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Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

On Friday, the last regularly scheduled day of the 2015 Legislative Session, lawmakers didn’t vote on the budget or scurry to get their bills passed in the waning hours. Instead, Senate Democrats held an afternoon press conference to discuss the Florida Supreme Court lawsuit they filed over the abrupt sine die of the House on […]

Phil AmmannMay 1, 2015

Editorial cartoonist Bill Day sharpens his pencil to mark the “official” sine die of Florida’s 2015 Legislative Session. While Friday would usually be filled with post-hanky drop celebrations throughout the Florida Capitol and along Adams Street, there is no joy tonight in Mudville (otherwise known as Tallahassee). On Tuesday, the House abruptly adjourned its session, hightailing […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a health care spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s late-night apology for Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s questionable Twitter posts were not enough. Sen. Arthenia Joyner issued a statement early Friday noting that Gaetz has not apologized and that Crisfulli’s attempts to defuse the situation did not succeed. In her response Joyner said not only were the remarks racist, that the House’s opposition […]

Phil AmmannMay 1, 2015

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott named two Tampa legal experts to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Hillsborough County. Judge Christopher Nash, 43, of Tampa, currently serves as Hillsborough County Judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. He previously practiced with Leavengood, Nash, Dauval & Boyle from 2004-2013. Before that, he worked with Akerman Senterfitt […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 30, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli sent a memo to representatives Thursday telling them he had no intention of calling them back to Tallahassee because of a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by Senate Democrats. “We strongly disagree with the arguments that were filed by 13 Democrat members of the Senate and believe that the House’s […]

Bob SparksApril 30, 2015

What a week. First, Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Florida is suing the Obama administration over the Medicaid expansion issue. Then, we witnessed some remarkable political gamesmanship when the House adjourned three days early. The words “insurmountable differences” on the budget and Medicaid expansion accompanied the banging gavel in the House […]

Daniel TilsonApril 30, 2015

So, conservative extremists disabled our Florida Legislature this week. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli rocked the ship of state and shocked many of his GOP colleagues when he abruptly adjourned the 2015 session several days early. This, with a state budget and much important legislative work still undone. This, because of an iron-clad commitment by Gov. […]

James CallApril 30, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday afternoon ordered the House to respond by 10 a.m. Friday to Senate Democrats’ lawsuit against the lower chamber for adjourning the 2015 Regular Session three days early. After the House replies, the Democrats will have until 12:30 p.m. to answer. Earlier Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner had asked […]

James CallApril 30, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner wants to schedule three weeks in June for a special session to write a state budget. Gardiner wrote to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Thursday, thanking the speaker for a prompt response to his previous letter and acknowledging the House’s intention not to return to Tallahassee prior to the scheduled expiration […]

Tag: Steve Crisafulli

Senate Democrats talk sine die lawsuit, Matt Gaetz’s tweets

Bill Day’s latest: Gone fishin’

“Year of water” failed along with most environmental bills

Arthenia Joyner calls Matt Gaetz tweet, opposition to Medicaid expansion racist

Gov. Scott names Tampa’s Christopher Nash and Mark Kiser to Circuit Court

Steve Crisafulli sends memo to members advising them to stay put

Bob Sparks: Do new statements jump-start budget negotiations?

Daniel Tilson: Florida should shun radicalism of Gov. Scott, House Republicans

High court orders House to answer sine die lawsuit by 10 a.m. Friday

Andy Gardiner proposes 3-week Special Session in June