Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2016

George Gainer blasted the Legislature and his Senate District 1 opponent Rep. Matt Gaetz in an email appeal to supporters on Thursday, contending a pair of measures considered this year amount to a “power grab” by state government. Gainer, a Republican and longtime Bay County Commissioner, said bills on so-called “fracking” and local taxes aim at “stripping authority […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2016

Well, Carlos Beruff is now officially about to get into the GOP Senate race. Our interview this week with current leader David Jolly has his take. Can we talk about greatness? In Orlando, the Golden State Warriors come to town at 7 p.m. to play the Magic at Amway Center. You may have heard about […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

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The Florida House held a second reading Tuesday of Jacksonville’s “pension tax” bill, which would facilitate a referendum to extend the current half-cent sales tax 30 years and devote it to paying off Jacksonville’s $2.6 billion of unfunded pension liability. The debate before the full House went well. Going into the House session, those familiar […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2016

State Rep. Matt Gaetz has introduced his own amendment to a judicial term-limits bill that will be before the House Tuesday, inspired by the debate over naming a successor to the late U.S. Supreme Court Antonin Scalia. That amendment reads in part: “… if a justice of the (state) supreme court dies within one year […]

Ryan RayFebruary 18, 2016

The ride-hailing company Uber continued its legislative push at a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday. Backers brandished new economic impact numbers indicating growth and told reporters it’s time for lawmakers to finally make good on a pledge to enact a uniform statewide law governing so-called transportation network companies, or TNCs. An Uber lobbyist said nearly […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 17, 2016

More Floridians could have access to medical marijuana under a proposal that cleared a House panel this week. The House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday voted 17-0 to approve a proposal that expands the 2015 Right to Try Act to include cannabis. The committee combined two proposals — HB 307 sponsored by Rep. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 11, 2016

The Florida House passed a wide-sweeping tax cut package Thursday, setting the scene for negotiations with the Senate over the tax reductions. The House voted 96 to 17 to support the nearly $1 billion proposal, getting the support of several House Democrats. “Here’s in Florida we’re running counter-culture to many of the decisions that are […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 10, 2016

The executive director for the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission told Florida lawmakers on Wednesday he’s OK if they ban his agency from regulating ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. Kyle Cockream came before the House Economics Committee to speak in support of the bill, sponsored by Republican Dana Young from Tampa and Plant City’s Dan […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 10, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — They call us the Sunshine State, but Florida’s government prefers to operate in the shadows. Like vampire bats, cockroaches and mold spores. If you can’t see what the government is doing, you can’t fight it. That explains the 74 public records exemption bills before the Legislature this Session. Yes, 74 new attacks […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 9, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — They call us the Sunshine State, but Florida’s government prefers to operate in the shadows. Like vampire bats, cockroaches and mold spores. If you can’t see what the government is doing, you can’t fight it. That explains the 74 public records exemption bills before the Legislature this session. Yes, 74 new attacks […]

Tag: Matt Gaetz
Anheuser-Busch has a longstanding tradition of providing emergency drinking water and supplies for disaster relief efforts.

Email Insights: George Gainer decries “Tallahassee power grab” in 2016 Session

Mitch Perry Report for 2.25.16 – Greatness comes to O-Town

Jax pension tax bill passes 2nd major House hurdle

Matt Gaetz and the “Scalia amendment”

Uber advocates call for Senate to pass pro-TNC legislation

House panel approves expansion of medical marijuana

House approves $1 billion tax cut package

Hillsborough PTC chief tells House committee he still wants ride-share drivers fingerprinted

Diane Roberts: Legislature works hard to keep us in the dark

Diane Roberts: Legislature is working hard to keep citizens in the dark