Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2017

Closing the book on 2017, among the most notable political battles centered on Lake Okeechobee water issues. While lawmakers reached a compromise earlier in the year, this food fight may be far from over. Last Session, environmental activists, working with Senate President Joe Negron, hammered out a bill that (at one point) called for buying […]

Drew WilsonDecember 18, 2017

Sebring Republican Sen. Denise Grimsley will get a fundraising boost for her campaign to succeed Adam Punam as Commissioner of Agriculture at an event set for the morning of Jan. 9. The breakfast fundraiser is set for 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The early morning start allows Grimsley to collect funds for the Cabinet race […]

Peter SchorschDecember 13, 2017

Environmental group Audubon Florida presented Senate President Joe Negron with an award Tuesday recognizing his “steadfast leadership” in Everglades restoration. Negron earned the “Champion of the Everglades” award for a bill he ushered through the legislature earlier this past session that mandated the construction of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee to reduce discharges to […]

Ana CeballosDecember 12, 2017

The Senate has spent nearly $25,000 in taxpayer money on outside attorneys in connection to the sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, according to Senate records. In mid-November, Senate President Joe Negron hired a trio of attorneys from the GrayRobinson law firm to help him navigate the investigation into sexual harassment and groping allegations […]

Peter SchorschDecember 6, 2017

There is a scene in the always-watchable movie “The Late Shift” — a behind-the-scenes look at the network politics that embroil television executives responsible for late-night programming after 1991’s retirement announcement of Johnny Carson — in which Tonight Show producer Peter Lassally (played by Steven Gilborn) has a come-to-Jesus conversation with David Letterman in which […]

Peter SchorschDecember 4, 2017

Nicole Hagerty is joining the 2018 Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee’s (FRSCC) in-house Finance Team as Director of Finance, Senate President-designate Bill Galvano said in an email. The FRSCC is the main fundraising panel supporting GOP state Senate campaigns. Also, Kelly Schmidt is becoming Deputy Director of Finance and Matthew Yost will be Director of Member Fundraising, Galvano said. They will work with Nancy […]

Ana CeballosNovember 30, 2017

The Florida Senate employee who sparked a Senate sexual harassment investigation against Sen. Jack Latvala called Senate President Joe Negron a “douchebag” during a text message exchange last Session with the Pinellas lawmaker. Rachel Perrin Rogers, a top aide to Republican Majority Leader Wilton Simpson, was texting Latvala when news broke in April about ousted […]

Jim RosicaNovember 28, 2017

Business interests brought out a panoply of former state officials, judges and others Tuesday to heap criticism on a proposed state constitutional amendment to expand the right to bring environmental-related lawsuits. But one environmental advocate countered there was no potential for a “parade of horribles” to come out of the amendment. The Florida Chamber of […]

Peter SchorschNovember 22, 2017

From the soup kitchens of Tallahassee to the conch houses of Key West, from the toniest mansions in Coral Gables to the double wides in Dixie County, people from all walks of life will sit down to celebrate the most American of holidays: Thanksgiving. “Americans traditionally recognize the ‘first’ Thanksgiving as having taken place at […]

Ana CeballosNovember 21, 2017

Sen. Jack Latvala has learned the name of the woman formally accusing him of sexual harassment, but he and his legal team agreed to respect her anonymity after striking a deal with investigators. The special master investigating the Senate Rules Committee complaint handed a copy to the Clearwater Republican’s attorneys late last week in exchange […]

Tag: Joe Negron
Mike Waltz decries the 'trench warfare' of the Ukrainian/Russia conflict.

Never satisfied, environmentalists should just take the win for Lake O reservoir

Senate leaders to raise money for Denise Grimsley on Jan. 9

Joe Negron named ‘Champion of the Everglades’

Senate spends $25K on outside attorneys for Jack Latvala probe

Et tu, Lauren Book

Personnel note: Nicole Hagerty on board at FRSCC

Text messages shed light on working relationship between Jack Latvala, accuser

Business interests lambaste environmental amendment

What Florida’s political elite should be thankful for

Jack Latvala now knows accuser’s name, agrees to keep it secret