Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 10, 2017

A pair of Tampa Bay Republicans filed bills in the House and Senate over the past week that would slap Florida with a full-on fracking ban come. Fracking, shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, is a method of natural gas extraction that sees drillers inject a concoction of water and various chemicals into fault lines deep underground […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 19, 2017

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, and with Hurricane Maria now churning the Atlantic, Florida lawmakers are forming or calling for blue-ribbon panels to improve the state’s readiness to deal with monster storms. House Speaker Richard Corcoran on Tuesday announced the creation of a “Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness” to “gather information, solicit ideas […]

Jim RosicaAugust 23, 2017

Medical marijuana advocate John Morgan has added three more plaintiffs to his lawsuit against the state, filed after lawmakers refused to allow marijuana to be smoked, according to court filings accessed Wednesday. Diana Dodson of Levy County, a cancer patient; Catherine Jordan of Manatee County, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease; and Roberto Pickering of Leon County, […]

Drew WilsonAugust 17, 2017

Agriculture Commissioner candidate and Lehigh Acres Republican Rep. Matt Caldwell rolled out a string of endorsements from his Republican colleagues in the state house. Caldwell earned the support of five Republican representatives: Byron Donalds, Dane Eagle, Heather Fitzenhagen, Bob Rommel and Ray Rodrigues. “I am proud to have unanimous support from House members in Southwest […]

Peter SchorschJuly 25, 2017

In a Tuesday memo, House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced his leadership for the 2018 Legislative Session, including the committee weeks that lead up to the annual session. Current Majority Whip Dane Eagle keeps that post, but now will be a member of the Republican leadership team. Rep. Jim Boyd will chair the Commerce Committee, taking over from […]

Jim RosicaJuly 6, 2017

Medical marijuana advocate John Morgan says cannabis smoking doesn’t “impair lung function” and even “increase(s) lung capacity,” as part of his lawsuit to be filed against the state Thursday. Florida Politics on Wednesday night acquired a copy of the 15-page complaint that Morgan says he will file in Leon Circuit Civil court in Tallahassee—against which a […]

Peter SchorschJune 30, 2017

Rep. Paul Renner has won the support of his Republican classmates, grabbing the title of class leader and likely House Speaker beginning in 2022. The GOP freshmen class met in Orlando on Friday to vote on their class leader. The much-anticipated election pitted Renner against Byron Donalds, Erin Grall and Jamie Grant, who was seen as Renner’s […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2017

With just one week until freshman House Republicans are scheduled to vote for their leader, it appears lawmakers have agreed upon rules governing the election. According to a copy of the rules obtained by FloridaPolitics.com, members will not be allowed to abstain from the vote; discussion between members between the announcement of the eliminated candidate […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 13, 2017

The sponsor of a bill to implement the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment said he is confident the state would prevail if sued over the proposal’s smoking ban. “We believe we will win that lawsuit,” said House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who sponsored the House’s version of the medical marijuana implementing bill during both the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 12, 2017

Rep. Jose Felix Diaz has raised more than $400,000 in the special election to replace Sen. Frank Artiles in Senate District 40. Diaz, a Miami Republican, said his campaign raised about $450,000 — about $280,000 for his official campaign and another $167,000 for Rebuild Florida, his political committee — between May 10 and June 8. “Our […]

Tag: Ray Rodrigues

Tampa Bay lawmakers file bills that would ban fracking

Calls for blue-ribbon hurricane panels abound in Capitol

Smoke this: John Morgan adds plaintiffs to marijuana lawsuit

Matt Caldwell endorsed by five Southwest Florida representatives

Richard Corcoran announces 2018 leadership in House

John Morgan’s suit says smoking pot actually good for the lungs

Northeast Florida’s Paul Renner wins vote to put him in line to be House Speaker in 2022-24

Final rules set for House Speaker’s race voting

Ray Rodrigues: ‘We believe we will win’ suit over medical marijuana smoking ban

Jose Felix Diaz raises about $450K for SD 40 race