Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonSeptember 17, 2015

Jeb Bush said during Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate that Donald Trump wanted casino gambling in Florida. Trump said “I did not.” “I promise, if I wanted it, I would have gotten it,” Trump told Bush during the exchange. Bush replied, “No way, man.” But the fact is, Trump wanted it and didn’t get it […]

Diane RobertsSeptember 17, 2015

Near the end of the latest televised dork parade billed as a “Republican Debate,” CNN’s Jake Tapper asked each candidate what her or his Secret Service code name should be. “Secretariat,” whinnied Carly Fiorina. “Humble,” hollered Donald Trump. “Gator!” said Marco Rubio. Sigh. Marcocito received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida after a […]

Jim RosicaAugust 31, 2015

If “self-interested partisans” can’t agree on congressional redistricting, then it’s time for an independent commission to redraw the state’s political boundary lines, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said on Monday. Nelson, who met with a small of group of reporters in his Tallahassee office, referred to the recent Special Session called for lawmakers to draw a new map […]

Ryan RayAugust 19, 2015

Palm Coast Sen. Travis Hutson filed a bill Wednesday that would create a separate, more severe class of penalties for Floridians who commit crimes while in the country illegally. Hutson’s bill — SB 150 — would enhance the penalties for crimes that fall under one of several statutory categories of violent crimes, if the offense is […]

Peter SchorschAugust 14, 2015

As Southern Strategy Group grows its empire around the country, it continued to post gaudy lobbying figures in Tallahassee: the firm collected an estimated $3.1 million in consulting fees last quarter, according to a compensation report submitted Friday. SSG took in some $2.3 million from 241 legislative lobbying clients and reported $800,000 in fees from […]

Guest AuthorJuly 30, 2015

This has to be the most on-its-face absurd comparison, but circumstances make it an apt one: Former Florida A&M University President Frederick Humphries is officially the Jimmy Carter of former FAMU presidents. This is not the Jimmy Carter of Habitat Humanity, Sunday school lessons in primitive Georgia churches, or the former president who’s trying permanently […]

Mitch PerryJuly 29, 2015

This-North-Carolina-college-campus-had-a-gun-free-zone-sign-but-this-criminal-ignored-it-1024x1024.jpg

Many higher education officials, teachers and parents cheered this year when a single Florida GOP senator killed proposed legislation that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry guns on Florida college and university campuses. Although the bill cleared three committees in the House and two in the Senate, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Miguel Diaz […]

Julie DelegalJune 15, 2015

State Rep. Mia Jones tried. In the spirit of compromise, the Democrat from Jacksonville moved right to embrace the health care-expansion plan backed by the Florida Senate: the Florida Healthcare Affordability Insurance Exchange, aka FHIX. Jones told The Jacksonville Times-Union that she had set aside her doubts about the plan and would “stand on the […]

Ryan RayMay 12, 2015

Republican Rep. Paul Renner may have just joined the Florida House, but he’s already getting a taste of the “permanent campaign” that characterizes the chamber. After officially taking office in an April 7 swearing-in ceremony with Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, another electoral beneficiary of the long tail of Sen. John Thrasher‘s exit from the Legislature to head […]

Ryan RayApril 12, 2015

Fresh off easy general election victories in special elections to fill vacancies left in the wake of former Sen. John Thrasher‘s move from the Legislature to the helm of Florida State University, three newly minted legislators representing the northeastern corner of Florida received their committee assignments this week. Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, who replaced Thrasher in Senate […]

Tag: John Thrasher

Donald Trump tells Jeb Bush he didn’t want Florida casino, but he did

Diane Roberts: Marcocito, Secret Service code names and the Gators

Bill Nelson on redistricting: ‘Time for an independent commission’

Travis Hutson files bill to increase criminal penalties for undocumented Floridians

Southern Strategy Group hauls in $3.1 million in second quarter lobbying fees

Chris Timmons: A FAMU ex-president and a Jimmy Carter comparison

Guns-on-campuses bill coming back to Florida Legislature in 2016

Julie Delegal: Health care defeated by politics of personal resentment

Paul Renner gears up ahead of 2016 re-election bid

New NE Florida lawmakers receive committee assignments