statewide ballot and getting at least 60 percent approval. But what governs the order of amendments on the […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2018

On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations committee heard a presentation from South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Ernie Marks on the status report of the reservoir project authorized by Senate Bill 10. Following the presentation, Appropriations Chair and Senate Bill 10 sponsor Rob Bradley expressed confidence in the district’s plans. But following the meeting, Senate […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 16, 2018

Florida Power & Light says it’s dropping plans to charge customers for Hurricane Irma costs and will instead apply savings from the recently enacted Tax and Jobs Act to cover the cost. For the average customer, this means savings of about $250. FPL also announced that the tax savings could allow it to continue operating […]

Scott PowersJanuary 16, 2018

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has sent out letters to county, city and housing authority officials throughout Central Florida seeking information on affordable housing shortages. The letter, from DEO Director of Community Development Julie Dennis, is exploring available resources and unmet needs that are being tested as a result of both the damages caused […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Legislative misses

Democrats’ guests to State of the Union include DACA recipient, medical marijuana patient, hurricane evacuees

Takeaways from Tallahassee — LGBTQ tweet war

Claudia Rodriguez: Motorola Solutions thanks Florida first responders

Assisted living facilities pleased by Rick Scott’s new proposal on backup power sources

Not Just A Body Of Water — A weekly newsletter about Tampa Bay politics — 1.21.18

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Getting 2018 ballot in ‘order’

It’ll be magic if Joe Negron succeeds with new Lake O reservoir land buy

FPL to pass federal tax cut onto customers instead of raising rates to pay for $1.3 billion Hurricane Irma restoration

Economic Opportunity surveying Central Florida housing needs