Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayJune 5, 2015

Moments after the House voted down a bipartisan plan to expand access to health care for hundreds of thousands of Floridians, those championing the efforts lamented the missed opportunity. Senate President Andy Gardiner issued a statement saying, “The critical health care challenges facing Florida still remain. This weekend, members of the Legislature will begin a […]

Ryan RayJune 4, 2015

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After an hours-long procession of skeptical questions from House Republicans, Rep. Mia Jones led the Senate’s so-called “FHIX 2.0” bill — SB 2A, a bill to expand health coverage to Florida’s more than 800,000 uninsured via private plans largely funded by the federal government — to a procedural milestone, as the bill was rolled over for […]

Phil AmmannMay 10, 2015

Tracy Pafford, wife of House Minority Leader Mark Pafford, has ended the 2016 campaign to replace her term-limited husband in House District 86. In January, Tracy Pafford filed a Democratic campaign account for the seat, which covers parts of Palm Beach County. Since then, the Palm Beach Post reports that Pafford received endorsements from Palm […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 30, 2015

When it became clear that the House and Senate wouldn’t agree on a budget, Republican Gov. Rick Scott was in California trying to get shipping companies to move to Florida. And when the Legislature was at the point of no return to either pass a budget or go home without completing the one task it’s […]

Ryan RayApril 30, 2015

Saying he is opting to turn down a “huge pay raise,” Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens has announced he will not seek the 18th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. “Why would I run for Congress, when Tallahassee has become so entertaining lately?” said Clemens, referring to the chain reaction of mistrust and […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2015

Although the budget impasse between the state Legislature which led Speaker Steve Crisafulli to dismiss the House this afternoon illustrates the enmity between Republicans in the House & Senate, Democrats who have been advocating for the state to expand Medicaid coverage are happy to bash Crisafulli. “Today, the House leadership and the majority party failed […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s lawsuit against federal healthcare agency over hospital funding would be a “frivolous” would represent the “tea party gone wild,” House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford said Thursday The impending loss of $2 billion in Low Income Pool money and Medicaid expansion has been at the center of a budget impasse in the Legislature. House and Senate […]

Bruce RitchieApril 16, 2015

A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other conservation lands to neighboring agricultural landowners passed the House with opposition from some Democrats. Environmentalists oppose HB 7135 although they said it had been improved in earlier committee stops by requiring proposed giveaways to be reviewed by the Acquisition and Restoration Council. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 16, 2015

Borrowing the governor’s often-used slogan “let’s get to work” House Democrats on Thursday said it’s time for House Republicans and Gov. Rick Scott to work on finding a solution to the impasse on health care that has brought the 2015 legislative session to a grinding halt. At an early morning press conference on Thursday House […]

Mitch PerryApril 10, 2015

The Coachella Music Festival is this weekend in Indio, Calif., about 20 minutes west of Palm Springs near the Coachella Valley, one of the hardest-hit drought-stricken regions of the Golden State. I’ve attended five such spectacles (2009-2013), and if you’re into music, it’s an amazing amount of fun — and also a bit of work, […]

Tag: Mark Pafford

FHIX supporters say fight will go in spite of House rejection

Senate’s FHIX 2.0 proposal advances in House — for now

Mark Pafford’s wife ends 2016 bid for HD 86

As lawmakers feud, Rick. Scott visits Ferris wheel, Wawa

Democrat Jeff Clemens declines run for Patrick Murphy’s seat in Congress

Democrats blast Steve Crisafulli’s decision to end session 3 days early

Dems’ leader calls healthcare lawsuit “Tea Party gone wild”

State lands bill passes House but Dems’ leader says it’s a bad deal

House Dems say “Let’s get to work” on Medicaid expansion

Mitch Perry Report for 4.10.15 — A lollapalooza of tax cuts for everyone in Florida