Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJuly 10, 2018

The political committee backing a ballot measure to ban greyhound racing in Florida took in more than $250,000 last month, with much of that cash coming in from a pair of national groups. The Committee to Protect Dogs showed more than $165,000 in contributions between June 1 and June 22, and Grey2K USA Worldwide easily […]

Drew WilsonMay 24, 2018

The two-person shop run by Richard Heffley and Kelly Horton had a lucrative start to the year according to newly filed lobbying compensation reports. Heffley & Associates brought in at least $350,000 in total compensation for legislative and executive branch lobbying last quarter and could have earned as much as $590,000 if their clients topped […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2018

Photo above: Greyhounds racing on the track in Bonita Springs. Credit: Van Abernathy. As promised, the group that represents Florida’s greyhound owners and breeders is suing to keep a proposed constitutional amendment to rid the state of dog racing off the November ballot. But a top greyhound racing opponent quickly called the suit “dead on […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2017

A proposed constitutional amendment to end greyhound racing in the state unanimously cleared its first committee Thursday. That was right after its sponsor, Commissioner Tom Lee, delivered a fiery speech on the power of—and oncoming peril to—his proposal. Mira, a 7-year-old greyhound and former racing dog, lay a few feet away. “You haven’t heard from […]

Phil AmmannApril 21, 2016

The startling news that SeaWorld will stop breeding its captive orca whales and will phase out theatrical orca shows in favor of exhibits highlighting whales’ natural behaviors is an indicator of a broader trend in society. SeaWorld realized that making orcas do tricks in small concrete pools is no longer a sustainable business model. The company […]

Guest AuthorOctober 23, 2015

Thousands of trophy hunters will descend on Florida’s wilderness to kill an estimated 320 Florida black bears, a unique subspecies of the American black bear that’s found nowhere else on Earth. The state is holding this hunt starting Saturday despite most Floridians’ opposition to it. Nearly 3,000 hunting permits have been sold. Kate MacFall, Florida […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2015

Thousands of trophy hunters will descend on Florida’s wilderness to kill an estimated 320 Florida black bears, a unique subspecies of the American black bear that’s found nowhere else on Earth. The state is holding this hunt starting Saturday despite most Floridians’ opposition to it. Nearly 3,000 hunting permits have been sold. Kate MacFall, Florida […]

Bruce RitchieApril 15, 2015

Florida is the only state with more than 600 black bears that doesn’t allow bear hunting, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff said in opening remarks during a commission meeting Wednesday in Tallahassee. And 32 of the nation’s 41 states with black bears allow hunting, said Diane Eggeman, director of FWC’s Division of Hunting […]

Tag: the Humane Society of the United States
Image via Florida A&M University.

Greyhound racing ban backers ante up in June

Heffley & Associates nets $390K in Legislative Session earnings

Greyhound owners sue over proposed dog racing ban

Greyhound racing ban clears first CRC committee

Wayne Pacelle: Florida’s politicians need to embrace ‘humane economy’

Kate MacFall: Florida’s black bears in hunters’ sights starting Saturday

Kate MacFall: Florida’s black bears in hunters’ sights starting Saturday

Dramatic increase in conflicts led to bear hunting proposal, FWC chairman says