Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2017

Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto has appointed the chamber’s top lawyer to investigate a complaint by next Tuesday seeking to remove Sen. Frank Artiles from office. Senate President Joe Negron announced the move Wednesday in a memo to senators. Benacquisto “found that the complaint states facts supporting a finding of probable cause,” meaning it’s more likely […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Florida Democratic Minority House Leader Janet Cruz is calling for Miami Republican Sen. Frank Artiles to step down, following the outrage over published remarks of his racist comments to black Democratic lawmakers. “Frank Artiles’ comments Monday night transcend politics and get to the idea of who we are as people,” said the Tampa Representative in a statement issued late […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Surrounded by fellow black and Democratic lawmakers, Sen. Perry Thurston announced Wednesday he had filed a complaint to remove fellow Sen. Frank Artiles from the Senate. In a move sure to send chills through the Capitol’s lobbying corps, he suggested influencers who were within earshot when Artiles went on his tirade in the private Governors […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Andrew Gillum is refusing to forgive Miami Republican Frank Artiles, who apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday for using the N-word toward two black lawmakers. The Tallahassee mayor, an African-American who is running for governor next year, says Artiles needs to resign from the Florida Senate. “We have struggled with days when these words were too common,” Gillum […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Democratic Sen. Perry Thurston on Wednesday said “there will be consequences” for fellow Sen. Frank Artiles after he spouted insults and used a form of a racial epithet in front of Thurston and Sen. Audrey Gibson Monday night. “We’ve got a (Legislative Black) Caucus meeting” later today, Thurston said. “After that, I’m sure there will […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 19, 2017

As the sordid story of Sen. Frank Artiles’ Monday night rant, replete with racist and sexist phrases, continues to develop, Florida Senate President Joe Negron issued a punitive action Wednesday morning. Negron removed Artiles from his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities. Kelli Stargel will replace Artiles. ___ Negron took his time […]

Peter SchorschApril 19, 2017

My father-in-law being a U.S. Marine, I’ve learned not to use the past tense to describe his service. Even at 67 years old, my father-in-law is a Marine, not was a Marine. Republican state Senate Frank Artiles is a Marine, not was a Marine. Volunteering to serve our country shows Artiles has far more courage than I’ve […]

Rosanne DunkelbergerApril 17, 2017

In the venue where newly qualified, but unlikely, candidate Rick Scott introduced himself to Tallahassee in 2010 and another potential gubernatorial candidate, John Morgan, came to visit in February, Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala paid a visit Monday to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. While rumors swirl about Latvala’s possible 2018 run for Florida’s top […]

Staff ReportsApril 12, 2017

An Everglades reservoir bill pushed by Senate President Joe Negron passed the state’s upper chamber Wednesday, with state Rep. Matt Caldwell saying the House will take the $1.5 billion plan “seriously.” “This gives us a great starting point,” Caldwell, chair of the House Government Accountability Committee, told POLITICO Florida. “We’ve been waiting to see what […]

Staff ReportsApril 4, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron appears ready to compromise in order to get a top priority through the Legislature. On Tuesday, Sen. Rob Bradley filed a wide-sweeping amendment to a bill (SB 10) that would, among other things, set aside money for water storage south of Lake Okeechobee, a top priority for Negron. The amendment essentially […]

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Image via WUFT News.

Senate sets tight timeline on Frank Artiles investigation

Janet Cruz latest Democrat to call for Frank Artiles resignation

Black lawmaker seeks to remove Frank Artiles from Senate

Andrew Gillum: Frank Artiles needs to go

Perry Thurston says ‘there will be consequences’ for Frank Artiles

Frank Artiles dropped as Senate committee chair

Of course, Frank Artiles should resign. Does the Senate have the steel to make that happen?

House ‘assault’ derails Senate, budget chief Jack Latvala tells Tiger Bay

Matt Caldwell: House will take Senate Everglades bill ‘seriously’

Senate proposes compromise over plan to build Everglades reservoir