Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2015

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The Florida Senate on Tuesday agreed to amend its proposed redrawn district map with a “sandbox” that again moves the lines in South Florida. The plan by GOP state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla also happens to ensure he wouldn’t have to run against fellow Republican Miami-Dade incumbent Anitere Flores. The Senate, however, put off a vote […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

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Gov. Rick Scott got a figurative swift kick in the pants Monday when the head of Tampa’s leading business group told him to get a move on in filling a vacancy on the local aviation authority’s board. “Possibly unlike any appointment you will make, this next appointment is both an opportunity and your responsibility to make […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

The Florida Senate’s second-ranking Democrat has filed five more plans for consideration in the ongoing Special Session to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The chamber’s redistricting web page shows that state Sen. Oscar Braynon II of Miami Gardens filed the maps Sunday. Braynon, the Democratic leader pro tempore, also is vice chair of the Reapportionment Committee. Its […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

The Florida Senate’s panel on redistricting on Friday narrowly cleared a new map resetting the boundaries of the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The committee’s recommended map (S9090) next will be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday. It was approved on a 4-3 party-line vote. Committee chair Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, said all senators will almost certainly be […]

Matthew IsbellOctober 15, 2015

On October 14th, just a few days before special session begins, the state legislature released six proposed base maps for its state senate lines. Each map is different in some areas and similar in others. From these six proposals the legislature must try and come to an agreement on one final map; something they failed […]

Ryan RayOctober 12, 2015

An across-the-aisle pair of Tampa Bay area lawmakers are seeking to increase the level of taxpayer help Florida businesses can receive for research and development. Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes from St. Petersburg on Monday filed SB 508, a Senate companion bill to legislation that would bump up the level of R&D tax credits a business can receive […]

Ryan RayOctober 12, 2015

Sen. Oscar Braynon has filed the first proposed re-drawn Senate map under President Andy Gardiner‘s new redistricting regime, following a consent agreement under which the Senate admitted it violated state constitutional prohibitions against gerrymandering. Notably, the map does not feature a district which traverses the Tampa Bay, combining parts of St. Petersburg and Tampa by way of unpopulated […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 8, 2015

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Florida is home to more registered boats than any other of the 28 states evaluated in a study released Thursday by the group Environment Florida. The “Summer Fun Index” compiled by the group’s research and policy center shows that more than 37 million people visit the Sunshine State’s waterways each year. “There’s nothing quite like […]

Bob SparksAugust 13, 2015

The dartboard known as the draft Florida congressional district maps is receiving the kind of comments and attacks one might expect. Some are happy, but others fall into the range of sad and outraged. In the end, few new faces are likely to join the Congressional Club in 2017. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, for one, […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 13, 2015

While thinning files last week, I came across one labeled “Crist” and wondered whether to dump it. After successive losses for the U.S. Senate and for governor again, hadn’t Charlie reached the end of the line? No, I thought, something will happen to bring him back. The next day, something did. It was the Florida […]

Tag: Tampa Bay

Senate takes Miguel Diaz de la Portilla map with South Florida changes

Tampa Chamber CEO to Rick Scott: “You owe us” after Sam Rashid fiasco

Oscar Braynon files five more Senate maps

Senate panel barely clears new redistricting map

The ultimate guide to the six state Senate base maps

Bipartisan bill would boost maximum state R&D funding for Florida biz

Oscar Braynon rolls out first Senate redistricting plan ahead of Special Session

Florida’s high-ranking “Summer Fun Index” shows strong backing for Clean Water Rule

Bob Sparks: Despite court requirements, new congressional maps will put few incumbents at risk

The irony of how redistricting has resurrected Charlie Crist