Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2017

For the second straight week, Rep. Jason Fischer and Sen. Jeff Brandes are teaming up on another ambitious pension reform bill. Last week saw the two file bills in their respective chambers that would close the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to new cities. That bill has gotten pushback already from Republicans in both […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

There are three local bills that the Duval County Legislative Delegation have to carry this session. Two of them involve relaxed restrictions for drinking. Rep. Tracie Davis will sponsor those. And one involves governance of the Duval County School Board, a subject that inspires drinking. Rep. Jason Fischer, an alumnus of the school board, will sponsor […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

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Jacksonville’s big legislative accomplishment in the 2016 session was getting an unprecedented bill through Tallahassee, one which would allow the city to access the guaranteed revenue from a future sales tax extension, once it closed one of its three pension plans. As collective bargaining continues between the city and its unions, the 2017 session also […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 27, 2017

Jacksonville Bold is back with a new format. Here we will offer our take on 10 of Northeast Florida’s biggest stories — beyond the blow-by-blow — explaining, as ever, why something is happening. And why it’s important. This edition will take readers inside issues related to the city’s legislative priorities, the Human Rights Ordinance debate, […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 26, 2017

How bad was Hurricane Matthew for Northeast Florida? Here’s the take of one Jacksonville Republican, Rep. Jason Fischer. “Last fall, Hurricane Matthew crawled up the coast of Florida, hitting Northeast Florida particularly hard. Some of my constituents lost power for almost a full week following the storm,” Fischer noted. With that example in mind, Fischer filed […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2017

As with the morning collective bargaining session with the city’s fire union, the city of Jacksonville’s afternoon session with the police union saw a sweetened offer for police and corrections. But with the sweet comes the sour. The Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police held firm to the #YesToFRS position for new hires … and opened […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2017

On Monday, a political ally of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry filed a bill that would close the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to new cities. This is particularly relevant to Jacksonville’s police and fire unions, both of which want to see new hires put in the FRS defined benefit plan as a condition of collective bargaining. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2017

Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri made his position clear Tuesday relative to legislation closing the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to new cities. The legislation, said Hazouri, is “dead on arrival.” [Worth noting: there is a House and Senate version of this bill. Rep. Jason Fischer filed House Bill 353, while Jeff Brandes filed Senate Bill 428. Each bill […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

House Bill 353 and Senate Bill 428, filed on Monday, would foreclose enrollment in the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to any city not currently involved. While the defined contribution arm of FRS would be open to new municipal entrants, the defined benefit option would not. The bill was filed in the Florida House by Jacksonville Republican […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

Earlier on Monday, FloridaPolitics.com reported on bills filed in both chambers of the Florida Legislature that would foreclose the defined benefit plan of the Florida Retirement System to new municipalities. This bill is especially topical in Northeast Florida because a major sticking point in collective bargaining between the city of Jacksonville and its police and fire […]

Tag: Jason Fischer

Jeff Brandes, Jason Fischer team up to reform local pensions

Duval Delegation talks local bills, hears from Melissa Nelson

Pushback emerges against bill closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

Jacksonville Bold for 01.27.17 – Back in business

Florida House mulls tax breaks for early-season storm prep

Jacksonville, police union haggle over body cameras, pensions

Jacksonville offers seven year agreement to firefighters in collective bargaining

Tommy Hazouri: FRS reform legislation is ‘dead on arrival’

Legislature mulls closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

Jacksonville mayor ‘not surprised’ by FRS reform legislation