Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Frank TorresAugust 11, 2015

State Rep. Scott Plakon is seeking to protect religious organizations from legal action for refusing to perform ceremonies that “violate sincerely held religious beliefs.” On Tuesday, Plankton filed House Bill 43 for the 2016 Regular Session. Known as the “Pastor Protection Act,” it would keep churches and related organizations from being forced to carry out […]

Peter SchorschJuly 14, 2015

The tumultuous, ultra-insider-y race to be speaker of the Florida House during the 2021-22 legislative sessions took another interesting turn Tuesday as Rep. Brad Drake confirmed to Florida Politics that he has withdrawn his pledge to support to Rep. Eric Eisnaugle. In de-pledging to Eisnaugle, once the unanimous choice of his classmates in the House to […]

Ryan RayMay 12, 2015

Democrat Ryan Yadav made it official today – or at least even more official than his original campaign paperwork filing last week did: the criminal defense attorney from Sanford will mount a bid to unseat Rep. Bob Cortes in District 30, one of the most mercurial districts in the state. Cortes bested former Rep. Karen Castor Dentel to take over […]

Ryan RayApril 30, 2015

As lobbyists and pols alike collect their collective jaws from the floor in the wake of Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s Sine Die adjournment spectacle, the Florida Democratic Party is wasting no time in making political hay out of it. The FDP told Florida Politics that it is hitting vulnerable members of the majority in the GOP-dominated Florida House […]

Peter SchorschApril 17, 2015

Another shot has fired in the contentious behind-the-scenes battle in the Florida GOP over the future House Speakership of Eric Eisnaugle. Orange County RPOF Chairman Lew Oliver, in an email obtained Friday by FloridaPolitics.com, confirms that four House members’ districts vulnerable to Democrats in 2016 (three in Orange County), were given a “motive” to pair […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

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The Florida House Judiciary Committee today passed a controversial “conscience protection” bill (HB 7111) that would allow private adoption agencies to refuse child placements with gay couples. Conscience protection legislation grants a person or an entity the ability to refuse to perform an otherwise required duty, because the individual or entity violates their religious or […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 25, 2015

Alcohol in the Sunshine State will have to come in the liquid form as a House committee on Tuesday voted in favor of a bill that makes powder alcohol illegal in Florida. The House Business & Professions Committee advanced the bill along after rejecting an amendment that would have regulated the sale of powder alcohol […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

It was a boozy afternoon in Wednesday’s House Business & Professions Subcommittee meeting, led by Apalachicola Republican state Rep. Halsey Beshears and a cavalcade of stakeholders offering public testimony about the current state of affairs within Florida’s alcohol rules and regulations regime. The two hottest issues were by far and away proposed changes regarding 64-ounce […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 4, 2014

In four closely watched state House races in the Orlando area, challengers continue to make headway — with state party help — on the road to Nov. 4. Here are current finance numbers for Aug. 30 to Sept. 12, from the Florida Division of Elections: House District 29 The tightest fundraising race in the region […]

Tag: Scott Plakon

Scott Plakon files “Pastor Protection Act” to shield churches from “violating beliefs”

The race to be House Speaker in 2020-21 takes another interesting turn as Brad Drake de-pledges from Eric Eisnaugle

Ryan Yadav formally announces a run in HD 30

Florida Democrats unveil text of mailers, robocalls targeting vulnerable House Republicans

Orange Co. GOP leader: Blaise Ingoglia should resign as Florida GOP chairman

House committee passes bill to allow private adoption agencies to deny gay adoption

House committee passes bill to make palcohol illegal

Lawmakers drink in grocery store spirits, growlers in legislative hearing

Orlando-area House challengers gain fundraising ground