Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 30, 2015

When it became clear that the House and Senate wouldn’t agree on a budget, Republican Gov. Rick Scott was in California trying to get shipping companies to move to Florida. And when the Legislature was at the point of no return to either pass a budget or go home without completing the one task it’s […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

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Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for a hydraulic fracturing regulation bill on Monday, but says he will vote against a companion bill that would provide a public records law exemption. The outcome of the public records exemption bill likely depends on whether Gaetz is joined by others who supported the bill to provide for fracking regulation. HB 1205, […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 26, 2015

Health care financing isn’t the only unresolved issue heading into the final week of the 2015 Legislative Session. A significant amount of health care policy — from deciding the role advanced registered nurse practitioners should have in an ever-evolving delivery system to whether doctors should be allowed to override insurance companies and HMOs as they […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 25, 2015

The House and Senate exchanged and rejected budget offers on Friday and with one week left in the Session the two chambers continue to disagree over how to finance health care and whether 800,000 working Floridians should receive health care access. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said if the chambers cannot find a “reasonable approach to […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 24, 2015

The Florida Senate has not backed off its position that working uninsured Floridians need to have access to health insurance and that the Medicaid supplemental program known as Low Income Pool should remain intact. In a counteroffer to the House’s offer to put $200 million into health care financing the Senate held firm on its […]

Tag: Tom Lee

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

As lawmakers feud, Rick. Scott visits Ferris wheel, Wawa

Fracking public records bill hangs on whether supporters vote against exemptions

Can health care issues pass though Medicaid bogs down Session?

Offers fly but still no budget agreement

Senate counters House with Medicaid expansion; other health care items may be in play