Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

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A concept of “deal” implies that each side gets “something.” Not so with Uber and the taxi industry. So far, in all negotiations, Uber has stuck to everything they want, yet offering little (or nothing) in return. From the onset, Uber’s arrival in Florida quickly became a matter of ignoring the existing rules, beginning with […]

William MarchFebruary 15, 2016

Some two dozen bills have been filed in this year’s Legislative Session to compensate people injured by the mistakes or negligence of government agencies: wrongly convicted prisoners, children abused by foster parents, people maimed or killed in accidents with police vehicles, and even a football player who died during practice. Many have waited for years, […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 4, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday struck down as unconstitutional a state law requiring write-in candidates to live in the districts they’re running for when they qualify. The court ruled unanimously in Brinkmann v. Francois (Case No. SC14-1899), though Justices Charles Canady and Ricky Polston “concur(red) in result” only. The case involved a 2014 Broward County […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 20, 2016

Despite the Florida House of Representatives’ frequent complaint of judicial overreach, a House panel Wednesday OK’d a measure that would put more power in the hands of judges as it possibly weakens the state’s public record law. The Government Operations Subcommittee by a 12-0 vote approved the bill (HB 1021) that gives judges discretion whether to award attorney […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

A dark horse Democratic presidential candidate is suing the Democratic Party of Florida and the state of Florida to get on the 2016 ballot here. Rocky De La Fuente Guerra, a San Diego real estate developer, filed his suit last week in Tallahassee federal court. A group of seven Florida voters is listed as co-plaintiffs. […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2015

Julie Jones: The head of the embattled state Department of Corrections has been making headlines since her appointment this January, and 2016 promises a no less busy year. Reports of inmate deaths and abuses and criminal activity behind bars have been unfortunate staples of prisons coverage. Earlier this year, Republican state Sen. Greg Evers grew so concerned […]

Mitch PerryDecember 10, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will be in Tampa on Friday night for a fundraiser, but it’s not for his own struggling presidential campaign. The GOP presidential contender will be appearing at the Centre Club in Tampa in an event for the Republican Party of Florida. Among the Republicans who are scheduled to attend include […]

Mitch PerryDecember 10, 2015

Wednesday night, organizers with the group Regulate Florida told supporters in a conference call that they’re ending their attempt to put a pro-legalization of marijuana on the ballot next year in Florida. FloridaPolitics.com was on that call, and posted the story soon after. In a statement sent shortly after that call was completed, Regulate Florida […]

Mitch PerryDecember 9, 2015

Florida Governor Rick Scott has been targeting the Florida public hospital industry for much of this year, after the Florida Hospital Association made a strong pitch for the Legislature to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a push that failed for the third straight year in Tallahassee, and after the federal government announced deep cuts in hospital funding […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2015

The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation spent hours (and hours) on Tuesday discussing proposed legislation that would bring ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft into compliance with the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, but whether they actually moved the issue forward at the end of the day is dubious. The setting for the local group of state lawmakers […]

Tag: Jamie Grant
Image via AP.

The case for the taxis not making a legislative deal with Uber & Lyft

Floridians injured by government struggle for compensation

State Supreme Court strikes down write-in residency law

House panel clears what critics call “weakening” of open government

Obscure Democratic presidential candidate wants on Florida ballot

Jim Rosica’s 5 people to watch in state government in 2016

Jeb Bush to appear at RPOF fundraiser in Tampa on Friday

Mitch Perry Report for 12.10.15 – Recreational pot measure supporters back off 2016 ballot bid

Tampa house Democrats blast Scott administration’s investigation into public hospitals

Hillsborough Legislative Delegation OKs measure to regulate Uber and Lyft, but future unclear