Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayOctober 20, 2015

Tuesday saw a rapid fire morning for gun legislation in Tallahassee, with pro-Second Amendment groups getting the better of the shoot-out. A pair of bills to expand where and how Floridians can carry firearms – on college campuses and without concealment, respectively – advanced in Senate committees, as did one that strengthens the state’s “Stand Your […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2015

State Sen. Maria Sachs has filed an amendment to this year’s “campus carry” legislation that would allow each public college and university to decide whether to allow concealed weapons on campuses. Sachs, a Delray Beach Democrat, submitted the change Monday to the bill (SB 68). The legislation as currently written would delete the current blanket prohibition […]

Ryan RaySeptember 23, 2015

Sen. Thad Altman filed a bill on Tuesday that would allow Florida law enforcement to pull drivers over solely for texting while driving. Under current law officers may only cite drivers for doing so as a secondary offense, not warranting a traffic stop on its own. State statute 316.305 provides that enforcement of the state’s texting-while-driving prohibition “must […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli sent a memo to representatives Thursday telling them he had no intention of calling them back to Tallahassee because of a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by Senate Democrats. “We strongly disagree with the arguments that were filed by 13 Democrat members of the Senate and believe that the House’s […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

Senate Democrats have filed an emergency petition with the Florida Supreme Court asking the justices to deliver an expedited ruling on whether the House of Representatives violated the state Constitution when they abruptly adjourned Tuesday. Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner and members of the Democratic Caucus walked from the Senate Office Building at the Capitol to […]

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate Wednesday passed an adoption bill that would provide financial assistance to public employees to encourage them to adopt foster and special needs children in the Sunshine State who need parents. Sponsored by Niceville Republican Don Gaetz, the bill survived serious opposition led by Lakeland Republican Kelli Stargel, who seized on a bill provision passed in […]

James CallApril 8, 2015

Wednesday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee squeaked through a bill seeking to extend the Seminole Compact for one more year. Lawmakers expanded a proposal allowing horse and dog tracks to operate card rooms and slot machines without offering any races. Chairman Rob Bradley wrote the bill, SB 7088, but voted against the amendments after asking for […]

Mitch PerryMarch 24, 2015

FloridaNationalGuard-e1421280337853-600x378-1024x1024.jpg

Last year, a proposal in Tallahassee that would allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a license while evacuating an emergency was met with resistance from law enforcement, and didn’t come to pass. After bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Brandes made some tweaks this year, though, the Florida Sheriffs Association endorsed it, and that seemed […]

James CallMarch 17, 2015

The latest chapter of “4th Floor Files” talks with Mario Bailey, a lobbyist with the Becker & Poliakoff firm. Bailey represents clients from a variety of sectors including government — he has six south Florida governments including Cape Coral, Hollywood, and Lauderdale Lakes; education — Bethune Cookman, Florida Memorial University, and Miami-Dade Schools; and businesses — […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 2, 2015

Former lawmaker Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff is now a registered lobbyist. Bogdanoff registered last week to lobby with EBS Consulting in Fort Lauderdale. Eleven clients have signed with Bogdanoff since January. Lobbyist registration reports show they include Tampa Electric, Broward Principals and Administrative Assistants, Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, Florida East Coast Industries and […]

Tag: Maria Sachs

Controversial gun bills advance in Senate

Maria Sachs files amendment to campus carry bill

Thad Altman seeking stricter rules on texting while driving

Steve Crisafulli sends memo to members advising them to stay put

Senate Democrats sue House in state Supreme Court for early sine die

Senate defeats proposal to ban gay adoptions

Bill to extend Seminole Compact squeaks by Senate committee

Senate OKs gun bill allowing concealed carry during emergencies

4th Floor Files talks with Mario Bailey about government, Ronald Reagan, and mentoring

Ellyn Bogdanoff joins Tallahassee lobbying corps