Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2017

A U.S. appeals court ruling that federal law doesn’t bar smokers from using a landmark Florida Supreme Court decision from proving damages gave a smile to one former Florida judge. The 11th Circuit on Thursday said plaintiffs and their survivors can use the “Engle tobacco class action’s jury findings to establish strict liability and negligence […]

Peter SchorschMay 13, 2017

The opposition to the “whiskey and Wheaties” bill has surged to 2,572 emails, 173 phone calls and nine letters, according to the latest tally from Gov. Rick Scott‘s office. In support are 315 emails, 64 calls and six letters. The legislation would allow retailers to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other […]

Peter SchorschMay 6, 2017

Editor’s note: FloridaPolitics.com comprehensive list of the Winners and Losers emerging from the 2017 Session will be published after Sine Die. Arthenia Joyner may no longer be in the Legislature, but she finally was able to see a prized piece of legislation pass. This week, the House unanimously approved the “Compensation of Victims of Wrongful […]

Peter SchorschApril 29, 2017

Just before 5 p.m. on Friday, the deadline to apply for the open position of secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the fill-in guy filed. Ryan Matthews, the interim secretary, wants the job permanently. “We are in a unique position to continue moving Florida forward when it comes to environmental restoration, conservation and protection,” he […]

Peter SchorschApril 22, 2017

Richard Corcoran says he loves Gov. Rick Scott “to death,” but is getting weary of the “slings and arrows” he’s taken from him over the last couple of months. It’s the continuing battle over VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s public-private tourism marketing arm, which the House speaker still believes needs to be reined in and […]

Peter SchorschApril 15, 2017

“Before we begin with agency business,” Gov. Rick Scott said at this week’s Cabinet meeting, “we have one more person to recognize.” To his surprise, it was CFO Jeff Atwater, who’s leaving Tallahassee after this Legislative Session to join Florida Atlantic University as VP and CFO “I don’t see this on the agenda,” Atwater said, […]

Peter SchorschApril 8, 2017

Mike Carroll sounded tired as he took to the mic during this week’s Pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention kickoff at the Governor’s Mansion. The secretary of the Department of the Children and Families again has had to deal with high-profile deaths, including, most recently, Naika Venant and Lauryn Martin-Everett. Both were ‘system’ kids; both had hanged […]

Peter SchorschApril 16, 2016

And so it goes, another attempt to change the state’s alimony regimen, down in flames. This year’s bill (SB 668) was complicated by the addition of language from another measure in the 2016 Legislative Session. It would have changed the beginning assumption of child custody (or “time-sharing”) to 50/50 between spouses. And that is what […]

Tag: takeaways

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Tobacco decision cheers one former judge

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Opposition mounting to ‘whiskey & Wheaties’

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Arthenia Joyner’s bill delayed, but not denied

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Ryan Matthews applies for DEP top spot

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Richard Corcoran’s ‘sea of troubles’

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Going in style

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Pinwheels, and putting the pieces back together

Takeaways from Tallahassee – The (veto) pen is mightier than the (legislators’) sword