Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2017

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority took its best shot Thursday at defending its decisions to throw out five proposals and accept the remaining one for a $511 million contract, a move that has drawn stern criticism from several state leaders including Gov. Rick Scott. Among the biggest critics has been state Sen. Jeff Brandes, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

As at least one key lawmaker pushes to open Florida’s coming medical marijuana industry to a free market and the current seven licensed companies fight to keep it tight, a new advocacy group is emerging saying it wants to help develop a middle ground. Smart Medicine For Florida will be pushing for regulations that would assure quality, safety, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

The operators of South Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter train are sticking to their guns, defending their process that disqualified five of six bidders for a half-billion dollar contract, and hoping to win back angry state leaders who want to cut their state funding over the matter. “Right now, we’re moving forward. We followed a process, and we […]

William PatrickFebruary 14, 2017

On the same day an Uber- and Lyft-friendly ridesharing bill passed its first committee stop in the Florida House, state Sen. Jeff Brandes was presenting his vision of where he believes the transportation industry is headed. “We’re in a generational shift from the horse and buggy to the Model-T,” Brandes said Wednesday evening at the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 10, 2017

A Senate bill filed this week would create a task force to address the state’s affordable housing needs. The bill (SB 854), filed Friday by Sen. Jeff Brandes, would create an affordable housing task force assigned to the Florida Housing Finance Corp. According to the St. Petersburg Republican’s proposal, the task force would be charged […]

Scott PowersFebruary 10, 2017

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Never mind who’s running for Governor in 2018, Floridians want to know which Republicans are in the running for Florida Chief Financial Officer now that CFO Jeff Atwater announced he is leaving this year, with speculation starting with Tom Grady, Tom Lee, Will Weatherford and Teresa Jacobs and including seven or eight others. Grady, a securities lawyer who is a former state representative who also has held several […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2017

Sanford House Republican Jason Brodeur announced Thursday he filed a bill related to autonomous vehicles. HB 275 would streamline the process for rue self-driving vehicles on public roads in Florida. “With more than 90 percent of crashes in 2015 being the result of human error, autonomous vehicles have the potential to eliminate this error and transform the way […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

A Florida House committee advanced a bill Wednesday to implement statewide regulations on ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft. Sponsored by Republicans Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor and Jamie Grant of Tampa, HB 221 addresses issues that have been vexing state lawmakers for the last three Sessions. If passed, drivers would need to carry insurance coverage worth $50,000 for […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

Patients, caregivers and activists offered emotional – and often searing – testimony Wednesday in a Tampa workshop held by the state office that regulates medical marijuana. In a standing-room-only meeting for the Office of Compassionate Use, they discussed proposed rules on medical marijuana that could go into effect later this year. The agency’s rule-making workshop […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott’s favored economic incentive program – the Quick Action Closing Fund (QAC) – is now losing money, the Legislature’s chief economist told a Senate panel Wednesday. The QAC is a pot of cash that Scott can draw up to $2 million from without legislative approval to entice businesses to the state. But though […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Shawnta Friday-Stroud. Image via FAMU.

Tri-Rail defends its $500M contract before Senate committee

New group seeks to steer medical marijuana between control, free market

Tri-Rail sticking with, defending, controversial $500M, one-bid contract

Ridesharing bills could pave the way for transformational changes

Jeff Brandes files bill to create affordable housing task force

Jeff Atwater’s surprise departure makes CFO job the hottest in state

Jason Brodeur introduces autonomous vehicle legislation in Florida House

House advances bill for statewide ride-sharing regulations

At medical marijuana hearing in Tampa, citizens blast proposed rules

Rick Scott’s favorite business incentive is losing money, Senate hears