Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 7, 2017

Legislation providing for a review of efficiency in government procurement is making its way through the Legislature. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes’ SB 368 cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government Thursday with a unanimous and undebated yes vote. Brandes’ bill — which is accompanied in the House by Wauchula Republican Rep. Ben Albritton’s […]

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2017

At an anti-poverty conference, state Sen. Jeff Brandes said that, if possible, he thinks it could be beneficial for the Legislature to work on policies that encourage millennials to marry before having children, though he acknowledged that’s unlikely to occur. “The regulatory effects from that would be game-changing,” the St. Petersburg Republican said during the […]

Peter SchorschNovember 28, 2017

Is Florida ready to tackle poverty for a more prosperous future? That’s the subject of a new Florida Chamber of Commerce summit to address the extent of poverty — and possible solutions — throughout the Sunshine State. Starting Tuesday in Tampa, the Chamber’s inaugural “Less Poverty, Through More Prosperity Summit” features members of the business, […]

Peter SchorschNovember 28, 2017

A word of warning for Florida Democrats in 2018; be cautious about eyeing Pinellas County Sen. Jeff Brandes’ District 24 seat. After the somewhat surprising success of Rick Kriseman, who edged out former mayor Rick Baker, Florida Democrats are starting to think a “blue wave” will give them a legitimate shot at Brandes, the incumbent […]

Ana CeballosNovember 15, 2017

Some Florida lawmakers say that seeing the positive impact of criminal justice reform efforts in other states has given them new impetus to push for measures that aim to reduce the state’s prison population by giving sentences that “fit a just result.” The early bipartisan undertaking to reform the state’s criminal justice system — an […]

Peter SchorschNovember 15, 2017

There’s nothing more aggravating than seeing the Legislature finally do the right thing, only to see local authorities attempt to undermine that progress. Take, for instance, the maddening example of Florida airports and the extra fees they tack on when travelers try to leave the airport property. Since the Legislature passed uniform regulations for ridesharing […]

Mitch PerryNovember 14, 2017

Katharine Eagan, as head of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Authority, is receiving praise for embracing new technologies during her three-year tenure at the Tampa Bay area’s most significant transit agency, despite a limited budget. Now scheduled to depart the region next year for a similar job in Pittsburgh (with higher pay and more funding), the […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

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

Bill to review government efficiency sails through committee

Jeff Brandes on how criminal justice reform can address generational poverty

Florida Chamber tackles poverty with inaugural Prosperity Summit

A warning for Democrats eyeing Jeff Brandes’ SD 24 seat in 2018

Lawmakers champion efforts to reform criminal justice system

Ridesharing legislation is bringing us to the future, so why are airports still stuck in the past?

HART shows off inaugural driverless shuttle coming to Tampa next year