Florida politics

List Of Florida Legislation That Passed, Failed In 2013

News Service of Florida — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:41:47 +0000

Lawmakers have gone home. The following is a partial list of bills that were passed or failed to pass during the 2013 Florida Legislative session. (Please note: This is NOT a comprehensive list.)

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out an interactive bill tracker of this year's session from the Miami Herald.

New State Budget Would Boost Spending on Education, Teacher Pay

Gina Jordan — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:44:29 +0000

The Florida House has released its proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

Speaker Will Weatherford says education was prioritized over everything else.

“The big winner is education,” Weatherford said.

Florida Lieutenant Governor Resigns, After Investigation Of Non-Profit

editor — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Florida's lieutenant governor abruptly stepped down on Wednesday, two days after Florida law enforcement officials questioned her involvement with a non-profit under investigation.

According to The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union, Jennifer Carroll sent a resignation letter to Gov. Rick Scott that did not give a motive for her resignation.

As National Proxy, Florida's A State To Watch

Rick Stone — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Florida has always been a state to watch, if only as a guilty pleasure or perhaps in self-defense. But some major political stars are aligning and the pundits are beginning to agree, Florida will really be a State To Watch from now at least through the 2016 election.

The personalities-of-the moment are here. The game-changing demographics are here. And the Florida stage is set for epic -- and deeply symbolic -- political confrontations.

Six Questions With 'Gun-Free Zone' Florida Representative

Margie Menzel — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:30:00 +0000

Rep. Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has been all over the news this week. On Monday, responding to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, he said all remedies must be "on the table" legislatively, including allowing teachers and principals to arm themselves on school grounds.

NEWSCAST: Scott Vs. Crist

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 23:21:44 +0000

Florida Groups Seek Legal Status For Pot

Rick Stone — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:09:17 +0000

Florida advocates for liberalizing marijuana laws felt the rush on Nov. 6 when two states, Colorado and Washington, legalized marijuana and Massachusetts approved its use for medical purposes.

So they really like their chances for their own proposed measures, two for medical and one for out-and-out legalization.

NEWSCAST: Allen West, Over And Out

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:31:28 +0000

NEWSCAST: Allen West Loses Recount Hearing

Kelley Mitchell — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:46:44 +0000

NEWSCAST: Awkward! Both West and Murphy In Washington, D.C.

Kelley Mitchell — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:13:28 +0000

NEWSCAST: Florida Finally Gets A Color

Kelley Mitchell — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:07:59 +0000

In Tallahassee, Republicans Will Still Rule But With A Hand Weakened By Election

Rick Stone — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Democrats in the Florida Legislature made some gains in Tuesday's election. They weren't enough to end Republican majorities in the House or Senate but they did reduce GOP strength by a measureable notch: Republicans no longer have the supermajorities required for total domination of one party by another.

Boca Raton Democratic Sen. Maria Sachs' victory over Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Hollywood was the critical win in the upper chamber.

NEWSCAST: Lynn University Debate Through Voters' Eyes

Kelley Mitchell — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:29:30 +0000

And now, on the other side of a pretty prestigious political night for South Florida - one last look at the Presidential debate at Lynn University.

Kenny Malone was onsite at Lynn University and wanted to watch the debate through the eyes of the Florida voter.

NEWSCAST: The Show Is About To Go On

Kelley Mitchell — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:15:03 +0000

Lynn University is getting ready for her close up.

The third and final debate between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney is just a couple of hours away.

The Boca Raton school that very few had even heard of is also on the national stage.

Despite CDC Appeals, Politics Thwarted Tuberculosis Information Campaign

Rick Stone — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 13:43:43 +0000

Records and emails collected by The Palm Beach Post depict state officials as too absorbed with political goals to warn the public about a tuberculosis outbreak.

Florida Investigates Possible Voter Registration Fraud By Republican Party Vendor

Gina Jordan — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 20:45:32 +0000

The state is investigating a Virginia-based company for possible voter registration fraud in Florida.

Strategic Allied Consulting was hired by the Republican Party of Florida to register voters ahead of the November election.

The Florida Division of Elections is concerned about a series of suspicious registration forms submitted by Strategic Allied.

Florida Supreme Court Will Rule On Nuclear Cost Recovery Fees

Gina Jordan — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:21:10 +0000

Utility companies in Florida are allowed to charge customers for power plants that may never be built.

It’s allowed under a law passed in 2006, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy wants the law overturned.

A legal challenge is now before the Florida Supreme Court.

Citizens Hikes Rates And Jettisons Thousands Of Policyholders

Gina Jordan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:26:07 +0000

The effort to shrink the number of homes insured by the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance is accelerating into high gear.

The Office of Insurance Regulation approved the company’s rate hike request this week.

At the same time, more than 200,000 Citizens customers are being contacted by private insurance companies that want their business.

The Woman Behind Florida's Stand Your Ground Law

Gina Jordan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:21:19 +0000

The murder of Trayvon Martin turned a spotlight on Florida's law that authorizes the use of deadly force in self-defense. The law has been widely cited as the reason why shooter George Zimmerman has not been arrested.

Marion Hammer helped craft the law. She’s the powerful lobbyist for the National Rifle Association in Florida. She’s also a grandmother who stands all of 4-feet-11-inches tall.

Florida Legislature Plays Judge And Jury In Claims Bill Process

Gina Jordan — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:05:00 +0000

“Thank you very much and I apologize that this has happened,” Governor Rick Scott told William Dillon as he signed a bill giving Dillon more than a million dollars.

Dillon spent 27 years in prison for a murder in Brevard County. He was set free in 2008 after DNA testing showed he wasn’t the killer.

It took more than three and a half years for the Legislature to pass a bill compensating Dillon.

School Board Member Says Her Special Needs Daughter Was Forced To Leave A Charter School

Sarah Gonzalez — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:00:07 +0000

Earlier this month, an investigation by StateImpact Florida and the Miami Herald revealed that most Florida charter schools are not enrolling students with severe disabilities, like autism or cerebral palsy.