Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday ended the state’s biggest budget crisis in more than two decades by signing a more than $78 billion budget into law, but he may have created another divide with some of his fellow Republicans. Scott signed the budget just days after the Florida Legislature approved it during an unusual June […]

Guest AuthorJune 22, 2015

This year in Tallahassee, there has been no shortage of opinions on how to divide the dollars the Florida Legislature is constitutionally required to spend on natural resources through Amendment 1. Throughout the debate, some have tried to hold our lawmakers to an arbitrary standard, arguing for tens of millions of dollars to be spent […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 3, 2015

Florida_Forever_Calendar__AUG__LINC.us__W.Dickey__c_2008-1024x1024.jpg

The multibillion health care fight in has been “sucking the oxygen” out of the Capitol and has taken attention off Amendment 1, Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee said Tuesday. Lee, the Senate’s chief budget writer, told reporters after an Appropriations Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon that “frankly, Amendment 1 is a big deal and deserves more attention […]

Phil AmmannJune 2, 2015

A new web ad released Tuesday by a Democratic-leaning “nonpartisan” group is criticizing the Legislature’s “misplaced priorities and failed leadership” as lawmakers start the 20-day Special Session. The 60-second digital spot, “Disgraceful,” is the latest salvo in FloridaStrong’s multimedia campaign to educate voters and remind elected officials of the “in-district cost” of the state’s political stalemate over […]

Gary FineoutJune 1, 2015

FloridaΓÇÖs_Historic_Capitol_and_Florida_State_Capitol_2-1024x1024.jpg

The Florida Legislature began its 20-day Special Session on Monday, with legislative leaders sounding more open to compromise as they race against the clock to pass a new state budget. The conciliatory tone espoused by House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner was different than just a few weeks ago when the Republican-controlled […]

Guest AuthorMay 31, 2015

“It’s like Déjà vu all over again” is one of my favorite “Yogi-isms” and it’s been looping on repeat in my head like an earworm. I’m referring to the Florida Senate’s latest attempt to revise its healthcare FHIX proposal and, yes again, expand Medicaid. The new plan will be called many things to attract broad […]

Guest AuthorMay 31, 2015

“It’s like Déjà vu all over again” is one of my favorite “Yogi-isms” and it’s been looping on repeat in my head like an earworm. I’m referring to the Florida Senate’s latest attempt to revise its healthcare FHIX proposal and, yes again, expand Medicaid. The new plan will be called many things to attract broad […]

Bob SparksMay 28, 2015

Next week the Florida Legislature returns for an overtime session to fulfill their sole constitutional requirement of passing a budget. Not a Washington budget, but one where bean counters must have the same number of beans on the expense side as well as the revenue side. Conversations containing the word “shutdown” have gained a little […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 28, 2015

The 2015 Special Session is being referred to as a budget session but it could just as easily be described as the Special Session on health care. Thirty-two bills have been filed for consideration in the 2015A session and 40 percent of them involve health care, either through substantive policy changes, financing, or both. They […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 27, 2015

As the lawmakers prepare to return to Tallahassee for a budget and health care special session House leadership has prepared a 60-second Internet ad warning viewers that the same lobbyists and corporate hospital executives that “pushed ObamaCare through Congress” want to expand Medicaid in Florida. The simple, animated video features reds and blues, playing off […]

Tag: special session

Gov. Rick Scott signs state budget in private, averts government shutdown

Brewster Bevis: Legislature shows leadership by ensuring Amendment 1 dollars benefit everyone

Amendment 1 getting short shrift because of health care battle

FloridaStrong digital ad blasts Legislature’s “misplaced priorities, failed leadership”

Florida legislators return with plan to end budget stalemate

Sal Nuzzo: Senate’s new FHIX offering is ‘like Déjà vu all over again’

Sal Nuzzo: Senate's new FHIX offering is 'like Déjà vu all over again'

Bob Sparks: Shutdowns, Obamacare and July special sessions

Upcoming special session almost as much about health care as budget

House leadership takes anti-Medicaid campaign to Internet