Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2015

Sen. Jeff Brandes‘ SB 934, which preempts local governments from creating labor agreements with contractors containing certain wage, residency or diversity requirements, found an unlikely “No” vote in Senate Community Affairs this afternoon: Brandes himself. The vote was part of a legislative maneuver undertaken by Brandes to bring his bill back from the dead. After […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Wow, talk about a gaggle. If you want a good understanding of what separates the House and Senate as the session approaches the midpoint check out this exchange between Sen. Tom Lee and a gaggle of reporters including the AP, The Palm Beach Post, The Tampa Tribune and the Times/Herald Capitol Bureau. It’s the best gaggle of the session so […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 18, 2015

A controversial gun bill filed by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes has advanced in the Senate. Senate Bill 290 would allow people who don’t have concealed carry permits in Florida to carry firearms on their person during a mandatory evacuation. A similar bill died in the Senate this past year. Brandes made some changes to his […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 18, 2015

A controversial gun bill filed by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes has advanced in the Senate. Senate Bill 290 would allow people who don’t have concealed carry permits in Florida to carry firearms on their person during a mandatory evacuation. A similar bill died in the Senate this past year. Brandes made some changes to his […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Florida for Care declared Wednesday a Day of Compassion at the state capitol. More than 20 supporters of two medicinal marijuana bills fanned out across the Capitol Complex early Wednesday to lobby lawmakers on behalf of HB 683 and SB 528. “They came from all over the state,” said Kari Hicks of Florida For Care. “There are people […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 17, 2015

A compassionate bill aimed at patients suffering from terminal illnesses pushed its way through the Senate Committee on Health Policy today. The Right to Try Act by St. Petersburg State Senator Jeff Brandes earned broad support in the committee. The law would allow dying patients to access experimental medical treatments that have passed a Phase One Clinical Trial, but […]

Ryan RayMarch 16, 2015

Editor’s note: As the 2015 Legislative Session kicks into high gear, FloridaPolitics.com is continuing to report on several “legislative food fights” during the annual lawmaking period. These kerfuffles don’t always make the front page of the traditional media outlets, but they are the kind of industry vs. industry or intra-industry turf battles that drive Tallahassee — […]

Ryan RayMarch 16, 2015

Editor’s note: As the 2015 Legislative Session kicks into high gear, FloridaPolitics.com is continuing to report on several “legislative food fights” during the annual lawmaking period. These kerfuffles don’t always make the front page of the traditional media outlets, but they are the kind of industry vs. industry or intra-industry turf battles that drive Tallahassee — […]

James CallMarch 15, 2015

At the state Capitol this week the budget begins to take shape and Rep. Richard Corcoran increasingly becomes the man to watch. By the end of the week the Senate will have released its budget allocation and Corcoran and Sen. Tom Lee, the two chambers’ appropriation chairs, will move closer to center stage as a spending plan begins […]

Mitch PerryMarch 12, 2015

On Monday, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported that the Florida Cannabis Action Network was now “developing a 2016 voter initiative to legalize marijuana, based on the likelihood that the Florida Legislature will be unwilling to create a comprehensive medical-only program in coming weeks.” Uh, not exactly, says FCAN executive director Jodi James. “The ballot initiative idea […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes

Local government labor contracts bill narrowly cheats death

The day that was in Florida politics — March 18

Jeff Brandes’ concealed carry gun bill moves through Senate

Jeff Brandes' concealed carry gun bill moves through Senate

Florida for Care walking Capitol halls today for medicinal marijuana

Jeff Brandes Right to Try Act bill clears Health Policy committee

Where does sh*t stand — the "legislative food fights" edition

Where does sh*t stand — the “legislative food fights” edition

The week ahead in Florida politics

No, FCAN isn't about to pursue a pot legalization amendment