Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 22, 2015

Tampa Bay area state legislators Tom Lee and Daryl Rouson took center court at todays’ Tampa Tiger Bay Club meeting, where again the Legislature’s divide on health care drove the debate. Lee, a Senate Republican, represents Brandon in Tallahassee, while Rouson’s House District is comprises good chunk of South Pinellas County, but bizarrely also includes portions […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

As state lawmakers prepare to complete their unfinished business in a Special Session next month, among the Legislature’s most important members said Wednesday he’s not exactly sure what to expect. The 120-member Legislature returns to Tallahassee in 12 days to hammer out a budget agreement. “We really don’t know how this is going to play […]

Gary FineoutMay 18, 2015

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature will return to the state Capitol in June and try to do what they couldn’t do during their 60-day session that crashed to a halt. GOP legislative leaders announced late Friday that they have come up with a long list of items they want to tackle during a 20-day special session, including […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 14, 2015

Rick Scott sent a memo to his agencies on Thursday asking them to compile a list of services people cannot lose and identifying what would be funded in a pared back budget he’s developing for the upcoming year. Scott has refused to directly answer, though, whether he’ll be submitting the information he compiles with the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 13, 2015

After an acrimonious and abrupt ending to this year’s session, Florida legislative leaders have started piecing together a framework for a new state budget and to avoid a possible state government shutdown. Some of that framework was discussed in an all-day meeting Wednesday between Sen. Tom Lee and Rep. Richard Corcoran. Gov. Rick Scott for […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2015

Although no deal was reached, Sen. Tom Lee, a Brandon Republican, said that a “fair amount of progress” was made during discussions Wednesday between the House and Senate budget chiefs at the Capitol. “It was super productive,” said Rep. Richard Corcoran, a Land O’Lakes Republican. “I think today we moved the ball down the field […]

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2015

The picture to the right is of the dock in front of the beach house where the Griswolds, er, the Schorsches are vacationing this week. This was supposed to be a recuperative, post-session retreat, and although it has been an enjoyable time here in St. Augustine, it feels like just a break before the next […]

Melissa RossMay 6, 2015

Cooler heads will likely prevail as the Florida House and Senate troop back to Tallahassee in June. So says influential Jacksonville lobbyist and consultant Marty Fiorentino. “I think the Legislature will come back in Special Session and create a budget that’s good for Florida,” he said. “The leadership of both the House and Senate will […]

James CallMay 5, 2015

Lawmakers left the statehouse last week amid a stream of insults and without a budget in place for the fiscal year that begins in July. Most observers seemed to think time away from Tallahassee would lower the temperature in the room and allow budget work to begin but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Senate […]

Ryan RayMay 4, 2015

Southwest Florida businessman Gary Price announced on Monday that he will seek the District 23 Senate seat being vacated by the departure of Garrett Richter due to term limits. In an exclusive conversation with SaintPetersBlog, Price said he will look to leverage his extensive municipal government background – he served on the Naples City Commission for […]

Tag: Tom Lee

Stage legislators defend their own health care coverage at Tiger Bay forum in Tampa

Tom Lee on Tallahassee budget impasse: “We don’t know how this is going to play out”

ICYMI: Legislators agree to do budget, health care during session

What will Rick Scott do with base budget he’s preparing?

Budget details emerge after top lawmakers meet informally in Tallahassee

Top Florida legislators work on budget deal

Takeaways from Tallahassee, er, St. Augustine

Marty Fiorentino: June Special Session should get results

Sen. Tom Lee calls out Rep. Ritch Workman for comments involving his family

Gary Price announces run state Senate run in District 23