Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 9, 2015

Although the Florida House overwhelmingly passed a $690 million tax-cut package Thursday, it still faces an uncertain future in the Senate. While the Senate looks to plug a $2.2 billion hole in the health care budget, the House is focused on keeping Florida’s economy growing by cutting costs for households and businesses. “One of the […]

Bruce RitchieApril 9, 2015

A bill that delays a ban on the disposal of septic tank waste on farm fields across the state passed the House in anticipation of a state study of the waste disposal practice. Florida has 2.6 million septic tanks scattered across the state that annually produce 100 million gallons of waste, called septage, when they […]

Bruce RitchieApril 9, 2015

A bill that would allow septic tank maintenance businesses to continue spreading waste on fields for two more years is teed up for approval in the House on Thursday. In 2010, the Legislature voted to ban the land application of septic tank waste beginning in 2016 as part of a bill that supporters said would protect springs […]

Bruce RitchieApril 7, 2015

A bill that would allow the Cabinet to give away state land on Tuesday passed its only committee stop with changes requested by environmental groups. HB 7135 would establish “low-impact agriculture” as a management goal for state lands. The bill also would allow the Cabinet to give away state parks and other state lands to […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

To understand this day at the state Capitol one needs to take a long view of a 60-day Legislative Session. Think of a production of a play — the Florida Legislature spent the first half of a session putting all the pieces in place for one heck of a show. The climax will come either […]

Bruce RitchieApril 2, 2015

House Republicans on Thursday defended their 2015-16 state budget on Amendment 1 spending before passing it through the chamber over Democratic opposition. The $76.2 billion House budget includes $742 million as provided by voters in November for Amendment 1 for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups say the budget ignores the voter intent of […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Florida House Democrats intend to reject the House budget plan Thursday afternoon on three counts: • They will argue the spending plan does not include enough money for education; • Fails to comply with voter intent on Amendment 1, and; • Doesn’t cover a billion-dollar gap in the health care budget created by the end […]

James CallApril 1, 2015

This day at the state Capitol things began to happen. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was in the House and Senate warning lawmakers that Washington wasn’t bluffing about ending a federal reimbursement program for safety-net hospitals. Nelson met with both Senate President Andy Gardiner and Speaker Steve Crisafulli. Concerning the Low Income Pool question, Nelson said, […]

Bruce RitchieApril 1, 2015

Environmental groups praised a Senate move on Wednesday to add $35 million in the state budget toward land acquisition but said the amount falls short of what voters wanted. Amendment 1, approved by 75 percent of voters in November, is now estimated to provide nearly $742 million for water and land conservation programs. Environmental groups […]

James CallMarch 27, 2015

This week at the state Capitol ended with House Republicans taking Democrats to school. There were four education bills advocated by the GOP on the agenda for a Friday session. All easily passed since Republicans outnumber Democrats 2-1 in the Florida House. Thursday, Democrats argued against mandating that school districts share construction and renovation money […]

Tag: Mark Pafford

House passes tax-cut package; uncertain in Senate

Bill delaying septic waste ban passes House with calls for study, springs protection

House vote could allow septic tank waste to continue spreading on land

Amended state lands bill passes committee, heads to House floor

The day that was in Florida politics — April 2

Matt Caldwell defends Amendment 1 spending as House OKs budget

House Democrats to reject budget, cite education, health-care, land-buying flaws

The day that was in Florida politics — April 1

Senate boost for land-buying praised as House Democrats question spending

The week that was in Florida politics — March 27