Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorAugust 23, 2017

With a new school year kicking off this month, parents across Florida logically expected that the state is providing the proper environment necessary for children to achieve their greatest potential. That’s why I was outraged to read last week about students in Hillsborough County who are languishing in sweltering classrooms because the school district simply […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2017

After initially planning to run in 2018 to try to replace House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, Republican Christopher Licata this week switched races to run for an open Pinellas County House seat. Licata filed paperwork with the state Division of Elections to run in House District 69, which will be open next year because Rep. […]

Mitch PerryJuly 5, 2017

Florida is one of less than a handful of states that has yet to respond to the Trump administration’s election integrity commission’s request to provide extensive amounts of voter information. But before it can, several Florida Democrat lawmakers are calling on Secretary of State Ken Detzner to reject the request. Kris Kobach, the vice chairman […]

Mitch PerryJuly 3, 2017

Two weeks ago, state Rep. Janet Cruz was part of a group of Democrats angry at Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel for racially-tinged remarks made backstage at the Party’s biggest annual fundraising event. Now, the House Minority Leader from Tampa says those bitter feelings are mostly forgotten as the party looks to seize on anti-Donald Trump […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2017

It was a tough room for House Speaker Richard Corcoran. Speaking before an unfriendly crowd of public school supporters in Tampa, Corcoran doubled down on his support of an education bill that creates a new system of charter schools to replace underperforming public schools. On Thursday, Corcoran stood beside Rick Scott in Orlando as the Governor signed the controversial […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2017

Rick Scott signed SB 800, the Senate companion to House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz’s HB 1191, putting medication synchronization into law. What’s that, you ask? Many patients, especially those with chronic conditions who may have been prescribed medications from different specialized physicians, currently face various refill dates and multiple trips to the pharmacy each to maintain their prescribed […]

Mitch PerryJune 5, 2017

In 2016, Democrats targeted a handful of Florida House districts they believed they could flip from red to blue. One of them was Hillsborough County’s House District 63, where the Florida Democratic Party put some money behind Lisa Montelione in her bid to oust Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison. After a close race, Harrison ultimately prevailed, 51 to 49 […]

Staff ReportsMay 8, 2017

The Senate approved a roughly $83 billion state spending plan during a legislative overtime Monday, including a raft of conforming bills implementing House and Senate priorities on matters including public schools, colleges, and universities. The 34-4 vote sent the General Appropriations Act to the House, which later approved it on a 98-14 vote. The annual ‘sine die’ ceremony, […]

Jim RosicaMay 8, 2017

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz blasted legislative leadership’s treatment of the University of South Florida, saying the school’s achievement of state “pre-eminent” status was snatched away from it at the last moment. Language in an education conforming bill late last Friday was changed, preventing USF from pre-eminence, a status that would have qualified it for millions of […]

Jim RosicaMay 8, 2017

House members on Monday approved a measure dealing with VISIT FLORIDA and Enterprise Florida funding on a 74-34 vote. If vetoed, however, the “conforming bill” would need 80 votes to overcome Gov. Rick Scott‘s red pen. Both chambers have begun discussing the 2017-18 state budget, which wasn’t completed on time to finish the 2017 Legislative Session last Friday. […]

Tag: Janet Cruz

Janet Cruz: Hillsborough school AC issues part of much bigger problem

Christopher Licata switches to running in House District 69

Florida Democrats to Ken Detzner: Reject Trump administration’s request for private information of Florida voters

Janet Cruz reflects on racially-tinged incident at Florida Democrats gala

In Tampa, Richard Corcoran faces hostile crowd angry about school bill

Rick Scott signs Janet Cruz-sponsored bill letting patients make fewer drug store trips

Bob Buckhorn crosses party lines to help Shawn Harrison’s bid for re-election

Legislature OKs 2017-18 state budget in extended session

Janet Cruz blasts USF’s treatment in proposed budget

House OKs VISIT FLORIDA, Enterprise Florida funding cuts