Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

The 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in mid-February is more than halfway complete, an anomaly that usually happens once every decade. Under a bill, SPB 7076, that narrowly passed through the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Tuesday, the early start could happen again in 2018. It passed on a party-line vote, with all three Democrats […]

Ryan RayFebruary 4, 2016

A key Senate panel narrowly passed a proposal to effectively end the use of red light cameras around the state of Florida on Thursday. The Senate Transportation Committee passed the bill by a 4-3 party-line vote. Bill sponsor St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes, who also chairs the panel, said the bill simply reflects the public policy reality […]

Ryan RayFebruary 1, 2016

The Senate Health Policy committee narrowly approved pair of closely watched health care bills Monday afternoon, auguring much more debate still to come about the proposals. Bills to weaken the state’s “certificates of need” regime for hospital licensing, and to shield patients from a medical collections practice known as “balance billing” passed by votes of […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 27, 2016

For one night, Florida’s Capitol Press Corps took a break from making state lawmakers squirm and instead did its best to make them — and several hundred other spectators of The Process — laugh. The Skits took over the Tallahassee music venue The Moon on Tuesday. Better than last year’s event, the “sometimes annual” rite […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 25, 2016

$fracking-in-florida-article-1024x1024.jpg$

A proposal to regulate high-pressure well stimulation has cleared a second Senate committee, despite continued objections from environmental activists. The measure (SB 318), sponsored by Naples Republican Sen. Garrett Richter, cleared the Senate’s general government appropriations subcommittee Monday on a 4-2 vote. Sen. Gwen Margolis and Sen. Oscar Braynon, both South Florida Democrats, voted against […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 22, 2016

Now that the Florida Senate gave up the ghost in its redistricting legal battle, both incumbent state Sens. Anitere Flores and Dwight Bullard will need to decide who is running where. Mary Ellen Klas reports in the Miami Herald that the two now reside in the newly redrawn Senate District 40. In a new agreement between the […]

Phil AmmannDecember 15, 2015

funfair__ghosts__merrygoround_by_abbyarcanine-1024x1024.jpg

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – the legislative merry-go-round. On: Caitlin Butler, formerly Florida field director for Turning Point USA, is now district secretary for Altamonte Springs Republican State Rep. Bob Cortes. Off: Jonathon Little is no longer Cortes’ legislative assistant. He […]

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, […]

Associated PressOctober 21, 2015

Amid a deepening rift that has split top Republicans, the Florida Senate may require voters in 2016 to pick senators for all forty of the state’s current Senate districts. The move may end a growing and contentious debate that has threatened to derail the 19-day special session that started this week. The GOP-controlled Florida Legislature […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2015

State Sen. Bill Galvano, who chairs his chamber’s redistricting panel, on Monday said sitting senators may not have to stand for re-election even if their districts change because of the current effort to reapportion the state Senate. Galvano, a lawyer and Bradenton Republican, spoke on the floor of the Senate during the first day of the Special Session […]

Tag: Oscar Braynon
Listen to Tom Leek's first radio ad.

Bill to start 2018 Legislative Session in January advances in Florida Senate

Senate panel passes red light camera preemption 4-3

Senate health care panel narrowly advances CON, balance billing changes

Press Skits tease lawmakers, tickle Tallahassee

Senate fracking proposal moves forward despite some concerns

Oscar Branyon says Dwight Bullard to “stay put” in SD 40, Anitere Flores moves to SD 39

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

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

Florida Senate may require senators to be on 2016 ballot

Bill Galvano: No new elections for senators whose districts change