Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonApril 10, 2015

Elizabeth “Liz” Dudek, a longtime state health care planner and administrator and now head of the state’s Medicaid agency, will appear before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee when it meets Wednesday. Though it’s Dudek’s second step in the Senate confirmation process, it’s the first time she’ll appear before the Senate since her boss, Gov. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate isn’t going to play games with Gov. Rick Scott’s executive appointments in the wake of the Medicaid meltdown that is occurring in Tallahassee. Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday told reporters that he holds Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek in high regard and doesn’t see her nomination to run […]

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2015

Legislation that would authorize the University of Miami and its affiliates to establish a single sterile needle and syringe exchange pilot program in Miami-Dade County as a means to prevent the transmission of blood-borne diseases passed unanimously in a Senate committee this morning. The bill (SB 1040) is being advanced by Palm Gardens Democrat Oscar Braynon, It’s […]

Bill PrescottApril 8, 2015

Jesse Panuccio is now a step closer to remaining executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. With a 5-1 vote Wednesday, the Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Committee cleared Panuccio’s nomination. Sen. Jack Latvala offered no comment when asked why he would not recommend Panuccio to remain as Florida’s economic developer in […]

Ryan RayApril 7, 2015

One of several bills making tweaks to Florida’s austere prohibition on gifts, Sen. Oscar Braynon‘s SB 984 was granted an easy passage Tuesday afternoon in the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee. The proposal — which would allow public entities to let candidates and officials use public property such as city halls and conference rooms without […]

James CallApril 5, 2015

This week at the state Capitol the session enters its circus stage. We’ll entertain ourselves with perennial issues, while leaders figure out how to resolve a budget dispute. A gorilla called LIP along with an elephant known as Medicaid expansion are occupying the room used for budget negotiations. While the House and Senate maneuver behind […]

James CallApril 4, 2015

Momma bears. It’s taking the momma bears to end the reefer madness. Paige Figi, Holley Moseley and Dawn Wein are among a group of women who worked the Florida Capitol the past year persuading, pressuring and pleading with lawmakers to lift a prohibition on medical marijuana and authorize the use of cannabis products they say will ease their children’s […]

James CallApril 4, 2015

Momma bears. It’s taking the momma bears to end the reefer madness. Paige Figi, Holley Moseley and Dawn Wein are among a group of women who worked the Florida Capitol the past year persuading, pressuring and pleading with lawmakers to lift a prohibition on medical marijuana and authorize the use of cannabis products they say will ease their children’s […]

James CallMarch 31, 2015

This day at the state Capitol lawmakers continue to clear their desks of items before getting down to serious budget work. They dealt with the contentious issues of marijuana, abortion and fracking before having to deal with the $4.2 billion of really contentious differences in the spending plans they are developing. • • • Sen. Garrett […]

James CallMarch 31, 2015

Sen. Rob Bradley was the man in the arena at Tuesday’s Health Policy Committee meeting. He had to beat back challenges from two factions wanting changes in his SB 7066, a Charlotte’s Web fix (he prefers not to call it a glitch bill) and address complaints from stakeholders wanting an end to the bickering between regulators and growers over rules getting […]

Tag: Oscar Braynon

Ethics and Elections considers Liz Dudek’s confirmation next week

Andy Gardiner says Senate won’t play games with executive appointments

Needle exchange program for Miami-Dade advances in Florida Senate

Jesse Panuccio one step closer to staying DEO chief

Lobbyist gift ban exemption passes swiftly in Senate panel

This week ahead at the Florida Capitol — April 6-12

"Momma bears" roam Florida Capitol seeking medical marijuana for their cubs

“Momma bears” roam Florida Capitol seeking medical marijuana for their cubs

The day that was in Florida politics — March 31

Charlotte's Web fix advances; Rob Bradley says never say never to changes