Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayOctober 7, 2015

Department of Economic Opportunity head Jesse Panuccio faced a battery of pointed questions and criticism over an executive branch battle with a labor group and the state’s beleaguered unemployment system in a Wednesday meeting of a Senate budget panel. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Tourism, Transportation and Economic Development Chairman Jack Latvala had originally requested the presence […]

Ryan RayOctober 5, 2015

The Senate’s committee on Commerce & Tourism has advanced legislation to prevent companies for asking employees for their Facebook or Twitter passwords. The panel on Monday approved SB 186 sponsored by Lake Worth Sen. Jeff Clemens, which explicit prohibits employers from requiring access to the private social media accounts of workers or prospective hires. “The issue is, you’re putting […]

Ryan RaySeptember 16, 2015

In its first meeting in preparation of the 2016 regular legislative Session, a Senate committee pulled the trigger on two bills to alter Florida’s state gun statutes on Wednesday. On a so-called “campus carry” bill to allow concealed weapons into higher education facilities, a House panel shortly followed suit. First up was SB 130 sponsored […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 11, 2015

State Sen. Jeff Clemens on Friday filed a Senate companion bill (SB 258) to a piece of House legislation that aims to outlaw sexual conversion therapy on patients under 18. Conversion therapy generally refers to a course of treatment, including talk therapy, to change one’s orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Last Thursday, state Rep. David Richardson, a […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2015

The second edition of INFLUENCE Magazine should have already arrived in your mailbox. If it has not and you would like to receive a hard copy of this inside view into Florida’s news, politics, and culture, please drop me a line. As you can imagine, I’ve read everything in INFLUENCE several times, backwards and forwards. But, […]

Phil AmmannAugust 6, 2015

St. Lucie County Tax Collector Chris Craft is endorsing County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay for Florida’s 18th Congressional District. Elected as Commissioner in November, McKinlay is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, the Jupiter Democrat seeking Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat. Craft, a former County Commissioner himself, praised McKinlay for her public service, […]

Ryan RayJuly 2, 2015

Palm Beach Gardens lawyer Jonathan Chane on Thursday became the 10th candidate to formally announce intentions to succeed U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, who’s abdicating the seat to run for U.S. Senate, in Florida’s 18th Congressional District in Palm Beach County. Chane brings substantial local and Tallahassee muscle to the race: The 42-year old Democrat is […]

Ryan RayJune 29, 2015

Shelley Vana, the mayor of Florida’s third-largest county, gave the nod on Monday to Melissa McKinlay, a Palm Beach commissioner seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy in Congress. The move is a coup for McKinlay locally: Vana’s endorsement comes as other Democrats, including fellow sitting commissioner Priscilla Taylor, are also seeking to assume the 18th […]

Phil AmmannJune 23, 2015

Three Democratic state lawmakers are endorsing Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay in her bid for the Treasure Coast congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. McKinlay, who was elected in November, is running for Florida’s 18th Congressional District, as Murphy runs for Marco Rubio’s U.S. Senate seat. If elected, she will become one […]

Drew WilsonJune 21, 2015

As of June, none of the 12 Florida Senators running for reelection is facing much of a challenge — Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens is the only incumbent to draw an opponent so far, but it won’t derail him from another term. District 29 looks set as well, with Democratic Rep. Jim Waldman having a clear path to take over for outgoing Sen. Jeremy […]

Tag: Jeff Clemens
Donald Trump talks to press outside his New York trial. Image via AP.

Jack Latvala, Senate budget panel clash with DEO chief on unemployment

Social media privacy bill advances in Senate

Gun bills move forward in early committee action

Jeff Clemens files Senate version of “conversion therapy” ban

13 things I really like about the latest issue of INFLUENCE Magazine

St. Lucie County Tax Collector Chris Craft endorses Melissa McKinlay for Congress

Attorney Jonathan Chane joins crowded field to replace Patrick Murphy in U.S. House

Palm Beach County mayor endorses Melissa McKinlay’s congressional bid

3 Democratic state lawmakers endorse Melissa McKinlay for Patrick Murphy’s seat

Keep your eyes on these 8 state Senate campaigns