Minutes after House Speaker Larry Cretul’s statement, comes one from Senate President Jeff Atwater, which was much more certain of the upcoming session:
“As you know, we have been working diligently with our partners in the Florida House and Governor’s Office to develop comprehensive legislation that will establish statewide policy… [...]
This just in from Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul, who clearly didn’t want to go too far in committing to a special session:
“This is to provide each of you with the best information I have available about the possibility of a special session in December.
“Constructive conversations in recent… [...]
State Sen. Paula Dockery, who announced a couple of weeks ago that she’s running for governor, is kicking off the opening of her Lakeland campaign headquarters on Monday with an open house.
The campaign office for the Republican is at 1037 South Florida Ave., Suite No. 130, in in Lakeland’s… [...]
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled on Dec. 7 to hear Florida v. Powell, a Miranda rights case that could affect law enforcement around the country and untold numbers of other prosecutions.
The state is appealing the Florida Supreme Court’s finding that Tampa police violated the rights of Kevin Dewayne… [...]
In the Republican primary for Florida agriculture commissioner, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow seems like a natural.
One of the party’s fastest-rising stars, he reached a leadership position in Congress three years ago at age 31. He comes from a prominent Polk County citrus and cattle ranching family, and… [...]
One day after the Tampa City Council voted to protect transgender people from discrimination, state Rep. Kelly Skidmore has filed a perennial state bill that would do the same.
Like the city’s new… [...]
The 2010 races are fueling more than fund-raisers and flurries of press releases. They’re also spawning eBay auctions. A quick round of searches on contenders for statewide office produced hits including:
-Five copies of the Sept. 7, 2009 National Review featuring GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio—$15.65 a-piece. One seller is… [...]
This just in from the state Agency for Workforce Innovation: Florida’s unemployment rate inched up again last month to 11.2 percent, reflecting the fact the fact that 1.027 million Floridians were out of work.
That’s just a hair worse that September’s rate of 11.1 percent, but a full percentage… [...]
Jim Cassady, chief of staff for state of the state Department of Financial Services for Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, is going to move over to Sink’s campaign for governor—but not as campaign manager.
The Sink campaign for governor already has a top administrator, campaign manager Paul Dunn.
Dunn… [...]
If Pam Bondi gets into the Republican primary for Florida attorney general, it could be a contest among dog lovers.
Bondi, an assistant state attorney and press spokeswoman in the Hillsborough state attorney’s office, is considering running against Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and former state health care administration Chief Holly… [...]
Following word that Florida employers could face a major tax increase for unemployment compensation next year, Kendrick Meek is trying to pin down Gov. Charlie Crist on accepting federal unemployment aid under the stimulus package.
The fund that pays unemployment compensation claims in Florida is running dry because of the… [...]
Following word that Florida employers could face a major tax increase for unemployment compensation next year, Kendrick Meek is trying to pin down Gov. Charlie Crist on accepting federal unemployment aid under the stimulus package.
The fund that pays unemployment compensation claims in Florida is running dry because of the… [...]
If Pam Bondi gets into the Republican primary for Florida attorney general, it could be a contest between dog lovers.
Bondi, an assistant state attorney and press spokeswoman in the Hillsborough state attorney’s office, is considering running against Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp in the primary.
Bondi got national press attention… [...]
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint is one of the most prominent Republicans nationally to endorse Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate primary against Gov. Charlie Crist—but that apparently hasn’t hurt his ability to raise money from Crist allies in Florida.
During a campaign trip through Florida this weekend, DeMint will… [...]
Tom Slade, former chairman of the state Republican Party of Florida, has “enthusiastically endorsed” state Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland for governor, according to a statement just released by her campaign.
Slade, of Jacksonville, led the state GOP during the 1990s when Gov. Jeb Bush was running for governor.… [...]
A meeting to discuss the concerns of state Republican Party officials worried about the administration of the party—including some upset at state Chairman Jim Greer—will be held tomorrow near Orlando.
Meanwhile, Okaloose County Republican Party Chairman Barbara Wall confirmed that two nights ago, the county party organization passed a resolution… [...]
Gov. Charlie Crist received the following letter of resignation today from communications director Erin Isaac, who announced last week that she is leaving Crist’s administration.
November 16, 2009
Governor Charlie Crist
The Florida Capitol
Pl - 05
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Governor… [...]
Democratic attorney general candidate Dave Aronberg has received his first organized labor endorsement from a non-law enforcement source, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
IUPAT is one of the most politically active unions, providing volunteers and crowds for candidates it favors.
Aronberg faces Dan Gelber in a tough… [...]
The AARP says a poll it did of its members nationally and in Florida shows they support the health care reform bill passed by the U.S. House.
AARP has sustained criticism for backing the move for health care reform, but AARP officials said in a conference call today that the… [...]
An organization that bills itself as “a new Tallahassee-based news service with a commitment to reporting Florida politics in a fair and balanced manner” is looking for reporters and editors.
The organization, which doesn’t identify itself in its ads, posted recruiting notices on JournalismJobs.com last week seeking an… [...]
Florida gun rights advocates appear to be splitting up between Republican candidates for governor, Bill McCollum and Paula Dockery.
Marion Hammer, influential state NRA lobbyist, endorses Dockery—a fact Dockery trumpeted at some length in her first campaign speech at a kickoff rally Tuesday night.
But Bill Bunting, influential Pasco… [...]
The dissatisfaction with state Republican Party Jim Greer, fueled largely by supporters of Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate GOP primary, is breaking into the open with a demand by a large group of high-level party leaders for an “emergency” board meeting that could lead to Greer’s removal.
That’s another… [...]
A former Tampa Tribune editorial page editor, Rosemary Goudreau, is expected to become the campaign spokeswoman for state Sen. Paula Dockery’s campaign for governor.
Dockery will open her campaign tonight with a rally and speech in Munn Park in her hometown, Lakeland.
Goudreau would be among the campaign’s first professional… [...]
Hillsborough County businessman and political activist Sam Rashid is blasting the county commissioners for considering a 1-cent increase in the county sales tax to pay for mass transit and road improvements.
The commission voted 5-2 last week to have the county attorney draw up a resolution that would indicate the… [...]
Senate President Jeff Atwater has just released a three-page “analytical methodology” for his chamber’s offshore oil drilling study, which could extend into or even beyond the 2010 legislative session.
It is the latest signal from Atwater that he is in no rush to lift the ban on drilling in… [...]
(Our apologies for yesterday’s technical difficulties, which prevented this post from appearing correctly yesterday.)
Folks who represent the Seminole Tribe were happy to hear President Barack Obama talking this week about the federal government’s new “commitment” to tribal nations.
It’s been about six months since the state Legislature approved… [...]
Sen. Mike Bennett is again pitching a Constitutional amendment that would stretch term limits for state lawmakers from eight consecutive years to 12. This time, the plan comes with a twist: new term limits for elected local officials, too.
Bennett proposed 12-year term limits for state lawmakers last session,… [...]
A House panel has rejected a request from former House Speaker Ray Sansom that it suspend its investigation into his conduct while criminal proceedings against him are still pending.
The panel is responding to a citizen complaint about Sansom’s past handling of state appropriations and whether his actions violated… [...]
It’s been less than 24 hours since Republican Sen. Paula Dockery filed her papers to challenge Attorney General Bill McCollum in the gubernatorial primary, but the fireworks have already begun.
The state Republican Party blasted out an email today on McCollum’s behalf reiterating the firm support he has from… [...]
The state Republican Party just cried foul in response to Sen. Paula Dockery’s complaint about RPOF Chairman Jim Greer “us[ing] the party’s resources to send out an email of support for my opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum” today. (More about that here.)
Katie Betta, spokeswoman… [...]
Stacy Frank has filed to run for the District 57 state House seat currently held by Republican Faye Culp.
She joins a Democratic primary against Clifford Somers. But Frank will be the best-known of the two candidates—she’s a long-time lawyer and the daughter of Clerk of Court and long-time prominent… [...]
Sen. Paula Dockery, who is filing papers today to run for governor, said this morning that she’s “not getting in the race to run against anybody; I’m getting in the race to offer voters the opportunity to have a different choice. “
Dockery’s decision means an unwelcomed primary challenge for… [...]
The Charlie Crist U.S. Senate campaign has announced, as expected, that Crist’s former governor’s office chief of staff Eric Eikenberg is taking over as manager of the campaign.
Eric Eikenberg, 33, previously was deputy executive director of the Florida Republican Party and campaign manager and chief of staff for former… [...]
Paula Dockery or no Paula Dockery, Attorney General Bill McCollum says that as far as he’s concerned, the race for governor is between him and CFO Alex Sink.
With Dockery, R-Lakeland, filing papers to challenge McCollum in the… [...]
Bill McCollum’s immediate reponse to Paula Dockery’s announcement that she’ll run against him in the GOP primary for governor is to send out a news release trumpeting his backing by former Gov. Jeb Bush.
It’s no surprise that Bush is now backing McCollum against her. Bush hosted a fundraiser for… [...]
The Florida Symposium on Offshore Energy just kicked off at Florida State University, where guests are paying $50 a head to hear from experts on the legal, environmental and economic ramifications of lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida’s waters.
Oil drilling is poised to be the hottest… [...]
The Florida Symposium on Offshore Energy just kicked off at Florida State University, where guests are paying $50 a head to hear from experts on the legal, environmental and economic ramifications of lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida’s waters.
Oil drilling is poised to be the hottest… [...]
Lawton “Bud” Chiles III, son of Gov. Lawton Chiles, says he won’t run for state Chief Financial Officer in 2010.
So far, no Democrat has jumped into the race for CFO, the only Cabinet office the party currently holds. Senate President Jeff Atwater is the leading GOP contender, having… [...]
Lawton “Bud” Chiles III, son of Gov. Lawton Chiles, says he won’t run for state Chief Financial Officer in 2010.
So far, no Democrat has jumped into the race for CFO, the only Cabinet office the party currently holds. Senate President Jeff Atwater is the leading GOP contender, having… [...]
In what looks like a victory for the same conservative forces backing Marco Rubio in Florida, Republican Party nominee Dede Scozzafava dropped out of a special election to fill a vacant House seat in New York Saturday.
Scozzafava’s withdrawal means Doug Hoffman, running as the Conservative Party candidate, will face… [...]
In what looks like a victory for the same conservative forces backing Marco Rubio in Florida, Republican Party nominee Dede Scozzafava dropped out of a special election to fill a vacant House seat in New York Saturday.
Scozzafava’s withdrawal means Doug Hoffman, running as the Conservative Party candidate, will face… [...]
In what looks like a victory for the same conservative forces backing Marco Rubio in Florida, Republican Party nominee Dede Scozzafava dropped out of a special election to fill a vacant House seat in New York Saturday.
Scozzafava’s withdrawal means Doug Hoffman, running as the Conservative Party candidate, will face… [...]
State Sen. Paula Dockery will announce a decision on whether to enter the governor’s race next week, and won’t comment on the accuracy of a news report, and rumors in Tallahassee, that’s she’ll announce she’s running.
Dockery has already said she’s leaning strongly toward entering the race, in which she… [...]
State Sen. Paula Dockery will announce a decision on whether to enter the governor’s race next week, and won’t comment on the accuracy of a news report, and rumors in Tallahassee, that’s she’ll announce she’s running.
Dockery has already said she’s leaning strongly toward entering the race, in which she… [...]
As Holly Benson made her expected announcement today that she’s running for attorney general, supporters of her Republican primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp are fighting back.
Or at least, someone who doesn’t like Benson is. Reporters today received a packet of negative information about Benson from an anonymous… [...]
As Holly Benson made her expected announcement today that she’s running for attorney general, supporters of her Republican primary opponent, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp are fighting back.
Or at least, someone who doesn’t like Benson is. Reporters today received a packet of negative information about Benson from an anonymous… [...]
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is the latest party leader to back Kendrick Meek in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, an indication that the party is uniting behind Meek despite questions about whether he can beat Gov. Charlie Crist, his likely Republican opponent, in a general election race.
Meek has now been… [...]
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is the latest party leader to back Kendrick Meek in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, an indication that the party is uniting behind Meek despite questions about whether he can beat Gov. Charlie Crist, his likely Republican opponent, in a general election race.
Meek has now been… [...]
The Florida State University/Gannett forum on energy exploration—read, oil drilling in state waters—is well under way.
Act 1: David Rancourt, Southern Strategy lobbyist representing the mostly anonymous oil and gas producers known collectively as Florida Energy Associates, immediately, and repeatedly, invoked God in his remarks. He has already thanked God… [...]
