Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 5, 2017

House votes on senate gambling bill—by amending it with their own bill The House stood its ground, voting 73-40 Wednesday to replace the Senate’s gambling overhaul (SB 8) with its own version (HB 7037). That sets up the conference process by which both sides say they can “iron out the differences” between their different approaches. […]

Joe HendersonMarch 23, 2017

It’s not surprising that the so-called “whiskey and Wheaties” bill that cleared a Florida House committee Wednesday did so by a bare 15-13 margin. Any measure that makes it easier to buy booze will mobilize people on both sides. This bill is basically equivalent to one in the Senate, which would knock down the legislative wall […]

Jim RosicaMarch 20, 2017

In addition to the Sunshine State, Pennsylvania lawmakers have now filed legislation to break down the wall of separation between liquor and other goods. On Saturday, the Philadelphia-based Billy Penn news site reported that bills in that state’s “House and Senate would create a new category of license that would allow grocery and convenience stores […]

Jim RosicaMarch 17, 2017

The Florida Senate’s bill to remove the “wall of separation” between hard liquor and other retail goods is scheduled for the floor next week. The “whiskey and Wheaties” legislation (SB 106) is on the special order calendar for next Tuesday, according to the chamber’s website on Friday. Meantime, the House companion (HB 81) has been struggling, escaping […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2017

The House “whiskey & Wheaties” bill has limped out of another committee with a one-vote margin. And that was after its sponsor fixed a problem that could have cost the Department of Business and Professional Regulation more than $250,000 in lost liquor license revenue. The legislation (HB 81) cleared the Government Operations and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday by a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2017

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After the “whiskey and Wheaties” bill nearly whiffed in the House, a new twist was filed Monday evening. A proposed amendment on the bill (HB 81) would create dual “liquor package store licenses,” with “Type A” licenses going to stores keeping a wall of separation between booze and other retail items, and “Type B” licenses going […]

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2017

After a local news outlet reported seven Tampa Bay-area Publix grocery stores failed health inspections, the Department of Agriculture pulled all pass/fail grades and inspections from the online database. “I believe that the pass/fail system is unclear because if it’s a failure, why is it still open?” Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam explained to WFTS-TV. Which raises […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2017

House members served up a sour version of the “whiskey and Wheaties” bill Wednesday as it barely cleared its first committee. The Careers and Competition Subcommittee cleared the legislation (HB 81) by a vote of 8-7, with the panel’s chair, Monticello Republican Halsey Beshears, voting against it. This is the fourth year a version of […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 9, 2017

A Senate bill to remove the “wall of separation” between hard liquor and other retail goods won approval from a second committee, clearing it to be considered by the full Senate. The bill sparked an unexpected objection from National Rifle Association lobbyist Marion Hammer after an amendment came up banning liquor from being sold in the same […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2017

State Sen. Bill Galvano Wednesday filed an amendment to this year’s “whiskey and Wheaties” legislation to “slow its implementation so it doesn’t come into the marketplace all at once.” The bill (SB 106), filed for four years running, would repeal the Prohibition-era state law requiring businesses, such as grocery chains and big-box retailers, to have separate stores […]

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Jennifer Barbosa. Image via campaign website.

Short takes: Legislative roundup for Wednesday

Joe Henderson: Time for wall between whiskey & Wheaties to crumble

Pennsylvania joins Florida in considering ‘whiskey & Wheaties’

Senate’s ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill teed up for floor

House ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill clears another panel — barely

Is House splitting the difference over the whiskey & Wheaties bill?

Why does Florida use pass/fail for health inspections, not actual grades?

‘Whiskey and Wheaties’ bill squeaks out of House panel

“Whiskey and Wheaties” bill now cleared for Senate floor

Amendment would slow down effect of ‘whiskey and Wheaties’ bill