Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

If you entered an elevator in the Capitol Thursday, you might have spotted a piece of paper resembling a wanted poster bearing the pixelated photo of a smiling woman. “Senator Kevin Rader would like to know… Where is ‘Concerned Citizen’ Mary Beth Wilson,” the letter-sized document announced. Surrounding the photo were six red question marks […]

Florence SnyderApril 17, 2017

One hour isn’t much time for a Senate subcommittee “confirmation hearing” on the heads of the agencies as important to “health and human services” as the Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration. But that’s what Health and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Anitere Flores allotted, and not one second longer. So, you’d think […]

Florence SnyderApril 2, 2017

“Foster care kids are our kids. They are our kids,” said Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Kevin Rader in support of legislation making it easier for youth in state custody to obtain a driver’s license. You hear that line a lot — a lot — from “leadership” at the Department of Children & Families (DCF), and […]

William PatrickMarch 30, 2017

From smartphones to smart cities. The next generation of wireless connectivity will require enough signal coverage to support the exploding demand for consumer data use, and innovative new technologies such as driverless cars. But it will take a massive influx of wireless communications infrastructure to achieve, according to Beth Cooley, state legislative affairs director for […]

Scott PowersMarch 27, 2017

A bill that would essentially ban Florida cities and counties from regulating the locations or appearances of the next generation technology cell phone towers was approved by a Florida House committee Monday afternoon, but with some expectations that key provisions may be renegotiated. With backers contending that Florida needs to allow swift installation of 5G […]

Drew WilsonMarch 13, 2017

Democratic Sen. Kevin Rader called on the Florida Senate officially oppose a United Nations resolution that would classify Israeli settlements in historically Palestinian areas as legally invalid. “Filing this resolution hits very close to home,” Rader said. “It is personal because my family lives in Israel and I, my wife and kids constantly go back […]

Michael MolineFebruary 24, 2017

Sen. Kevin Rader is asking Gov. Rick Scott to investigate whether Tallahassee lobbyist Lisa Miller posed as a “concerned citizen” to mislead participants in a conference call with a company that rates Florida insurers. “I know you understand that matters such as these must be completely in the sunshine and all principals must play by the rules. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 21, 2017

On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee heard from the Agency for State Technology. The AST, legislated into existence in 2014, appears on the outside to be in flux. A recent audit of the AST hammered it for a lack of internal controls. Meanwhile, CIO Jason Allison is on his way out the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 7, 2017

Florida lawmakers are once again debating this year whether the state should stop using red light cameras — but the conversation may not be long. On a 2-2 tie, state Sen. Frank Artiles’ bill (SB 178), to repeal the use of such cameras statewide, died Tuesday in the Senate Transportation Committee. A House companion (HB 6007), however, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 3, 2017

The number of lawmakers prepping for another run keeps on growing. State elections records show dozens of members of the state House and Senate have filed to run for re-election in 2018. Many of those are incumbents who faced little-to-no opposition in 2016, while others ran hard fought battles to win their spot in the […]

Tag: Kevin Rader
Rodney Guttman, image via University of West Florida.

Kevin Rader carries campaign against lobbyist into the Capitol’s lifts

Florence Snyder: Florida’s opioid crisis, Part 5 – Hey Florida, talk to the hand!

Why children die – Part 1: If everybody’s responsible, nobody’s responsible

Will Florida pre-empt local governments to complete next-Gen wireless connectivity?

Telecom companies get committee nod for deregulation of 5G towers

Kevin Rader files resolution to oppose United Nations Security Council decision

Senator seeks probe into whether lobbyist Lisa Miller posed as ‘concerned citizen’ during call

Agency for State Technology gets softballs in Senate committee

Bill to kill red-light cameras doesn’t get the votes in Senate

More than a dozen lawmakers file for re-election in 2018