Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesJanuary 8, 2019

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Joe Gruters wants to stop ethics complaints from being used as political cudgels. Now the Republican state senator from Sarasota is proposing a solution that could add a layer of secrecy to the process. His bill (SB 228) would prohibit the Florida Ethics Commission from making public ethics complaints made against a candidate within 60 […]

Ryan NicolJanuary 7, 2019

A bill filed by Sen. Lauren Book to create a tax exemption for purchases of diapers and incontinence products cleared its first hurdle Monday. It emerged from the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism with unanimous approval. Committee Chair Joe Gruters and Vice Chair Victor Torres were joined by members Linda Stewart, Travis Hutson and Tom Wright […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 6, 2019

Corey Lewandowski, a former manager for President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, endorsed Christian Ziegler to become the next Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Florida. “Christian is exactly the kind of grassroots leader President Trump needs on the ground in Florida to ensure his re-election in 2020,” Lewandowski said. Ziegler, State Committeeman for Sarasota County, […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 3, 2019

Sen. Joe Gruters brings his fight against dark money to the Senate. The first-term state lawmaker filed a bill (SB 224) to stop the practice of contributions funneling through multiple political committees, his third attempt since joining the Legislature in 2016. “We have legal laundering of campaign contributions through a system so nobody can see […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 2, 2019

Could cigarette butts become a thing of the past on Florida beaches? A bill filed by state Sen. Joe Gruters would outlaw smoking on all Florida beaches. But the ACLU already has voiced concerns about how the law will be enforced. The legislation (SB 218) would penalize smokers with a $25 fine and up to 10 […]

Jacob OglesDecember 29, 2018

State Sen. Joe Gruters filed three bills Friday related to water quality and predicts the issue will dominate this year’s legislative session. “If I had to guess, I’d say the environmental bills will triple from last year,” he said. That’s because red tide dominated politics in a different way in 2018, particularly in coastal communities. […]

Jacob OglesDecember 28, 2018

Rep. Randy Fine made clear his first priority for the 2019 Legislative Session: Cleaning up the polluted Indian River Lagoon. Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, filed new legislation (HB 141) to budget $50 million in annual state matching funds for cleanup projects in the water body, which the Audubon Society says faces an “ecological crisis.” […]

Jacob OglesDecember 18, 2018

Christian Ziegler, currently the Sarasota County Republican State Committeeman, said he has racked up enough endorsements to guarantee his ascension to Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Florida. He released a list Tuesday of 121 grassroots and State Executive Committee endorsements, including Joe Gruters, the front-runner for state Chair position, and Michael Barnett, the […]

Jacob OglesDecember 10, 2018

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Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis this morning heaped praise on state Sen. Joe Gruters, Republican Party of Sarasota chair and a top contender to lead the Republican Party of Florida. “The one guy that has really come out is Joe Gruters,” DeSantis said. “He would be a great pick. We have 67 county chairmen, and Joe has really […]

Jacob OglesDecember 9, 2018

Bob Starr, Republican state committeeman for Charlotte County, has no interest in getting into a fight with the next Governor, but as he prepares to run for state chair for Republican Party of Florida, he’s more concerned with the opinions of party activists around the state. “We have to get back to where the grassroots […]

Tag: Joe Gruters

Joe Gruters wants to de-weaponize complaints lodged against candidates

Senate panel clears bill to exempt diapers from sales tax

Corey Lewandowski weighs in on Florida GOP Vice Chair race

Joe Gruters seeks to close dark money channels

Joe Gruters wants to ban smoking on state’s beaches

Joe Gruters files water quality bills ahead of session

Randy Fine seeks $50M to help Indian River Lagoon

Christian Ziegler says he has the votes to be Florida GOP Vice Chair

Ron DeSantis goes on record in support of Joe Gruters for state GOP chair

Bob Starr plans to offer alternative in race for GOP state chair