Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Matthew IsbellJune 29, 2015

Florida’s western Panhandle has not been exactly known as a hotbed of electoral campaigns during recent election cycles. The region stretching from Pensacola to Panama City is steadfastly Republican in registration and in electoral dominance. GOP primaries decide most fights in the region, and incumbency has ensured few contentious primaries outside of local offices. The region is […]

Bob SparksJune 25, 2015

The Florida Senate and several communities hoping to receive state money for local projects or programs are unhappy. The public food fight between legislative chambers and the governor was an embarrassment that could have serious ramifications. A governor’s use of line-item veto authority is often likened to a surgeon conducting delicate surgery with a scalpel. […]

Mitch PerryJune 25, 2015

Although it lost most of its relevance when Rick Scott surprised the Tallahassee establishment and signed the 2015-2016 budget Tuesday, Florida TaxWatch on Thursday went ahead and released its annual Turkey Watch Report. “While Gov.Rick Scott signed the new budget prior to the release of the 2015 Budget Turkey Watch Report, the report continues to […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

Although he’s been in politics for a long time now, Joe Gruters has just became a political candidate for the first time in 15 years. The 38-year-old Republican Party chairman of Sarasota County and vice chair and head of fundraising for the Republican Party of Florida recently announced his candidacy for the House District 73 […]

Staff ReportsJune 23, 2015

In a blistering press release, state Sen. Geraldine Thompson said Gov. Rick Scott vetoed eight projects she supported in the state budget because she doesn’t “think like him.” “I championed eight projects for appropriations that would benefit low-income and minority communities, all eight were vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott,” she said in a prepared statement. […]

Ryan RayJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed more than $461 million in state spending Tuesday morning, or about 6 percent of all appropriations in the 2015-2016 budget, in his second-greatest spilling of red ink over line items since his first General Appropriations Act in office when he nixed about $615 million from 2011’s $70 million budget. Not on the […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

There were some local projects of note in the Tampa Bay area that escaped Rick Scott’s veto pen Tuesday morning, but there were plenty of other local projects and programs that did not, all part of a record breaking $461 million in vetoes announced by the governor’s office. Winners included USF, which received $17 million for its […]

Mitch PerryJune 17, 2015

Jeb Bush has been traveling the nation making campaign and fundraising stops since the beginning of the year, all under the guise of “exploring” the possibility of running for president. That distinction that has allowed him to raise unlimited amounts of cash for his political action committee called Right to Rise. According to a new […]

Ryan RayJune 17, 2015

After several weeks of deliberation, Edward James III has made it official — the Sarasota-born Democrat told FloridaPolitics.com he filed 2016 campaign paperwork on Tuesday to run in House District 72. James said he was spurred to run by what he called the “cold-heartedness” of the GOP-led House, which abruptly adjourned and left town early last month in […]

Ryan RayJune 16, 2015

At a final budget conference meeting that began at the tender hour of 11:05 p.m. and ran until nearly midnight, state budget writers failed to fully address new state funding for hospitals — the primary impetus for the June special Session to begin with. But they did find time to load up the budget with […]

Tag: Jack Latvala

Family matters: excitement builds for western Panhandle primary

Bob Sparks: 2015 leaves Florida Republicans in a dangerous place for 2016

Florida TaxWatch releases Turkey Watch Report, 48 hours after Rick Scott signs budget

Joe Gruters begins transition from party insider to political candidate

Geraldine Thompson says her projects vetoed because she doesn’t “think” like Rick Scott

State law enforcement radio money spared Gov. Rick Scott’s veto ax

Tampa Bay area sees number of projects cut by Rick Scott in his budget

GOP state lawmakers give generously to Jeb Bush’s super PAC

Democrat Edward James files for 2016 House run in Sarasota’s HD 72

In last-minute budget talks, lawmakers add some $300+ million in new spending in dark of night