Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Ryan RayOctober 12, 2015

Sen. Oscar Braynon has filed the first proposed re-drawn Senate map under President Andy Gardiner‘s new redistricting regime, following a consent agreement under which the Senate admitted it violated state constitutional prohibitions against gerrymandering. Notably, the map does not feature a district which traverses the Tampa Bay, combining parts of St. Petersburg and Tampa by way of unpopulated […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2015

For the past three years in the Florida Legislature, attempts to enact a pilot needle exchange program in Miami-Dade County have been unsuccessful. Plantation House Democrat Katie Edwards , though, is going to give it another shot next year. Edwards has filed legislation that aims to alleviate transmission of the HIV and Hepatitis viruses among intravenous drug […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 1, 2015

Plantation-based author and child advocate Lauren Book has made it official: She’s begun her long-awaited candidacy for Florida Senate with a list of high-profile endorsements. Book, 30 and a former teacher, is CEO of Lauren’s Kids, a nonprofit foundation to educate children, parents, and teachers about preventing childhood sexual abuse. She is running as a […]

Ryan RayAugust 24, 2015

Sen. Oscar Braynon penned a letter to Senate redistricting guru Jay Ferrin late last week requesting the creation of a redrawn Senate map similar to the congressional “base map” the Legislature used as a lodestar during Special Session B. Braynon said he hopes a proactive approach will avoid the time crunch that exacerbated lawmakers’ inability to come to an […]

Ryan RayJune 7, 2015

Tallahassee’s withering June heat seems to have made sunshine fashionable again in the Florida Capitol. As House and Senate lawmakers conferred during the weekend to reconcile their disparate budget proposals, transparency was the tool of choice for certain key budget writers. Going against the usual appropriations grain where budget priorities are wheeled and dealt among […]

Ryan RayMay 11, 2015

Now that Lake Worth state Sen. Jeff Clemens is reportedly the favorite to become the leader of Florida’s Senate Democrats and has received national press attention for provoking officials in the Gov. Rick Scott administration, it’s easy to forget Clemens’ path to the Senate in the first place. He won a 17-vote nail-biter of a Democratic primary in […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli sent a memo to representatives Thursday telling them he had no intention of calling them back to Tallahassee because of a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by Senate Democrats. “We strongly disagree with the arguments that were filed by 13 Democrat members of the Senate and believe that the House’s […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

Senate Democrats have filed an emergency petition with the Florida Supreme Court asking the justices to deliver an expedited ruling on whether the House of Representatives violated the state Constitution when they abruptly adjourned Tuesday. Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner and members of the Democratic Caucus walked from the Senate Office Building at the Capitol to […]

James CallApril 22, 2015

Krysta is an 18-year-old Florida State University student. She’s the reason Lauren Book marches. Krysta’s abuse started when she was 6. She did not tell anyone for six years, until she first told a camp counselor, then her parents. Wednesday was the first time she has talked publicly about her abuse. “My legs are shaking, […]

Tag: Oscar Braynon

Bill Galvano: No new elections for senators whose districts change

Oscar Braynon rolls out first Senate redistricting plan ahead of Special Session

Katie Edwards introduces needle exchange bill in Legislature

Lauren Book makes it official, files for state Senate

Oscar Braynon wants Senate to get head start on remedial redistricting

Jack Latvala, budget writers “horse trading in public” on member projects funding

Jeff Clemens draws primary challenger for Palm Beach Senate seat

Steve Crisafulli sends memo to members advising them to stay put

Senate Democrats sue House in state Supreme Court for early sine die

Lauren Book ends trek with Tally rally to protect Florida’s children