Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2016

House lawmakers spent nearly two hours Tuesday setting up the chamber’s 2016 business and economic incentives package, which will likely be debated and voted on by that chamber on Wednesday. A line of Democrats barraged sponsor Jim Boyd, a Bradenton Republican, with questions on the measure (HB 1325) before it was finally rolled over to a third […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 23, 2016

The Florida Senate on Tuesday OK’d a proposal that creates a legal presumption that parents should get equal time with their children after a divorce. Senators voted 23-15 to approve legislation (SB 250) sponsored by Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican. The vote came about an hour after the Senate temporarily postponed a vote on the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2016

The Chairman of the Tampa Bay Sierra Club, Kent Bailey, issued out a letter to Hillsborough County Commissioners on Monday, where he once again stated that the Board should begin implementing policies right now to deal with transportation issues, before awaiting the results of referendum later this year (that may never even get on the […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Brandon state Sen. Tom Lee, conspicuously missing on a list last fall of Florida state senators backing Jeb Bush‘s presidential aspirations, said Monday he’s foursquare behind Marco Rubio for the GOP presidential nomination. “Beyond being a good friend, Marco Rubio is a committed conservative leader with a unrivaled record of accomplishment in Florida and Washington,” Lee said […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

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A concept of “deal” implies that each side gets “something.” Not so with Uber and the taxi industry. So far, in all negotiations, Uber has stuck to everything they want, yet offering little (or nothing) in return. From the onset, Uber’s arrival in Florida quickly became a matter of ignoring the existing rules, beginning with […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 18, 2016

The Florida Senate on Thursday began considering a bill creating a legal presumption that parents deserve equal time with their children after a divorce. A vote on the measure (SB 250) could take place next week. In sum, it says starting with the assumption of 50-50 time-sharing at the beginning of custody cases is in […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

A contentious bill meant to remake what critics call Florida’s antiquated alimony law and end “forever alimony” was cleared Tuesday by a Senate panel. The Judiciary Committee, the first of its three review panels, OK’d the measure (SB 668) by a 6-4 vote after impassioned comment for and against the proposal, even after speakers were limited […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 11, 2016

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Now the horse-trading begins. The Florida Senate on Thursday unanimously passed its $80 billion budget 40-0, setting up the conference process where legislators grind out a budget each year. Both sides of the aisle united to pass the spending plan, though some Democrats still raised concerns. Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth, for instance, suggested extra money would […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

Equal time for both parents after a divorce would be the starting line in child custody cases under a bill heading to the Senate floor. The Rules Committee cleared the measure (SB 250) on a 7-4 party-line vote on Wednesday. The legislation, sponsored by Brandon Republican Tom Lee, creates a legal assumption that 50-50 time-sharing is in the best […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 8, 2016

Lawmakers could only raise money for the first 11 days of the year, but that didn’t stop some of the top Republicans in Legislature the posting six-figure hauls to start the year. Campaign and committee finance reports aren’t due until Wednesday, though Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee, Innovate Florida, leads early filers after posting $216,000 […]

Tag: Tom Lee

House members grapple with incentives funding process

Senate approves child time-sharing bill

Mitch Perry Report for 2.23.16 – Still waiting for that Go Hillsborough Sheriffs report

Tom Lee is now backing Marco Rubio for president

The case for the taxis not making a legislative deal with Uber & Lyft

Child time-sharing bill goes before full Senate

Amid jeers, Senate alimony bill clears first committee

Senate unanimously passes its proposed 2016-17 budget

Bill on equal time in child custody heads to full Senate

Republican committees post 6-figure hauls in first days of 2016