Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

This is the first legislative session that South Florida’s Oscar Braynon II will be the Senate’s Democratic Leader. The 40-year-old, who succeeded term-limited former Leader Arthenia Joyner, was first elected in 2011 after serving in the House and on the Miami Gardens City Council before that. Though he’s in the minority, Braynon has high hopes […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 22, 2017

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Craft brewers can thank Chance the Rapper for getting this year’s beer bill over its first legislative hurdle. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Wednesday cleared the measure (SB 554) on a 6-3 vote. Democrats Perry Thurston and Randolph Bracy joined Republican Lizbeth Benacquisto in opposing the bill. But Oscar Braynon, the chamber’s Democratic […]

Scott PowersFebruary 20, 2017

Citing reports that heroin and fentanyl overdose deaths and public health costs are exploding in numbers in Florida, Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon called Monday for Florida to declare a public health emergency. In a letter, Braynon urged Gov. Rick Scott to have Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip to declare the public health emergency, which would […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 14, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On and off: Tiffany Harrington has replaced Heather Williamson as House staff director of the Joint Select Committee on Collective Bargaining. On: Teri Cariota, formerly an aide to former Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, […]

Scott PowersFebruary 9, 2017

A Florida Senate committee overwhelmingly approved the latest attempt to expand the state’s Stand Your Ground self-defense law. On Thursday, the Senate Rules Committee passed the measure after advocates said it would stop unnecessary prosecutions. Opponents alleged it would stop a lot of necessary prosecutions, as well. Senate Bill 128 would allow gun defendants to […]

Scott PowersJanuary 31, 2017

Florida Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon considers 2nd Amendment arguments to be about philosophy and he’d much rather talk about running from house parties when shots break out or watching from behind a car while the man on the other side is shot dead. “This is my reality,” Braynon told a room full of journalists […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 27, 2017

Although Florida Democrats failed to improve their numbers in the state Senate in 2016, Jeff Clemens is very optimistic that in two years their power will increase. “It just so happens that the way it plays out, the Democrats that are up for election in 2018 are in safe Democratic seats, so with the Republicans having to go defend […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 25, 2017

Florida Senate Democratic leader Oscar Braynon penned a letter to Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Wednesday, urging him to begin an investigation into possible voter fraud alleged by President Donald Trump. Trump has been alleging ever since his win that his challenger Hillary Clinton‘s popular vote surge was due to millions of illegal votes […]

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2016

Democratic Leader Janet Cruz is generally supportive of the ambitious new rules proposed by House Speaker Richard Corcoran that were unanimously approved by the entire Florida House last week. The changes are largely aimed at creating additional budget transparency and reducing the influence that lobbyists have on the political process in Tallahassee. But she and other Democrats did draw the line […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2016

Florida’s new legislative class of 2017 is presumably back home for the holidays today after spending the first part of this week in Tallahassee. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron welcomed their troops by discussing their respective goals for the 2017 session. In the case of Corcoran, his proposals for lobbying reform have been well publicized […]

Tag: Oscar Braynon

2017 Legislative Session preview: Oscar Braynon on juvenile justice, incentives and Chance the Rapper

Craft beer debate includes … Chance the Rapper?

Oscar Braynon calls for emergency declaration on heroin

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Senate Rules Committee stands its ground on Stand Your Ground

Oscar Braynon: gun legislation is about ‘reality not philosophy’

Jeff Clemens bullish on Senate Democrats chances in 2018

Senate Democratic leader Oscar Braynon wants Ken Detzner to look into Donald Trump’s voter fraud claims

Janet Cruz OK with new House rules, but shot down one proposal

Mitch Perry Report for 11.23.16 – Real reform in Tallahassee