Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannFebruary 11, 2016

The abrupt end to the 2015 Florida legislative session left an important piece of legislation in limbo: the regulation of the onshore oil and gas industry. Fortunately, Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and Rep. Ray Rodrigues, R-Estero, are again championing this good legislation during this year’s session, and we are nearing the finish line. HB 191 […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 26, 2016

What happens if the Florida Legislature refuses to ratify the Seminole Compact that Gov. Rick Scott negotiated with the Tribe? No one really knows, of course, but state Sen. Joe Abruzzo, a Boynton Beach Democrat, offered a tantalizing hint toward the end of a recent workshop by the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee. Addressing Jim Allen, […]

Jac VerSteegJanuary 25, 2016

What happens if the Florida Legislature refuses to ratify the Seminole Compact that Gov. Rick Scott negotiated with the Tribe? No one really knows, of course, but state Sen. Joe Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, offered a tantalizing hint toward the end of a recent workshop by the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee. Addressing Jim Allen, the CEO […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 21, 2016

A bill that would cut $10 off the cost of a concealed weapon license was unanimously OK’d Thursday by the Senate Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations. The measure (SB 772) would drop the cost of new concealed weapons permits from $70 to $60, and renewals would go from $60 to $50. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Garrett […]

Guest AuthorNovember 12, 2015

During the upcoming Legislative Session there will be bills dealing with the Florida Lottery that can take the lottery in very different directions. One would bring sanity to an out-of-control form of gambling, while the other would allow people to finance their gambling addiction on credit – a dangerous direction for our state. Today’s lottery […]

Guest AuthorNovember 11, 2015

During the upcoming Legislative Session there will be bills dealing with the Florida Lottery that can take the lottery in very different directions. One would bring sanity to an out-of-control form of gambling, while the other would allow people to finance their gambling addiction on credit – a dangerous direction for our state. Today’s lottery […]

Guest AuthorNovember 4, 2015

The exciting energy frontier that hydraulic fracturing represents is one of the best-kept secrets in Florida. The process consists of blasting a water, chemical, and proppant solution under high pressure to create fissures in rocks, which then allows the release of the oil and hydrocarbons locked within. Current dialogue, unfortunately, ignores the tremendous benefits offered […]

Peter SchorschMarch 31, 2014

Economics textbooks talk about “rent seeking” — the practice of obtaining benefits through the political arena. Typically, “rents” are gained via subsidies or tariffs. Today in Florida, though, the best example of rent seeking is via regulation — rules that benefit an industry by hampering its competitors. Much of the time these efforts are obvious […]

Guest AuthorMarch 11, 2014

If you follow financial news like I do, you have probably seen recent coverage about payday loans and the problems they pose for our state’s poorest residents. Payday loans are viewed negatively. More often than not, consumers pay high interest rates and some struggle to repay the loan. Several years ago, I had a brief […]

Tag: Sen. Garrett Richter

Brewster Bevis: The Legislature should pass legislation regulating oil and gas industry

Jac VerSteeg: Sen. Joe Abruzzo’s “wide-open” alternative to the Seminole Compact

Jac VerSteeg: Sen. Joe Abruzzo’s ‘wide open’ alternative to the Seminole Compact

Bill would cut cost for concealed weapon license

Paul Seago: Florida Lottery should be constrained, not expanded

Paul Seago: Florida Lottery should be constrained, not expanded

Sarah Maricle Ayers: Weigh facts on fracking before banning its benefits

Peter Schorsch: Tribe’s opposition to point-of-sale lotto tickets seems impolitic

Drew J. Breakspear: Common-sense regulation of payday loans helps Floridians