Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 12, 2018

Sen. Travis Hutson says he believes “there’s a way for us to get there” when asked about gambling legislation finally passing the Legislature this year. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Finance and Tax on Monday unanimously approved his 90-page rewrite of the Senate’s gaming bill (SB 840) for 2018. It now includes a House provision: A renewed 20-year […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 6, 2018

State lawmakers are uniting against insurance companies that want to use genetic information as a factor for accepting patients and drafting policies. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday advanced a bill (SB 1106) that prohibits the use of genetic information for any insurance purpose, including to establish rate differentials. State law already prohibits […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 3, 2018

As we kick off 2018, a message to Florida lawmakers: Don’t quit while you’re ahead. Last year, our legislators kept many New Year’s resolutions: trimming the fat from the state budget, making sure taxpayers kept more of their hard-earned money and expanding educational opportunity for children across the state. This Session, there are several legislative […]

Ana CeballosNovember 6, 2017

Republican Sen. Rene Garcia, who chairs the Committee on Children, Families and Elders Affairs, said Monday that legislators need to “stop ignoring” mental health in the state even more so after the massacre that killed more than a dozen churchgoers in Texas. “We can no longer move on as a society until we start addressing […]

Staff ReportsOctober 10, 2017

Florida sports franchises will be banned from constructing or renovating facilities on leased public land under a bill advanced Tuesday by the House Committee on Government Accountability. Lobby Tools reports that HB 13, sponsored by Republican state Reps. Bryan Avila and Manny Diaz, is identical to HB 77, which died in the Senate during the 2017 […]

Phil AmmannAugust 29, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Sean White is no longer listed as a legislative analyst in the Senate Majority Office. On: Angela Herndon became administrative support for the House Government Accountability Committee and its subcommittees (Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs; Natural Resources […]

Mitch PerryAugust 28, 2017

Republican candidate for governor Jack Latvala, who’s been aggressive in saying that Florida needs to do more to deal with the exploding opioid epidemic, on Monday called on Gov. Rick Scott to fund another $20 million to address the problem. Latvala, a Clearwater state senator and Appropriations Committee chair, also is calling on Scott to immediately […]

Staff ReportsAugust 15, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the most recent movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On and off: Barbara Crosier is replacing Michael Poche as policy chief for the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. Off and on: Alex Bickley changed roles from district secretary to legislative assistant for Lady Lake Republican Sen. […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

Democratic state Rep. David Richardson is formally announcing his candidacy Monday to run for Congress in Florida’s 27th Congressional district, a seat Democrats are clamoring for now that longtime incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros–Lehtinen is retiring. “Our country is headed in the wrong direction, and we need bold leaders to help turn things around. That’s […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 25, 2017

Sen. Rene Garcia is weighing in on a multi-million dollar bridge project planned for South Florida, telling the Florida Department of Transportation that the Miami-Dade community can’t wait any longer. In a letter to FDOT Secretary Rachel Cone this week, Garcia said he was confident the procurement process established by the state transportation agency “followed […]

Tag: Rene Garcia
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Double or nothing? Senate gambling bill clears latest panel

Life insurers say ban on genetic testing could harm industry

Chris Hudson: This Legislative Session, Floridians have much to be enthusiastic about

Rene Garcia urges legislators to ‘stop ignoring’ mental health issues

Sports franchise bill passes only committee, heads to House floor

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Jack Latvala: State needs to spend $20 million more on opioid crisis

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

David Richardson formally getting into CD 27 race

Rene Garcia: ‘The people of Miami-Dade County … cannot wait any longer’ for signature bridge