Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Saying that the current limbo of law is bad for doctors and patients, Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado pleaded with Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Legislature leaders to call a special session to deal with medical marijuana. “We are here because 71 percent of Florida voters approved the constitutional right to […]

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Orlando Republican John Newstreet, chief executive officer of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and a former aide to U.S. Sens. Mel Martinez and Marco Rubio, announced he’s entering the House District 44 race going to a special election this summer. “I’m honored by the number of people in the community, and across the state, […]

Scott PowersMay 16, 2017

Republican gubernatorial candidate and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam brought his “Florida First” campaign to the Orlando area for the first time Tuesday afternoon, promising conservative, pro-growth values and belittling liberals he expects to go after him. The fifth-generation Floridian and former state and U.S. lawmaker continued the opening themes of his brand new campaign, declaring […]

Scott PowersMay 15, 2017

Orlando’s U.S. Rep. Val Demings and Miami’s U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen made a week-long visit to visit troops in Afghanistan and Iraq this week, including a Mother’s Day visit at which Demings was able to deliver cards from students in her Florida’s 10th Congressional District. Demings, a Democrat, and Ros-Lehtinen were part of a bipartisan group […]

Scott PowersMay 15, 2017

Winter Garden-based Knox Medical, one of Florida’s seven licensed distributors of marijuana medicines, announced it is opening its first dispensary, in Gainesville with plans to go statewide soon. In keeping with its strategy of locating dispensaries near hospitals and medical centers, Knox will open its first shop at 3400 SW 34th St., in Gainesville, not far from Shands […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2017

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a federal decision supporting All Aboard Florida for its high-speed passenger train project, and both the train company and its opponents hailed the ruling as a victory. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper dismissed as moot Wednesday the law suit that Indian River and Martin counties brought against […]

Scott PowersMay 4, 2017

The owner of the Pulse nightclub announced Thursday her newly formed foundation will seek to develop a national-caliber memorial and museum campus on the site of America’s worst recorded mass shooting. Barbara Poma pushed through the pain of last year’s tragedy to declare her new foundation’s motto, “We will not let hate win,” and announced […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2017

In Lake Mary to preach support for three budget priorities he’s not getting yet, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he wants to see the Florida Legislature adopt a budget yet this week and would not commit to vetoes if he he doesn’t get what he wants in it. Scott made the first of 10 stops on […]

Scott PowersApril 25, 2017

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio continued his campaign against worldwide human rights abuses by foreign dictators last night by speaking out against the Chechen terror campaign against gays, and tying it to Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the floor of the U.S. Senate Monday night, Rubio relayed reports of mass arrests, at least three killings of LGBT […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2017

More than a dozen Democratic Florida House members have formed the Progressive Legislative Caucus, with firebrand state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando elected as its first chair. The caucus held its organization meeting last week with Smith becoming chair, state Rep. Amy Mercado of Orlando vice chair, and state Rep. Joseph Abruzzo of Boca […]

Tag: Orlando

Carlos Guillermo Smith, Amy Mercado say special session needed to end cannabis legal limbo

Kissimmee chamber chief John Newstreet enters HD 44 race

Adam Putnam brings ‘Florida First’ tour to Altamonte Springs

Val Demings, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen spend Mother’s Day with women troops in Iraq, Afghanistan

Knox Medical opening marijuana shop in Gainesville, planning statewide

Judge dismisses suit challenging All Aboard Florida; both sides see victory

Barbara Poma, foundation, to develop national memorial, museum at Pulse site

Rick Scott wants budget this week, no commitment on veto

Marco Rubio speaks out against terror against gays in Chechnya, ties in Vladimir Putin

House forms first-ever Legislative Progressive Caucus