Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 3, 2018

What are progressive Democrats to do when faced with an omnibus school safety and guns bill that has a few things they like but doesn’t have any of the major provisions they’ve insisted on, and also includes something that they worry might be a poison pill? Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado […]

Scott PowersFebruary 26, 2018

A set of three new proposed bills in the Florida House announced Monday seek to make significant changes in the state’s gun laws. Among the proposals: Raise the minimum age for buying a gun in Florida to 21, expand the three-day waiting period to cover the purchase of all firearms, ban “bump stocks,” and create […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 7, 2018

HB 839, a bill requiring school districts to display Florida’s motto “In God We Trust,” cleared its final House committee stop Wednesday. The bill requires display in all “school buildings” in a given district, including school district structures. The House Education committee cleared the bill Wednesday with just one no vote, with Republicans and Democrats […]

Scott PowersNovember 17, 2017

School districts and colleges in Florida and other states may be in line for some of $1.24 billion in federal support for taking in Puerto Rican children displaced by Hurricane Maria, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Friday. Murphy, a Democrat from Winter Park, has been leading the charge, which has included several other Florida Congress […]

Scott PowersNovember 13, 2017

The influx of Puerto Ricans evacuating their devastated homes in Puerto Rico are beginning to test the capacities of Central Florida and in particular Osceola County, and more state coordination is needed, a group of local officials told Gov. Rick Scott Monday. Those officials, including Kissimmee Mayor Jose Alvarez, Osceola County Schools Superintendent Debra Pace, […]

Scott PowersSeptember 28, 2017

Drawing on state data on what jobs are out there and what they pay, and what college and career school programs cost, the Florida Chamber Foundation is launching a new website aimed at helping people understand where the money is and what it will cost. “I have to say to you this is just a […]

Scott PowersJune 21, 2017

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Interparty, cross-house fighting over the controversial education omnibus bill House Bill 7069 is not yet over, nor are efforts to stop provisions that could spell death sentences to underperforming public schools, Republican state Sen. Dave Simmons vowed Wednesday. And the bill might face a legal challenge led by state Sen. Gary Farmer, a Parkland Republican […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate’s leading education expert unloaded Friday on spending levels for schools contemplated in the Legislature’s compromise $83 billion state budget. During debate on extending Florida’s corporate tax exemption scholarship program, Sen. Bill Montford complained that base spending per student would decline in the public schools next fiscal year, notwithstanding a modest increase in the school […]

Gary FineoutMarch 30, 2017

Calling it an “emergency,” Florida may agree to spend up to $200 million to shift students from chronically failing schools to charter schools run by private organizations. The idea crafted by House Speaker Richard Corcoran and other top Republicans in the Florida House is this: Offer up money to help build “Schools of Hope” in […]

Associated PressMarch 9, 2017

Florida’s infrastructure is getting a grade of “C” by civil engineers, but that’s still better than the grade of “D+” given to the nation overall. An American Society of Civil Engineers report card released Thursday says investing in infrastructure must be a top priority in Florida given its growing population. The report card looked at […]

Tag: schools
The Sam M. Gibbons United States Courthouse is located at 801 North Florida Ave., in Tampa, Fla. (Brooke Johnson/Fresh Take Florida)

Amy Mercado, Carlos Smith hear opinions on schools and guns bill

New bills propose gun controls, school law enforcement frameworks, Sunshine exemptions

Bill requiring schools to display state motto clears final House panel

Stephanie Murphy leads effort to get $1.2B to help schools accept Puerto Rican migrants

Central Florida officials ask Rick Scott for more coordination for Puerto Rico evacuees

Florida Chamber Foundation launches ‘My Career’ website tool

David Simmons: We’re not done yet with HB 7069

Bill Montford complains about school spending during scholarships debate

Florida may shift students away from failing schools

Engineers give Florida a “C” grade for infrastructure