Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 22, 2018

There’s one event for which this proud St. Petersburg native will always cross the bridge. It’s Robert and Nancy Watkins‘ party, held in conjunction with the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza, an alcohol-free event celebrating the pirates’ return to Tampa Bay. Gasparilla is an annual celebration that began in 1904. Held each year in late January or early February, […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 16, 2018

A four-volume, plain-spoken treatise on criminal justice reform is available to the public and it’s already caught the eyes of some legislators looking to reform Florida’s criminal justice system. “Reforming Criminal Justice” recently was published by the Academy for Justice, a group of 120 leading criminal justice scholars representing some of the best higher education […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 15, 2018

A Senate panel on Tuesday will consider two measures that would provide more oversight to the state’s juvenile justice system, which is under scrutiny for its widespread use of unnecessary and excessive force on youth detainees. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Pinellas County Republican who chairs a powerful criminal justice committee, is sponsoring both bills and […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 10, 2018

In the wake of recent high-profile data breaches compromising the information of thousands of Floridians, legislators and cabinet members on Wednesday advocated for two bills that would eliminate credit report freeze fees for consumers. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam are backing two measures proposed in the Legislature, which they say […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 9, 2018

A Senate panel on Tuesday advanced a bill that would grant people immunity for carrying small amounts of drugs if they seek medical help for an overdose. The proposal applies to individuals who are found in possession of any drug, including fentanyl and illicit opioids, if they ask for medical assistance in “good faith” when […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 4, 2018

Sen. Jeff Brandes filed a bill Wednesday that would toss a controversial “certificate of need” hospital regulatory process as the House fast-tracks an identical bill. House Republican leaders and Gov. Rick Scott, a former hospital CEO, have long supported repealing the “certificate of need,” but the effort has stalled in the Senate. This year, though, the […]

Ana CeballosDecember 28, 2017

A pair of criminal justice reform proposals are laying out an ambitious plan that could reduce crime and incarceration rates in Florida by implementing pre-arrest diversion programs statewide. Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican from St. Petersburg, filed a bill on Thursday that would direct all judicial circuits in the state to create and implement both […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 15, 2017

New-Florida-Licenses_1500976290579_63344027_ver1.0_640_480.png

No one should lose their driver’s license over an infraction that isn’t related to driving. That’s the premise of a bill (SB 1270) filed Friday by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. “It is time to address the growing problem of non-driving related license suspensions,” Brandes said in a press release announcing the bill. “Stop the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2017

It’s time to deal with privacy in the age of Alexa, Sen. Jeff Brandes says. The St. Petersburg Republican has filed legislation (SB 1256) to protect the expectation of privacy in the use of cell phones and other microphone-enabled household devices. The surge in sales of “smart speakers” like Amazon’s Echo, with its “Alexa” cloud-based voice service, […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2017

democrats-revere-linda-sarsour-terrorist-apologist-trump-hatred-unites.jpg

Linda Sarsour, national co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, has endorsed Ahmad Saadaldin in the House District 58 race in Hillsborough County taking place Dec. 19. “Temple Terrace Seffner Plant City Thonotosassa LISTEN UP. VOTE for Hussam Ahmad for State House,” Sarsour wrote on her Facebook page Tuesday. “There are only 5 days left of voting. […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes

Pirates got me thinking: The Gasparilla parade and Florida politics

Criminal justice report given to legislators will guide reform

Senate panel to consider juvenile ‘Fight Club’ reforms

After high-profile data breaches, legislators want to toss credit freeze fees

Florida could grant legal immunity for reporting drug overdoses

Senator files ‘certificate of need’ repeal bill, identical to House priority

Florida could soon implement pre-arrest diversion programs statewide

Bill seeks to prevent driver’s license suspensions in non-driving offenses

Jeff Brandes wants privacy protection for Echo, Google Home

Women’s March national co-chair backs Ahmad Saadaldin for HD 58