Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2018

As we kick off 2018, a message to Florida lawmakers: Don’t quit while you’re ahead. Last year, our legislators kept many New Year’s resolutions: trimming the fat from the state budget, making sure taxpayers kept more of their hard-earned money and expanding educational opportunity for children across the state. This Session, there are several legislative […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 3, 2018

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is asking a favor of constituents of state Sen. Keith Perry of Gainesville and state Rep. Manny Diaz of Hialeah Gardens. In a new mail piece, AFP wants voters to congratulate the two Republican lawmakers for a bill seeking to significantly reduce government regulations. The pair is sponsoring SB 1268 in the upcoming Session, […]

Drew WilsonNovember 6, 2017

Commissioner of Agriculture candidate and state Rep. Matt Caldwell announced support from seven South Florida lawmakers in what his campaign called its “fourth wave” of legislative endorsements. Included in the Monday announcement were House Speaker Designate Jose Oliva, and Reps. Bryan Avila, Michael Bileca, Manny Diaz, George Moraitis, Jeanette Nunez and Carlos Trujillo. Prior “waves” […]

Staff ReportsOctober 10, 2017

Florida sports franchises will be banned from constructing or renovating facilities on leased public land under a bill advanced Tuesday by the House Committee on Government Accountability. Lobby Tools reports that HB 13, sponsored by Republican state Reps. Bryan Avila and Manny Diaz, is identical to HB 77, which died in the Senate during the 2017 […]

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 […]

Tag: manny diaz

Chris Hudson: This Legislative Session, Floridians have much to be enthusiastic about

AFP Florida praises Keith Perry, Manny Diaz for sponsoring regulation reform

South Florida lawmakers back Matt Caldwell for Ag. Commissioner

Sports franchise bill passes only committee, heads to House floor

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