Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 23, 2018

Gun-reform measures released by Gov. Rick Scott and leaders of the Republican-controlled Legislature are being hailed as the greatest proposed deviations from hard line pro-gun laws in the Sunshine State in recent history — but Democratic officials, groups and politicians have been quick to claim the proposals are inadequate. The legislative initiatives released Friday are […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 7, 2018

The House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday decided to oppose a bill it calls an “attack on … public education.” The “caucus position” against the measure (HB 7055) came during a meeting before the afternoon floor session where House members are discussing their version of the state budget for 2017-18. The education bill, among other things, would […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 6, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Austin Kernan is a new legislative analyst in the Senate Majority Office. Off: Cathy Boyett is no longer a committee administrative assistant for the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. Off: Administrative support staffer Lindsey Locke is no longer with […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 30, 2018

Penalties for welfare recipients who don’t “get with the program” would increase under a bill that cleared a House panel Tuesday. The measure (HB 751), filed by Cape Coral Republican Dane Eagle, was approved by the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee on a 12-1 vote, with only Rep. Shevrin Jones opposed. This is the third year the […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 16, 2018

Since the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the early 1980s, public health experts have advocated for syringe exchange programs as one the most powerful tools to reduce the spread of viral infections — including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C — by removing contaminated syringes from circulation. They have documented time and again that […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 11, 2018

There are a number of bills this Session that would shift control from local governments to the Legislature, making some elected officials — like Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum — unhappy. In the House, one of those bills is being expedited during week one of Session. House Speaker Richard Corcoran voiced his […]

Staff ReportsNovember 27, 2017

Last week, more than 25 Democratic legislative leaders from Palm Beach County and the state announced endorsing state Rep. Lori Berman in her bid for Senate District 31. Among those lining up behind Berman, a Lantana Democrat who represents HD 90, are Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, former Congressmen Patrick Murphy and […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2017

Two Democratic lawmakers filed proposals this week that seek to expand a pilot needle-exchange program approved in 2016 for Miami-Dade County. After four unsuccessful tries, the Legislature finally passed a bill to create needle exchange program in Florida during the 2016 Legislative Session. Modest in scope, the bill was limited to only in Miami-Dade County. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 24, 2017

For enthusiasts of Confederate monuments, the University of North Florida poll released Tuesday morning presents bad news and good news. The poll — a live dial survey from Oct. 11-17 of 816 registered voters — says that only four in ten Florida voters want the monuments to “remain in public places as reminders of Southern […]

Tag: Shevrin Jones

House begins deliberations on post-Parkland measure

Democrats react to Parkland reforms, criticize lack of assault weapons ban

House Democrats unite against contentious education bill

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Penalties would increase for welfare recipients under House bill

Kasha Bornstein, Austin Coye: Expand syringe exchange; all Florida deserves Miami miracle

Pitted against an overreaching House, few fight for more local power

Lori Berman nabs two dozen endorsements in SD 31 bid

Lawmakers seek expansion of needle-exchange program

Shock poll: Only 4 in 10 Florida voters want Confederate monuments to stay put