Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2016

Ending “balance billing,” overhauling the state’s insurance laws, and preserving a practice called “prior authorization” are among the goals of the Florida Association of Health Plans for this legislative session. The organization, which represents every health insurer in the state other than Florida Blue, released its priority list on Monday. “FAHP consistently supports legislative proposals that […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

The Florida Senate’s bronze seal, which usually hangs behind the Senate President’s lectern, was removed this week not only to replace the seal’s depiction of the Confederate flag but also in anticipation of still more design changes, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. In October, the Senate decided to remove a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replace […]

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2015

State Sen. Rene Garcia has again filed legislation to create a “Small Business Saturday sales tax holiday.” The bill (SB 1236) was filed Wednesday for the 2016 Legislative Session. The Miami Republican filed a similar bill for last session but it and a House companion died in committees. The idea has been supported by the National Federation of Independent […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 15, 2015

A key difference between the Senate campaigns of Rep. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: the endorsements they roll out. DeSantis has been heavy on big national names, whereas Lopez-Cantera’s list has been heavy on local and state Republicans, as seen with Tuesday morning’s rollout of endorsements from people who arguably know him best: Republicans […]

Ryan RayNovember 20, 2015

A pair of Republican lawmakers will seek approval for a new cabinet-level commissioner of education during the 2016 Legislative Session, reversing the office’s demotion to an appointed position in 2003. The proposals — SB 942 by Sen. Rene Garcia of Miami and HB 767 by Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach — would require a constitutional amendment to reinstate the education commissioner as one […]

Associated PressNovember 20, 2015

A Democratic House member and a Republican Senator want voters to expand term limits for state lawmakers from eight to 12 years. House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford and Sen. Rene Garcia undo bold Thursday that they’ll ask the Legislature to place a measure on the 2016 ballot asking voters to loosen the current term limits. They […]

Jim RosicaNovember 5, 2015

The Florida Legislature became the little engine that couldn’t on Thursday, failing to agree on a new map redrawing the state Senate districts after three weeks of trying in a Special Session. This makes three out of four legislative sessions this year that ended in discord, this time in a redistricting session that itself likely […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2015

Screen-Shot-2015-10-19-at-4.42.10-PM-1024x1024.png

In a surprise move, Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday brought up for discussion a plan to remove a Confederate flag from the chamber’s official seal and replace it with the state flag. The plan was adopted without objection during the first floor session of the third Special Session of this year, though not before several senators were […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

MONEY-STACKS-CONSUMER-CONFIDENCE-e1443209144360-1024x1024.jpg

Republican Sens. Jack Latvala and Joe Negron may have posted big-time fundraising numbers in September but they weren’t the only Senate Republicans raking in contributions. The political committee supporting Bradenton Republican Sen. Bill Galvano for Senate President brought in $207,500, its best fundraising performance since February, and it took only 10 contributions to hit that […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 14, 2015

Political committees for top Senate Republicans have started to bring in cash again after the trio of sessions kept a lock on fundraising for most of the past five months. Clearwater Sen. Jack Latvala’s political committee, Florida Leadership Committee, brought in the most money last month with a $251,000 performance, though there was still plenty […]

Tag: Rene Garcia

Health-plan group releases priorities for 2016 Legislative Session

State Senate seal could be changing – again

Rene Garcia proposes tax holiday to help small businesses

Carlos Lopez-Cantera rolls out big South Florida/Miami-Dade endorsements

GOP lawmakers want elected education commissioner back on Florida Cabinet

Lawmakers seek to expand term limits from 8 to 12 years

Senate votes down redistricting map, ending Special Session

Senate removes Confederate flag from official seal

Senate Republican committees post major fundraising numbers

Top Senate Republicans bring in committee cash for August