Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeMay 15, 2018

Two South Florida state lawmakers plan to ask the Legislature to increase the public education budget, which they say was insufficiently funded during the 2018 Legislative Session and anticipate a budget shortfall exacerbated by mandates passed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. The Legislature officially adjourned in March, but on Monday […]

Jim RosicaApril 24, 2018

Lawmakers have moved from informal talks to exchanging offers toward a Special Session on gambling, sources said late Monday. That’s despite an agreement announced last week between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida guaranteeing that the Tribe will keep sharing gaming revenue from its casinos at least till May 2019. The impetus behind the Special Session effort is a […]

Danny McAuliffeApril 19, 2018

Gaming session or not, Florida teachers want legislators to reconvene to iron out school funding concerns. On Thursday the Florida Education Association renewed its push for the Legislature to reconsider funding stipulations in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, which was rushed through the lawmaking process in the wake of the Parkland […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2018

It’s another happy day at Hard Rock. Gov. Rick Scott Wednesday announced an agreement between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida that “extends the Tribe’s current commitment to make (gambling) revenue sharing payments to the state through May 2019.” The tribe operates Hard Rock-branded and other casinos in Florida, including the flagship Hard […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2018

Screen-Shot-2018-02-23-at-2.44.49-PM.png

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano on Friday said there was no “agreement (on) or recommendations” for a Special Legislative Session on gambling. Legislative leaders, who failed to agree on comprehensive gambling legislation this past Regular Session, have been considering a Special Session after House Speaker Richard Corcoran raised concerns over the potential loss of revenue share from the Seminole […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2018

The head of an anti-casino gambling organization has again written to top lawmakers, saying the Seminole Tribe of Florida‘s commitment to keep paying gambling revenue share should shut down further talks on a Special Session. “Doesn’t today’s commitment by the Seminole Tribe to continue making compact payments resolve the potential revenue loss concern that legislative leaders […]

Jim RosicaApril 4, 2018

Despite a legal right to cut off the money, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has decided to continue paying the state its share of Indian casino gambling revenue each month. The Tribe “confirmed” its decision Tuesday night, according to its outside counsel, Barry Richard of the Greenberg Traurig firm, who participated in a conference call. The Tribe pays $19.5 […]

Jim RosicaApril 3, 2018

Despite increasing calls for and against a Special Legislative Session on gambling, the Seminole Tribe‘s lawyer continues to back his client’s promise to keep paying millions to the state. “They’re not just going to stop paying just because they have the right to,” said Barry Richard on Tuesday. That said, if lawmakers come back with […]

Jim RosicaApril 2, 2018

The head of a group that opposes casino gambling in Florida is telling lawmakers to take a pass on a Special Session for unresolved gambling issues. “If ever there was an issue that the Legislature has already spent too much time, energy, intellectual capacity and political capital, it is gambling,” No Casinos president John Sowinski wrote […]

Staff ReportsApril 2, 2018

Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Audrey Gibson says she’s “stunned by the ongoing inability of the Republican legislative leadership to reach an agreement with the Seminole Tribe over gaming in Florida, and alarmed by the suggestion of an expensive Special Session.” The Senate Democratic Office released her statement Friday morning. “This was not a sudden development, or […]

Tag: special session

Democratic lawmakers call for special session on K-12 funding

Lawmakers swapping deals toward Special Session on gambling

Teachers ask Legislature to revisit school funding amid special session talks

Deal ’em: Rick Scott, Seminole Tribe agree on gambling money

Bill Galvano: No deal on Special Session for gambling

No Casinos: With Tribe’s decision, no need for Special Session on gambling

All in: Seminole Tribe says it will keep paying state

Seminole Tribe’s lawyer says same old gambling proposals ‘won’t fly’

No Casinos on Special Session for gambling: Don’t do it

Audrey Gibson on gambling: ‘This should have been resolved’