Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 28, 2017

He wasn’t on the dais, but Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s policies and public comments were front-and-center when a panel of Pinellas lawmakers spoke Wednesday in Clearwater about the recently concluded legislative session. Dubbed “the most interesting man in Tallahassee” in a recent Miami Herald profile, the 52-year-old Land O’Lakes Republican came into leadership last […]

Mitch PerryMay 31, 2017

Republican House District 66 hopeful Berny Jacques is touting a new endorsement in his bid to succeed term-limited Larry Ahern. The backing comes from former Largo Police Chief John Carroll, who serves as a member of the Largo City Commission. “I am pleased to endorse Berny Jacques as a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 66,” Carroll said Tuesday. “Berny […]

Jim RosicaMay 8, 2017

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz blasted legislative leadership’s treatment of the University of South Florida, saying the school’s achievement of state “pre-eminent” status was snatched away from it at the last moment. Language in an education conforming bill late last Friday was changed, preventing USF from pre-eminence, a status that would have qualified it for millions of […]

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2017

With 10 days until the scheduled end of the 2017 Legislative Session and no allocations on the desk, it’s fair to say things are getting a little heated in Tallahassee. Case in point: An exchange between Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala and House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Larry Ahern on Twitter over the House’s […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2017

Over the past month, juvenile justice bills moving through the Florida Legislature this spring have veered off in different directions. On Thursday, the House version (HB 205), sponsored by Seminole Republican Larry Ahern, changed again in the House Judiciary Committee. Ahern’s bill would expunge the arrests of juveniles for certain first-time misdemeanor crimes. That differs significantly […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

A bill that would automatically expunge a youth’s arrest record after a diversion program is completed passed through a House committee on Monday, but goes in a different direction than its Senate companion. The House bill sponsored by Seminole Republican Larry Ahern and Deltona Republican David Santiago (HB 205) would allow police officers the discretion to decide when offering a first time juvenile […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 3, 2017

There’s widespread agreement between lawmakers, law enforcement and child advocates that the state can do more to help juveniles who make stupid mistakes to stay out of trouble and avoid a criminal record that could follow them the rest of their lives. But what approach it should take is still a matter of disagreement. “Everybody’s […]

Les NeuhausMarch 29, 2017

Legislation intended as a “what if’ scenario for potential snags in future political redistricting received a fair amount of blowback from several House committee members. Nevertheless, the House Public Integrity and Ethics Committee passed the bill Wednesday. HB 953, sponsored by Rep. Larry Ahern, received a thorough level of skepticism and interrogation due to a […]

Scott PowersMarch 27, 2017

After weeks of testimony before his committee on various college and university budget requests, Chairman Larry Ahern of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education Appropriations laid out his proposals Monday to slash Bright Futures money, financial reserves, university support for private organizations, and non-recurring programs, including Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center. Ahern, a Republican state representative […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

Besides, maybe, New York City or Washington, D.C., there really is no better place from which to write about politics than Tampa Bay. One reason is that there are so many competitive congressional and legislative seats in the region. And what’s spent to win those seats is oftentimes as much as the amount spent to […]

Tag: Larry Ahern
Image via AP.

Richard Corcoran’s agenda and style get bashed (and sometimes praised) by panel of Pinellas lawmakers

Berny Jacques earns another solid endorsement for HD 66 bid

Janet Cruz blasts USF’s treatment in proposed budget

Jack Latvala, Larry Ahern trade budget jabs on Twitter

House advances juvenile justice bill, adding adult diversion program

Bill to automatically expunge juvenile arrest records passes, but critics say it doesn’t go far enough

Helping kids who make mistakes: Florida considering 2 ideas

2015 redux? House committee hotly debates, passes redistricting reform

Proposed cuts to colleges and universities unveiled by house committee chair

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘this place is the best’ edition