Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschSeptember 27, 2017

With the votes tallied, Democrat Annette Taddeo beat out Republican Jose Felix Diaz 51-47 in the Tuesday special election for Senate District 40, despite all signs pointing toward a low-turnout Election Day and early voting numbers strongly favoring Diaz.

Staff ReportsJune 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill (HB 7069) that, among other things, sends more public money to privately-run charter schools. The legislation, a top priority for House Speaker Richard Corcoran, also requires recess in elementary schools, makes changes to the state’s standardized testing system, and includes millions of dollars for teacher bonuses. The […]

Guest AuthorMay 8, 2017

“It is easier to build strong children, than to repair broken men (and women)” — Frederick Douglass It is incredible how many societal ills arise out of a failure to educate, in the fullest sense of the word, the children of our great state. We utter platitudes like, “we must do better,” as we watch […]

Michael MolineApril 28, 2017

House and Senate negotiators have agreed on per-student spending in the PreK-12 education budget — and it wouldn’t go up much compared to existing spending. The Senate side on Friday accepted the House call for 1.2 percent increase — to about $7,220. The conferees were still talking about how much to spend on the House’s […]

Staff ReportsApril 13, 2017

The LIBRE Initiative, a project of Americans for Prosperity focused on the Hispanic community, issued a statement Thursday in support of the House’s “Schools of Hope” bill. The measure (HB 5105), which passed the House and heads to the Senate, sets aside $200 million in financial help for nonprofit companies to open charter schools in […]

Peter SchorschApril 12, 2017

It’s no secret that the United States is in the midst of an epidemic of opioid abuse, overdoses and deaths, with Florida emerging as an epicenter. Nevertheless, several Tallahassee lawmakers, albeit unwittingly, may soon contribute to this wildfire of a crisis, a casualty of the latest battle in Florida’s Eyeball Wars. Few can argue the […]

Drew WilsonApril 11, 2017

New campaign finance reports filed with the Florida Division of Elections show Republican lawmakers stockpiled a lot of cash the week before the 2017 Legislative Session kicked off. House Republicans Ben Albritton and Manny Diaz each had productive months for their campaigns to transition from the House to the Senate next year. Albritton, who is […]

Staff ReportsMarch 27, 2017

It’s never too early to start thinking about the next election cycle, and a host of legislative hopefuls are already thinking about the next election cycle. State election records show dozens of members of the House, Senate, and other legislative hopefuls have filed to run in 2018. Rep. Shevrin Jones filed to run for re-election […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2017

Florida’s “Eyeball Wars” between ophthalmologists and optometrists could soon be spilling onto the House floor. On Monday, Speaker Richard Corcoran removed HB 1037 — a controversial bill to allow optometrists to perform surgery, among other things — off the agenda of the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. A representative for Corcoran told POLITICO Florida that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 8, 2017

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State lawmakers applauded Florida TaxWatch this week, hailing the organization for its role in the legislative process. “The folks that formed Florida TaxWatch had a good focus in mind,” said Sen. Jack Latvala. “And as a result of Florida TaxWatch’s efforts, we’ve turned things around.” The taxpayer advocacy group hosted its State of the Taxpayer […]

Tag: manny diaz

Winners and losers emerging from Annette Taddeo’s win SD 40

Capitol Reax: Rick Scott signs HB 7069

Michael Bileca and Manny Diaz: Florida’s educational industrial complex earned need to be reformed

PreK-12 conference eyes paltry per-student spending hike, with supplements

LIBRE Initiative says it supports “Schools of Hope”

A dangerous consequence of Florida’s Eyeball Wars; throwing gasoline on the state’s wildfire opioid crisis

Republican lawmakers raked in contributions ahead of the 2017 Legislative Session

More legislative hopefuls file to run in 2018

Speaker moves Eyeball Wars closer to House floor; docs say optometrist testimony ‘patently false’

State lawmakers applaud Florida TaxWatch during annual State of Taxpayer dinner