Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow dying patients to use medical marijuana as a palliative treatment passed its first hurdle in the House Tuesday morning. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved House Bill 307 by Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz and Democratic prime co-sponsor Rep. Katie Edwards by a vote of 9-4. Panel chair Rep. Carlos Trujillo was among the four Republicans voting ‘No.’ The […]

Ryan RayNovember 16, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday afternoon his administration will not grant requests to relocate some 425 displaced Syrians inside Florida’s borders, and is asking Congress to help ensure it cannot be coerced to reconsider. Scott addressed the issue in a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The governor told the Congressional Republican leaders though […]

Ryan RayNovember 16, 2015

A prominent father-son pair of Northwest Florida lawmakers are calling on Gov. Rick Scott to join a push by a number of conservative governors to defy the Obama administration’s plan to accept more refugees displaced from war-torn Syria. On Monday, state Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Matt Gaetz sent a letter to Scott urging him to not accept […]

Melissa RossNovember 13, 2015

Just as a closely watched U.S. Supreme Court case may strike down Florida’s death penalty sentencing laws, ACLU staff attorney Adam Tebrugge of Bradenton is discussing the death penalty Monday night in St. Augustine at an event sponsored in part by Amnesty International. The high court is reviewing what the New York Times calls Florida’s […]

Peter SchorschNovember 12, 2015

You cannot turn on the television without seeing an ad for daily fantasy sports players DraftKings or FanDuel. That’s because the interest in daily fantasy sports is at stratospheric levels. Fantasy sports is as popular as Buffalo wings and cold beer. A report in Fortune shows that 57 million North Americans are betting $465 a year on fantasy sports, […]

Peter SchorschNovember 10, 2015

State Sen. Joe Negron and Rep. Matt Gaetz filed new draft legislation Tuesday that would put restrictions on daily fantasy sports websites such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and others operating in the state. According to the bill’s language, game operators must register with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and pay related fees. The state would also require them to “implement […]

Drew WilsonNovember 9, 2015

After a six-figure haul in October Republican George Gainer has passed Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz in on-hand money in the race for Senate District 1. The Gainer campaign brought in $118,590 last month and spent $46,887, leaving the Bay County Commissioner with just under $573,000 cash on-hand heading into November. Gaetz’s report wasn’t as […]

Phil AmmannNovember 6, 2015

George Gainer doesn’t talk about Northwest Florida values. He lives them. That’s the gist of the latest mailing from the North Florida businessman, who faces state Rep. Matt Gaetz in the Republican Senate District 1 primary. The ad, set to hit area mailboxes next week, strives to heat up the battle for conservatives by hitting […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2015

Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz released a new ad Tuesday that trumpets his role in passing tougher penalties on sex offenders in 2014. “I’m Matt Gaetz, and I’ll always fight to protect our kids,” the Senate District 1 candidate said in the video. “The system was broken, so I led the fight to fix it,” […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2015

Last week, Republican SD1 candidate George Gainer batted down accusations that he was “standing alone in the mirror” in his Senate campaign. This week, he’s keeping the full-court press on his opponent, Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gainer, fresh off a major fundraiser for his campaign that reportedly brought in a six-figure sum, announced Monday that his […]

Tag: Matt Gaetz
Image via WUFT News.

Expanded medical marijuana regime bill passes House panel

Rick Scott will refuse 425 Syrian refugees, seek Congressional action to stop federal relocation plans

Don Gaetz, Matt Gaetz call on Rick Scott to refuse Syrian refugees

Florida’s death penalty reviewed by U.S. Supreme Court, discussed in St. Augustine

Don’t throw the daily sports fantasy baby out with the bathwater

Legislation filed to regulate daily fantasy sports websites

After October haul, George Gainer passes Matt Gaetz in on-hand cash for SD 1 race

Direct mail roundup: George Gainer doesn’t talk NW Florida values, he lives them

Matt Gaetz ad boasts role in “fixing” penalties for sex offenders

George Gainer drops first ad in Senate campaign vs. Matt Gaetz