Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2018

With only one member commenting, the House swiftly passed its omnibus gambling bill for 2018, setting up a possible conference of the two chambers. The bill (HB 7067) was OK’d on a 70-40 vote, with Republican Halsey Beshears of Monticello and Tom Goodson of Rockledge joining the Democrats in voting ‘no.’ Bill sponsor Mike La […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 26, 2018

A House panel on Monday cleared the chamber’s gambling legislation for 2018, making it available for the floor. But the bill (HB 7067) still is far from the Senate position. And it continues to bother Democrats by devoting money from gambling to the “Schools of Hope” backed by Speaker Richard Corcoran, which the minority party sees as […]

Scott PowersFebruary 23, 2018

While saying he was impressed by the passion and delivery of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who came to Tallahassee to ask for gun legislation, Republican state Rep. Mike La Rosa on Friday denounced the procedural vote taken in front of them as “a political stunt” and the bill itself “a gun grab” attempt. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

The vacation rentals deregulation bill cleared its first stop in the Florida House of Representatives Thursday with a close approval won in the House Government Accountability Committee. House Bill 773, sponsored by St. Cloud Republican state Rep. Mike La Rosa, now heads toward the commerce committee in this year’s legislative efforts to roll back and […]

Scott PowersFebruary 9, 2018

Republican state Rep. Mike La Rosa pulled in $23,500 for his House District 42 re-election campaign during the first five days of January, all of it coming in big checks from political committees, businesses, and lobbyists. La Rosa’s pre-Legislative Session campaign haul, which included 20 $1,000 checks, put him over the $100,000 mark for campaign […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 30, 2018

A key committee Tuesday moved along this year’s House gambling bill, but the fractures on the committee echoed those among the state’s gambling interests. The Tourism and Gaming Control Subcommittee OK’d the measure (PCB TGC 18-01) on a 9-6 vote, with Rockledge Republican Tom Goodson joining the panel’s five Democrats in voting ‘no.’ Committee chair Mike La Rosa said […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 30, 2018

I recently traveled to Tallahassee to represent the Florida Vacation Rental Management Association (FL VRMA), and an industry which has become a vital part of Florida’s tourism economy, at Tourism Day at the Capitol. There, I had the opportunity to listen to an encouraging speech given by Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) President and […]

Scott PowersJanuary 29, 2018

A proposal to create a specialty license plate commemorating Orlando City Soccer was approved Monday by the Florida House Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee. The proposal, approved last week by the Florida House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee 11-0, means HB 1263 now has cleared two key panels and still has the House Government Accountability Committee ahead […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 24, 2018

Republican Reps. Chuck Clemons and Mike La Rosa each took on new opponents in their re-election campaigns for House Districts 21 and 42, respectively. In Clemons’ Gainesville-based district Shreyas Amol Kumar Jethwani made it a two-way Democratic primary race to unseat the freshman lawmaker after he joined Jason Haeseler, who filed Jan. 11. A third […]

Ana CeballosJanuary 16, 2018

Two measures that would preempt local regulations on vacation rentals featured on sites like Airbnb are facing backlash from the bed and breakfast industry which claims short-term rentals are a “serious risk” to tourists. “We urge our lawmakers not to put Florida’s world-class lodging reputation at risk for illegal commercial operators,” said Carol Dover, the […]

Tag: Mike La Rosa

With little ado, House passes 2018 gaming bill

All or nothing: House gambling bill moves to floor

Mike La Rosa calls gun bill vote ‘political stunt,’ and bill a ‘gun grab’

House vacation rentals bill clears Government Accountability Committee

Mike La Rosa raises $23,500 for HD 42 re-election campaign

House panel clears gambling bill—with winners and losers

Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris: Vacation rentals support tourism

Orlando City Soccer license plate clears another committee

New candidates file to run against Chuck Clemons, Mike La Rosa

Lawmakers want to toss ‘patchwork’ of local vacation rental regulations