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Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2018

Baxter Troutman will not seek U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney‘s seat in the 2018 election. The news comes after Rooney said Monday he would not run for Congress. Almost immediately, speculation swirled as to whether another candidate would jump into the race. The unexpected move opens up Florida’s 17th Congressional District this election year, a traditionally red district […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 17, 2018

With only three weeks left in the 2018 Legislative Session, the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is dominating the conversation in Tallahassee. Democrats have started making noise about Republicans obstructing their long-stalled gun control bills, while GOP-leaders have focused on the need for changes to mental health laws, and needed funding boosts. Gov. Rick […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 16, 2018

Republican state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto has been named to a nationwide committee dedicated to helping GOP candidates win seats in state legislatures. The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, a caucus of the Republican State Leadership Committee, bills itself as the “only national organization dedicated exclusively to electing more Republicans to state legislatures.” The group announced Wednesday that […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2018

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto says she’s hopeful but “still sees concerns” over eventual passage of legislation aimed at preventing minors from getting married. Benacquisto, the Senate’s Rules chair, told Florida Politics Thursday she “looks forward to passing as strong a ban on child marriage as we can” this session. The Fort Myers Republican sponsored her chamber’s […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 14, 2018

Moving away from an outright ban on all underage marriages, the Florida House on Wednesday sent the Senate a proposal that would allow certain minors to wed in cases when there is a pregnancy. “I believe this bill will put Florida in the forefront of putting [a] safeguard in place and protecting children,” said state […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 13, 2018

There’s a rift between the Florida House and Senate over a bill that could ban outright all marriages for minors in the state, and that will become more pronounced on Wednesday when the lower chamber takes up the matter. House members will consider the child marriage bill (SB 140) passed by the Senate, but with […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 7, 2018

Speaking to a Tampa audience about the opioid crisis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said those reaching for such drugs should “switch to aspirin.” “I am operating on the assumption that this country prescribes too many opioids,” the nation’s top cop said Wednesday during a visit to the downtown Tampa office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 7, 2018

Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, a Fort Myers Republican who chairs the Rules Committee, shepherded her bill designed to curb opioid abuse through that panel Wednesday. SB 8 calls for a three-day prescription limit for acute pain, with a seven-day limit allowed in cases of medical necessity. The House version (HB 21) still has a committee stop; Rules was […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 2, 2018

On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott appointed Andrew Fay, the special counsel and director of legislative affairs to Attorney General Pam Bondi, to the Florida Public Service Commission. The commission had been looking to fill the empty seat for some weeks after former state Rep. Ritch Workman — a Scott pick — resigned following sexual harassment allegations […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 31, 2018

Inspired by the story of a woman who was forced to marry her rapist at 11 years old, the Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would ban the marriage of all minors in the state. “It closes a loophole so that children can’t be used and abused by persons who under normal circumstances […]

Tag: Lizbeth Benacquisto

Baxter Troutman not running for Congress to replace Tom Rooney

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A tragic dialogue

Lizbeth Benacquisto named to RLCC Executive Committee

Lizbeth Benacquisto sees ‘concerns’ over minor marriage ban

House passes bill that would allow certain minors to wed

Jeanette Nunez seeks to amend Senate bill that bans all child marriages

Visiting Tampa, Jeff Sessions says opioid addicts should ‘tough it out,’ take aspirin

Three-day opioid prescription limit ready for Senate floor

Pam Bondi’s aide appointed to Public Service Commission

Florida Senate unanimously votes to ban child marriages in state