Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosMarch 7, 2018

Despite being able to run for a final two years in the House, Rep. Larry Lee Jr. announced Wednesday he is pulling the plug on politics. “You get to this point in your life when you say, ‘why do I have to stand up and take all of these acts?’ Because when you continue to lay […]

Ana CeballosMarch 6, 2018

The Florida House Tuesday passed a priority bill for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam without a toxic gun provision and without considering a contentious bill tied to puppy mills. The language in the House plan was causing heartburn, but state Rep. Jake Raburn, who is sponsoring the House bill, decided to consider the Senate plan, which […]

Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

After an hours-long floor session, in which a series of Democratic attempts to change a controversial school safety bill failed, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday readied the proposal for a final vote. Before that could happen, dozens of amendments sponsored by Democrats were killed. One by Rep. Jared Moskowitz would have removed a ‘guardian program’ […]

Jim RosicaMarch 6, 2018

The House spent three hours just on questions on a contentious $400 million school safety proposal passed by the Senate on Monday. House members took up the bill (SB 7026) Tuesday, with Democrats peppering Speaker-designate José Oliva with questions, many of them duplicative. “Asked and answered,” Speaker pro tempore Jeanette Nuñez said several times. She was in […]

Ana CeballosMarch 3, 2018

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Budget conference chairs are now ironing out funding differences between the House and Senate dealing with a wide-range of policy issues. Chairs Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Carlos Trujillo are figuring out funding for beach restoration, land acquisition and water projects. Currently, the state Legislature is split over nearly $172 million on appropriations for programs funded through Florida […]

Peter SchorschMarch 3, 2018

There is “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment in the Legislature, leaders say, but an ethics reform package that would create new rules and penalties for sexual harassment may not become law this year. The Florida House unanimously passed the proposal this week, but Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley is blocking the bill in the Senate because […]

Drew WilsonMarch 2, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam raised another $431,000 last month for his political committee, Florida Grown, according to records on the committee’s website. The new numbers show Florida Grown at nearly $20 million in total fundraising since it was formed in early 2015. Putnam is running for the GOP nomination for Governor. He currently faces Northeast […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2018

A strike-all amendment planned for the Senate’s 2018 gambling bill will add an authorization for slot machines in counties where voters OK’d them in local referendums, Senate President-designate Bill Galvano said Thursday. The Senate bill (SB 840) is now slated for consideration before the Appropriations Committee Friday. Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, is the Senate’s lead […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

Sponsors of a measure that would make texting and driving a primary offense in Florida on Wednesday continued their fight for the bill’s passage, even though it appears dead in the Senate. The House bill (HB 33), which has the support of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, was heard on the House floor. The measure is sponsored by […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2018

Miami health care magnate and longtime Republican supporter Miguel “Mike” Fernandez and more than 100 other business leaders and other prominent figures have signed and published online a letter declaring the “sanctuary cities ban” effort in the Florida Legislature to be a “misguided and potentially dangerous path.” The letter is addressed to Gov. Rick Scott, […]

Tag: Richard Corcoran

A tearful, fed-up Larry Lee decides to leave House

House passes Adam Putnam’s priority without contentious gun provision

After marathon floor session, House poised to approve school safety bill

House begins deliberations on post-Parkland measure

Final budget items start getting ‘bumped’

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Ethics reform in peril

Adam Putnam committee raises $431K in February

Reanimated: Senate gambling bill, with changes, back in play

Primary texting-while-driving ban teed up in House

Mike Fernandez leads letter signed by scores of business leaders opposing sanctuary cities bill