Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

James CallApril 3, 2015

Now we have a Session — a battle of wills and philosophies in the building of a state budget. The Senate wants to talk. In the House, the talk is about war. Both chambers have passed a state budget for next year. If you look at the bottom lines the difference is about $4.2 billion. […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 3, 2015

Just past the midpoint of the Florida Legislature’s 60-day session, lawmakers have left town for the Easter and Passover holidays. Let’s take a look at what they have done with the more than 1,700 bills that have been filed. They set next year’s presidential primary for March 15. And they’re really, really close to sending […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2015

Happy Passover/Good Friday to everyone. I don’t think about it often, but a quasi-holiday like today makes me sympathetic to all those in media land who have to produce a full television or radio broadcast on a day that doesn’t portend to contain a lot of news, at least not domestically. When I was producing an […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2015

Happy Passover/Good Friday to everyone. I don’t think about it often, but a quasi-holiday like today makes me sympathetic to all those in media land who have to produce a full television or radio broadcast on a day that doesn’t portend to contain a lot of news, at least not domestically. When I was producing an […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 3, 2015

It didn’t take long for House Appropriation Chairman Richard Corcoran‘s speech to be heard down the halls in the Florida Senate. As the chamber finished its work on Wednesday and recess for the Easter holiday Senate President Andy Gardiner told senators that the chamber wasn’t going to “rant and rave” but would focus its efforts […]

James CallMarch 26, 2015

This day at the Florida Capitol the House Regulatory Affairs Committee held a four-hour workshop on gambling. Surprisingly, there was something comforting and familiar about spending the morning with a room full of Brooks Brothers suits. A historic review of the Tribal-State Gaming Compact and an overview of the legal relationship between the State and […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 25, 2015

Budget chief Sen. Tom Lee said on Wednesday that tax cuts and member projects will be put on hold in the Senate until there is a resolution of whether Florida will receive additional Medicaid supplemental funding to help pay hospitals, federally qualified health centers and Medicaid HMOs. After a marathon seven-plus-hour meeting where the committee […]

James CallMarch 25, 2015

Wednesday at the state Capitol we learned that when the House and Senate begin talking to each other about a state budget what the focus of the discussion will be. We’ve watched the respective leaders draw lines in the sand. And we’ve seen the positions harden. And now, as we approach the midpoint of the […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 23, 2015

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Monday gave the nod to a bill that would restrict contact lens manufacturers from preventing retailers from selling or advertising contact lenses below a set price. The bill, SB 1400 by Sen. Tom Lee, brought lobbyists from Las Vegas, Utah, and Washington, leading former Senate President Don Gaetz to joke that […]

James CallMarch 18, 2015

Wow, talk about a gaggle. If you want a good understanding of what separates the House and Senate as the session approaches the midpoint check out this exchange between Sen. Tom Lee and a gaggle of reporters including the AP, The Palm Beach Post, The Tampa Tribune and the Times/Herald Capitol Bureau. It’s the best gaggle of the session so […]

Tag: Tom Lee

Epic battle brewing at Capitol as Session appears headed to overtime

Lawmakers pass few bills as budget questions linger

Mitch Perry Report for 4.3.15 – Does the Florida House agree there's too much "damn testing" going on?

Mitch Perry Report for 4.3.15 – Does the Florida House agree there’s too much “damn testing” going on?

Tom Lee defends budget, says health care is a priority

The day that was in Florida politics — March 26

No supplemental Medicaid dollars? Then no tax breaks says Senate budget chief

The day that was in Florida politics — March 25

Eyeball Wars II: Senate OKs bills letting retailers set price for contacts

The day that was in Florida politics — March 18

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.