Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2018

Florida’s Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio on Thursday announced his Senate plan to respond to the Parkland massacre, which includes strengthening school security, providing for “restraining order” powers for police to confiscate weapons from dangerous individuals and adding to the gun purchase background-check databases. Rubio said his plan, which he called a comprehensive response, has […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

In a rare political move, Gov. Rick Scott and the father of a 14-year-old Parkland shooting victim jointly addressed the House and Senate floors on Thursday and asked legislators to set aside differences and ensure schools are safe sans armed teachers. “I want to make sure there is law enforcement in our schools,” Scott told […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2018

A strike-all amendment planned for the Senate’s 2018 gambling bill will add an authorization for slot machines in counties where voters OK’d them in local referendums, Senate President-designate Bill Galvano said Thursday. The Senate bill (SB 840) is now slated for consideration before the Appropriations Committee Friday. Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, is the Senate’s lead […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2018

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis on Thursday denounced Florida Legislature efforts to tighten gun restrictions and said the mass shooting two weeks ago at the Parkland high school should be seen as “a catastrophic failure” by the Broward County sheriff and the FBI. DeSantis, a congressman from Ponte Vedra Beach, has made similar comments in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 1, 2018

With the horrific Broward County school shooting fresh on their minds, hundreds of King High School students in Tampa registered (or pre-registered) to vote Wednesday for the upcoming midterm elections. Twice a year, Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Craig Latimer takes staff members to every high school in the county to register students 18 years old or older, as […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King has released a new online campaign video declaring that the massacres in Pulse and Parkland demand a transformation of Florida politics, stressing his commitments to banning assault weapons, pushing for universal background checks, and expanding Medicaid. The 90-second video “This is the Year” includes footage of vigils held for the mass […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

An angry Adam Putnam lashed out at lawmakers Wednesday for planning to raid a state account funded by fees from concealed weapon licenses. As Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Putnam is in charge of issuing such permits. A proposal (SB 7026) in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 28, 2018

When several amendments were filed on gun bills ahead of their hearings in the House and Senate budget committees on Tuesday, the mother of a teacher killed in the Parkland shooting said she felt misled by the Legislature. Linda Beigel Schulman’s son Scott Beigel was among the 17 killed by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz on Feb. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2018

It’s crunch time in Gov. Rick Scott‘s final Legislative Session, and in the wake of the mass murder in Parkland, a $500 million “school safety” plan is his last big pitch. The plan has three components: “Gun laws, school safety, and mental health.” The plan offers some moves toward gun control: restrictions of purchases by those […]

Scott PowersFebruary 28, 2018

Declaring that Florida lawmakers are failing to respond to post-Parkland calls to address guns, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King said Wednesday that the people of Florida deserve a special session. King, a Winter Park businessman, advocated for a ban on military-style assault weapons and comprehensive background checks on gun purchases, and contended that Marjory Stoneman […]

Tag: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Gabrielle Russon

Marco Rubio post-Parkland plan focuses on school security, restraining order seizures

In impromptu Capitol visit, Rick Scott reiterates: don’t arm teachers

Reanimated: Senate gambling bill, with changes, back in play

Ron DeSantis calls Parkland massacre a failure of FBI, sheriff; denounces state gun proposals

Guns on the minds of Tampa high schoolers registering to vote

Chris King releases video ad on Parkland, Pulse, seeking ‘transformation’

Hands off concealed carry money, Adam Putnam says

Mother of dead Parkland teacher questions Legislature’s transparency

Rick Scott pitches gun control, school hardening proposals in Jacksonville market

Chris King decries loopholes in gun laws, urges special session