Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

A bill to repeal the state’s tobacco bond cap is moving in the Florida House. Whether it’s fair is another story. The measure (HB 6017), carried by GOP Rep. Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach, cleared its first committee last week by a unanimous 14-0 vote and moves to Appropriations. A companion bill (SB 124) is in the Senate. The […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 11, 2017

House Speaker and likely gubernatorial candidate Richard Corcoran’s political committee had a healthy stint in November, raising $753,700 – the fourth-highest monthly total since the committee’s inception last June. From law firms and attorneys alone, Watchdog raised $208,000 last month. The Land O’ Lakes Republican’s committee also received a combined $35,000 from Swisher International and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2017

Tobacco companies are hoping next year’s try at a bond cap repeal doesn’t go up in smoke. Legislation that would do away with the limit on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds has again been filed, this time for the 2018 Legislative Session. The one-line bill (SB 124) simply repeals the section […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

The city of Jacksonville’s municipal code has taken a gradualist approach to tobacco prohibition — and it’s not done yet, if a recently-filed bill is any indication. In 1973, the consolidated city passed an ordinance banning smoking in various places in the city. Then, a fortnight later, a second ordinance was passed clarifying that prohibition […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 9, 2017

Two Florida lawmakers want to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco in the Sunshine State. Sen. Darrly Rouson and Rep. Lori Berman held a press conference Thursday to tout legislation they filed to raise the age to purchase tobacco to 21. The proposals (SB 1138 and HB 1093), lawmakers said, would help lower the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2017

Floridians can vote and enlist in the military when they’re 18, but a new Senate bill would have them wait until they’re 21 to go to Marlboro Country. SB 1138, filed Wednesday by Democrat Darryl Rouson, would raise the smoking age from 18 to 21. Rouson’s bill would amend Florida Statute 569.008, which currently restricts the […]

Scott PowersAugust 19, 2016

Congressional-District-10-candidates-Fatima-Rita-Fahmy-left-and-Val-Demings-right.-1024x1024.jpg

Democratic congressional candidate Fatima Rita Fahmy is charging that her leading opponent in the Florida’s 10th Congressional primary, Val Demings, is taking money from organizations fighting against Democratic issues such as marijuana, Everglades restoration and renewable energy. The latest criticism is part of Fahmy’s ongoing efforts to paint Demings, a former Orlando police chief who […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 6, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 5, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 24, 2015

With little to no fanfare the House Civil Justice Subcommittee early Monday deferred action on a bill aimed at snuffing out the lawsuits of 4,500 smokers and their families who have sued cigarette manufacturers but still await trial. Subommittee Chairman Rep. Kathleen Passidomo announced at the beginning of the meeting that the bill, HB 1067, […]

Tag: tobacco

Tobacco bond cap bill clears House panel—but is it fair?

Richard Corcoran’s political committee tops $750K in November

Tobacco bond cap repeal teed up again in Legislature

Movement in Jacksonville begins to ban tobacco sales to those under 21

Darryl Rouson, Lori Berman urge Florida to become a ‘Tobacco 21’ state

Darryl Rouson wants to raise the smoking age to 21

Fatima Rita Fahmy, facing her own finance issues in CD 10, blasts Val Demings for her PAC money

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Bill to limit tobacco lawsuits snuffed by House subcommittee