TALLAHASSEE (NSF) – Florida lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week for an election-year legislative session. Expect the 60-day session to start amicably enough, with the House and Senate poised to quickly pass bills about water policy and boosting opportunities for people with disabilities — priorities of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, and…
By BRANDON LARRABEE THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, December 31, 2015……….After a strange and at times exhausting 2015, Florida’s government and political establishment is bracing for what could be another intriguing year. The legislative session that kicks off in January might not be as bizarre as last year’s gathering, but everyone will…
TALLAHASSEE Facing the threat of term limits, Florida’s appellate court judges will beef up their presence in the Capitol by hiring a lobbyist with strong political connections and a controversial past. The judges hired a former colleague, Paul Hawkes, who resigned a lifetime appellate judicial position in 2011 to avoid a trial and possible removal…
Some of Florida’s biggest politicians have continued to raise big money in December for political action committees that they control. Since the start of the month, special interest groups have dropped $800,000 into the 10 biggest political action committees controlled by the governor, state House members, and key state senators. Politicians are limited in how…
Florida Sen. Thad Altman has filed to run for the Florida House seat now held by Ritch Workman, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Because of the Florida Senate redistricting process now underway, Altman’s current District 16 Senate seat will be on the ballot in 2016. But Altman, R-Rockledge, will not be able to seek re-election under Florida election…
Charlotte County in southwest Florida just became the 13th Florida county where the total number of registered voters rejecting both major parties now exceeds one of the two major parties. Figures posted on Supervisor of Elections Paul Stamoulis’ website show that “other” voters (mostly those with no party affiliation and a small number belonging to…
Political junkies in Tampa Bay awaiting the redistricting process to finally wrap up a few months ago chattered about the prospect of an epic GOP primary fight between state Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. The potential for such a battle-for-the-soul-of-the-GOP race seems to have ebbed, while the more common speculation is about another Yuuuuge…
BY TIMOTHY O’HARA Citizen Staff tohara@keysnews.com Retired South Miami Dade County school teacher Artie Leichner will challenge State Rep. Holly Raschein in the 2016 general election. Leichner, a Democrat from Redland, is taking his first crack at politics in his quest for the House District 120 seat. District 120 includes the entire Florida Keys and a small…
Though not quite as protracted (and definitely not as written about), another leadership battle in the Legislature seems to have settled after days of arm-twisting, pledge-wrangling and nose-counting. State Representative Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican, reportedly has swayed enough defectors from fellow Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, an Orlando Republican, to make Sprowls the likely Speaker of the Florida House of…
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) – Florida’s municipalities intend to fight a proposal now before state lawmakers that would take away their ability to set local election dates and could extend the terms of some current elected officials. State lawmakers on Thursday will look at a proposal that seeks to improve local voter turnout by requiring every city,…