Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 16, 2017

More than three-quarters of Florida’s corrections officers have less than two years’ experience. In some state prisons, a single CO will be left alone to supervise 150-200 inmates in a jail block. Contraband has become so bad, one random search of (just half) a Dade facility turned up $15,000 in street value of cocaine, seven knives, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

There are a number of bills floating in the Florida Legislature this year that deal with criminal justice reform, but one that has law enforcement completely flummoxed is a bill that would remove their discretion to charge a minor regarding a variety of first-time offenses. Miami Republican Senator Anitere Flores‘ bill (SB 196) requires a law enforcement […]

Staff ReportsMarch 14, 2017

The Senate Banking & Insurance Committee approved a bill to regulate transportation network companies, like Uber and Lyft. The bill establishes minimum insurance requirements, requires background screenings and includes consumer protection provisions. Stephanie Smith, senior manager, public policy for Uber Technologies: “The bipartisan vote in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee is another step toward […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2017

Legislation to provide statewide regulations for transportation network companies (TNC’s) advanced in its latest committee stop in the Florida Senate Tuesday. St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes‘ bill (SB 340) received only two votes in opposition in clearing the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, though there were substantial concerns expressed about funding for paratransit that animated the debate. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 13, 2017

A raft of bills that would reform Florida’s criminal justice system sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes were approved by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee Monday. That included legislation that would create a criminal justice task force (SB 458) consisting of 27 members that would take a “holistic” review of the state’s criminal justice system, including (but […]

Mitch PerryMarch 13, 2017

St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes has amended his ridesharing bill (SB 340) that has been moving its way through the Florida Senate. Among those changes include authorizing seaports to impose pickup fees on rideshare drivers when picking up or dropping riders from seaports, as long as they do not exceed what that particular port is charging […]

Peter SchorschMarch 13, 2017

Late last month, former state Sen. John Legg announced that he would not attempt to return to the Legislature in 2018. Had he run, Legg’s best path to victory was thought to be through north Pinellas’ Senate District 16, where incumbent Jack Latvala is term-limited from running again. The person who benefits the most from Legg not […]

Joe HendersonMarch 13, 2017

Rick Scott went to Tallahassee in 2011 as an outsider. He often has operated like one as well, and not always in a good way. In a private company, stubborn employees can get fired for standing up to the boss. In politics, though, defiance can be considered a virtue. Eventually, people who vow to run […]

Mitch PerryMarch 12, 2017

Broward Democrat Jeremy Ring isn’t officially a candidate for Chief Financial Officer, but he talked the part during a stop in Tampa on Friday. Speaking at the Oxford Exchange as part of the Cafe Con Tampa weekly event, the former Yahoo executive introduced himself to the audience by humble-bragging about his private sector background, describing himself […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2017

Not surprisingly, Donald Trump hasn’t been too keen on hiring those associated with the “Never Trump” movement of conservative policy who surfaced in last year’s presidential campaign. The most glaring example of this is the case of former State Department official Elliott Abrams. A meeting between the two last month reportedly went well, according to CNN. Ultimately, though, Trump opted not […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
State Sen. Vic Torres at U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost event before the collapse. Photo via Jacob Ogles.

Florida prison chief: State losing corrections staff to ‘Wal-Mart,’ creating insecurity in system

Law enforcement says Anitere Flores’ civil citations proposal still ‘a non-starter’

Capitol Reax: Uber, Lyft, PCI, and the League of Southeastern Credit Unions sound off on the day’s news

Bill regulating ride-sharing in Florida advances in Senate Committee

Criminal justice reform task force and other reform bills advance in Florida Senate

Jeff Brandes amends ridesharing bill in Florida Senate

This fundraising invitation from Ed Hooper has me worried

Joe Henderson: After Enterprise Florida fight, Rick Scott has little political capital left

In Tampa, potential CFO candidate Jeremy Ring tells his story

Could anti-Donald Trump quotes hurt Pat Neal’s chances of becoming CFO?