Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorApril 27, 2017

Florida’s Everglades is an American iconic national park known and revered throughout the world for its biodiversity. Floridians, regardless where they live, must join together to protect and restore this treasure before the Everglades reaches a point of no return. The Everglades is home to thousands of plant and animal species and draws millions of […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

Rick Scott did not look like he was negotiating. The governor fired a shot over the bow of the Legislature, all but demanding full funding in the state budget for his 2017-18 priorities: $200 million to begin fixing the dike at Lake Okeechobee, $100 million for VISIT FLORIDA, and salvaging Enterprise Florida from House Speaker […]

Peter SchorschApril 27, 2017

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There is a deal. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron announced a settlement Thursday on the major points of difference between their chambers on an $83 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, and appointed conference committee members to work out the details. The conferees were to begin work […]

Peter SchorschApril 25, 2017

Updated 2:45 p.m. — The House has sent over an offer and the Senate is reviewing, according to staffers in both chambers. — After teetering toward a late-session meltdown, the bones of a roughly $83 billion 2017-18 state budget are in place, according to three sources close to Gov. Rick Scott‘s office and several lobbyists familiar with […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

A bill that looks to “un-muddy” the mission of Florida’s main environmental land acquisition program could potentially affect the plan for an Everglades reservoir. A House bill brought forth Monday by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican with close ties to House leadership, was passed unanimously by a House panel. Caldwell wants to alter what projects […]

Gary FineoutApril 24, 2017

With time running out in this year’s regular session, Florida’s legislative leaders are at a stalemate over a new state budget and are starting to lash out at one another over the breakdown. The first but crucial round of negotiations between the House and Senate fell apart on Sunday. The session is scheduled to end […]

Staff ReportsApril 21, 2017

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto said she believes Frank Artiles’ decision to resign was the “best decision for himself and his family.” Benacquisto, the Fort Myers Republican who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, said Sen. Perry Thurston has withdrawn his complaint against Artiles, and as such “no further action on the part of the part of the […]

Staff ReportsApril 21, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron said former Sen. Frank Artiles made the “right decision” to resign. The Miami-area Republican resigned his seat Friday rather than face a hearing that could have resulted in his explusion from the Senate. “Senator Artiles made the right decision,” ,” said Negron in a statement. “As Senator Artiles has noted, he […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 20, 2017

A lawyer representing a state senator who could be punished for using a racial slur and other vulgarities said Thursday that the remarks — as offensive as they were — are protected by free speech and that other senators have used similar language. Tallahassee attorney Steve Andrews wrote to the Senate lawyer reviewing the case […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2017

The head of the NAACP Florida State Conference is calling for state Sen. Frank Artiles to step down. The organization “stands fully behind the Florida Legislative Black Caucus … and several groups who have called for the resignation of Miami Senator Frank Artiles,” said Adora Obi Nweze, president of Florida’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. […]

Tag: Joe Negron

Bob Martinez, Dominic Calabro: The time is now to address the Everglades crisis

Rick Scott demands full funding for tourism, development

Budget deal struck, House and Senate leaders appoint conferees

State budget deal struck? Jack Latvala says, ‘no,’ but…

Florida Forever bill could affect Everglades reservoir plan

Legislature at stalemate over new state budget

Lizbeth Benacquisto: Frank Artiles made the ‘best decision for himself and his family, his constitutes, and the Florida Senate’

Joe Negron: Frank Artiles ‘made the right decision’

Lawyer: Frank Artiles’ racial slurs offensive, but also free speech

Florida’s NAACP joins those calling for Frank Artiles’ resignation