Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

House Bill 353 and Senate Bill 428, filed on Monday, would foreclose enrollment in the Florida Retirement System’s defined benefit plan to any city not currently involved. While the defined contribution arm of FRS would be open to new municipal entrants, the defined benefit option would not. The bill was filed in the Florida House by Jacksonville Republican […]

William PatrickJanuary 23, 2017

It’s a vicious circle: Poor people who can’t afford their court-related costs and penalties incur escalating costs for not paying, further indebting them to the state. “It’s a circle that some people get stuck in and they can’t get out,” Christopher Torres, a Tallahassee defense attorney and former Florida assistant attorney general, told Watchdog.org. Compounding the problem is […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 23, 2017

It’s going to be a busy few weeks for Florida Republicans. House Majority announced fundraising events for seven House Republicans, all of which are running for re-election in 2018, between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20. The fundraising kicks off on Tuesday with an event for Rep. Bob Cortes. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2017

Online car services such as Uber and Lyft got a preliminary win in Florida after favorable legislation was filed Wednesday in the Legislature. The bills (SB 340 and HB 221), which would apply to ridebooking companies like Uber and Lyft, combine parts of previous measures that have been introduced but not passed over the last few years. Still, “transportation […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2017

Republican state Senator Jeff Brandes is once again filing a bill that would prevent Floridians from having their driver’s licenses suspended for a reason unrelated to a driving violation. The legislation would reduce the number of offenses for which license suspension is prescribed and prohibit suspensions for those who show in court an inability to pay fines and fees. St. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 5, 2017

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman filed for re-election Thursday. “I’m asking the citizens of St. Petersburg to continue the progress of the past three years,” the mayor said in a statement. “Working together, we’ve taken on the serious issues and made a positive impact in all corners of our city.” The announcement comes nearly three years to […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 3, 2017

Senator Jeff Brandes has filed a new bill, SB 228, that would create a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program in the Florida Department of Health. The POLSTs are documents provided to specify directions on patients with terminal conditions. Brandes’ bill establishes a laundry list of small rules and regulations to cement the way […]

Mitch PerryDecember 20, 2016

At a town-hall meeting in Tampa’s Ybor City, newly-elected Senate District 19 Democrat Darryl Rouson said he feels that, finally, a serious attempt at criminal justice reform is going to take place in the Florida Legislature in 2017. “It’s my intention to change the Black Caucus this year so that all 28 members … really stand up […]

Mitch PerryDecember 20, 2016

Among the 2017 priorities that the Hillsborough County Regional Transit Authority’s government liaison, Cesar Hernandez told board members on Monday, one would be to continue to push for anything that can push autonomous vehicle technology forward in the new year. In case you’re not familiar with the whole driverless car concept, you should know that the Sunshine State, led by […]

Mitch PerryDecember 16, 2016

The troubled Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission received a terminal diagnosis Friday after members of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation voted unanimously for a local bill that would eliminate the agency on December 31, 2017. After that, the County Commission would pick up its regulatory duties. “The public has lost complete faith in the ability of this […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Legislature mulls closing FRS defined benefit plan to new cities

Proposed legislation could break the cycle of debt for many caught in Florida’s legal system

Lawmakers look to raise money during upcoming legislative committee meeting weeks

Legislation covering Uber, Lyft filed for 2017

Jeff Brandes’ legislation would reform why state suspends driver’s licenses

Rick Kriseman formally announces he’s running for re-election

New Jeff Brandes bill creates program for Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment in Department of Health

At town hall in Ybor City, Darryl Rouson says climate is good for “true” criminal justice reform

Mitch Perry Report for 12.20.16 – Our driverless future?

Hillsborough County PTC may be on way out after local delegation approves bill to kill it