Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaSeptember 20, 2017

A week after Hurricane Irma ravaged the Sunshine State, the long road to recovery is beginning in both South Florida — hardest hit by the storm — and in Tallahassee. Companies that deal in disaster relief and cleanup have begun lobbying up in advance of the 2018 Legislative Session, registration records show: — AshBritt Environmental, a […]

Peter SchorschAugust 18, 2017

Screen-Shot-2017-08-18-at-5.03.36-PM.png

Richard Reeves, a veteran lobbyist who founded his own firm before joining another that merged with GrayRobinson last year, now is leaving the firm, he told Florida Politics Friday. “I wanted to be out on my own again,” he said in a phone interview. “The opportunity to work with Dean (Cannon) was tremendous. He’s a great […]

Scott PowersJuly 20, 2017

A watchdog group called the Checks & Balances Project is charging that the leading hotel industry association may be paying Florida International University to produce research for the industry’s lobbying against Airbnb and other home-sharing marketing companies. “The hotel industry’s hotel industry’s lobbying arm, the American Hotel & Lobbying Association, has an aggressive pay-to-play academic […]

Peter SchorschJuly 7, 2017

Screen-Shot-2017-07-07-at-9.55.24-AM.png

Kim McDougal, Gov. Rick Scott‘s former chief of staff, is joining GrayRobinson‘s Tallahassee office as a Senior Director of Government Affairs, the law firm announced Friday. “Kim brings tremendous insight and invaluable experience to our firm, and will also substantially increase our expertise in the education policy and appropriations areas,” said Jason Unger, managing partner of the Tallahassee office. “The […]

Jim RosicaApril 12, 2017

The list of companies, nonprofits and others who were registered to lobby the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) now stretches to 55 pages, according to the state’s Lobbyist Registration Office. But many, if not most, of those may be from the state automatically adding names to that lobbying registry—and from lobbyists who haven’t yet “unchecked” their box for […]

Associated PressMarch 22, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to advance the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin a decade ago and proposed an ambitious political strategy to undermine anti-Russian opposition across former Soviet republics, The Associated Press has learned. The work appears to contradict assertions by the Trump administration […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 9, 2017

Veteran lawmaker and lobbyist Dale Patchett is joining the Johnson & Blanton lobbying firm. “Dale Patchett brings an incredible history and perspective to our firm,” firm founder Jon Johnson said. “He has seen government operate from every angle as both an elected legislator and appointed official. He was Republican in Florida before it was fashionable […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2016

With establishment lobbyists now representing it, the medical marijuana cause appears to have become—grab your pearls—respectable. Florida for Care, the nonprofit organization that is advocating for “well-regulated” medicinal pot in the state, has hired Brecht Heuchan and The Mayernick Group to advocate for its interests. Heuchan, who says he voted against the medical marijuana constitutional amendment this November, has […]

Peter SchorschNovember 15, 2016

Six firms are in the running to be St. Petersburg’s lobbyist in Tallahassee. The contract, worth $50,000 last year, belonged to Peebles and Smith from Tallahassee. Its contract with the city expired Sept. 30 and the group has submitted a proposal to continue representing St. Pete. The five other firms who have responded to the city’s […]

Jim RosicaOctober 21, 2016

The Florida Commission on Ethics has approved an opinion that Tena Pate, former chair of the state’s parole panel, is not subject to the state’s two-year lobbying ban on high-level employees. Commissioners unanimously OK’d the staff-written advisory opinion at their Friday meeting. She did not appear. The document finds Pate would be banned from “representing persons or entities for compensation” before the Florida Commission […]

Tag: lobbying
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Lobby Up: Disaster relief concerns get ready for Session

Personnel note: Richard Reeves departs GrayRobinson to start own firm

Watchdog group claims hotel industry, FIU, teaming for anti-Airbnb research

Personnel note: Kim McDougal joins GrayRobinson lobbying team

Hundreds of concerns automatically signed up to lobby constitutional review board

Paul Manafort had plan to benefit Vladamir Putin government

Personnel note: Dale Patchett moves to Johnson & Blanton

Implementation of medical marijuana amendment brings together unlikely allies

Six firms vie for City of St. Pete’s lobbying contract

State ethics panel OKs Tena Pate to lobby