by Bill Cotterell - 18 months ago -
A request by Sen. Wilton Simpson to use office letterhead to endorse worthy causes in his district was OK'd. However, the panel decided that former Rep. Peter Nehr may not lobby to have his business offered as a state employee benefit.
by Bill Cotterell - 26 months ago -
Sixty days of debate, argument, agreement and compromise end with the drop of two handkerchiefs in the Capitol rotunda to signal the completion of the 2013 legislative session.
by Bill Cotterell - 28 months ago -
![Dan Krasner, left, speaks at a news conference Monday, with Damien Filer and Catherine Baer, about changes they think are needed in the ethics reform bills. Photo by Bill Cotterell.](Other/lobbying/i-MJgJZTM/0/200x100/2414932223_MJgJZTM-200x100.jpg)
Former director of the Florida Commission on Ethics says pending reforms bills don't go far enough to address the issue of cleaning up public corruption.
by Gray Rohrer - 28 months ago -
A proposed committee bill would increase sovereign immunity caps on local governments to $3 million for individuals and $4.5 million per incident, but leave the current $300,000 cap intact for the state government. ... Related Research: Meeting materials and video.
by Bill Cotterell - 28 months ago -
![House Speaker Will Weatherford applauds as Gov. Rick Scott takes the rostrum to begin his State of the State speech Tuesday during a joint session of the Legislature on opening day of the 2013 session. Photo by Bill Cotterell.](People/Other-People-2013-Mugs/i-npr8nwS/0/200x100/2394728006_npr8nwS-200x100.jpg)
The governor ignores the House Speaker's uncommonly blunt denunciation of Scott's Medicaid plan as in his State of the State speech he talks up Florida's economic gains, seeks pay raises for teachers and tax breaks for industry, and coins a likely re-election campaign slogan. The Senate then passes two ethics bills and the House OKs an election overhaul bill. ... Related Research: Opening Day of the 2013 Legislative Session In Photos.
by Bruce Ritchie - 28 months ago -
![Former Rep. Scott Plakon enters the Governors Club for a fundraiser for himself and Rep. Ross Spano, R-Riverview, and former representatives Eric Eisnaugle and Brad Drake. Photo by Bruce Ritchie.](Other/elections/i-9gm2gsQ/0/200x100/2393138672_9gm2gsQ-200x100.jpg)
House and Senate rules prohibit fundraising during session. So with the 2013 session starting Tuesday, at least 17 fundraisers were being held Monday in Tallahassee.
by Bill Cotterell - 29 months ago -
![](LogosandSigs/Category-Logos-and-Sigs/i-569R5rK/0/200x100/2331784547_569R5rK-200x100.png)
After the fall elections embarrassed Florida again on the national scene with images of hours-long lines of voters and a presidential vote count unfinished for days, the House and Senate leadership is in a reform mood. They also want to take a crack at campaign financing and lobbyists' gift giving.
by Bill Cotterell - 29 months ago -
![State Sen. Dorothy Hukill talks with Senate general counsel George Levesque after a training session on ethics, public records and open meeting requirements for lawmakers on Tuesday. Photo by Bill Cotterell.](People/2013-Senate-Legislators/i-hWX5WZW/1/200x100/2352434399_hWX5WZW-200x100.jpg)
Gifts, voting conflicts, open meetings and public records are on the agenda as lawmakers hear the best way to do the right thing. ... Related Research: Video from WFSU-TV/The FLORIDA Channel.
by James Call - 30 months ago -
!["This is, I believe, the most comprehensive attempt at ethics reform that we have had since the Sunshine Amendment was passed in 1976,� Senate Ethics and Elections Committee Chairman Jack Latvala said Tuesday. File photo by Ana Goni-Less](People/LegislatorCandids/i-dT4vCQN/1/200x100/2331909223_dT4vCQN-200x100.jpg)
The bill would close a revolving door between the statehouse and lobbying firms, and forbid elected officials from taking a public-sector job. ... Related Research: Jan. 22, 2013 Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections meeting packet, and meeting video.
by Gray Rohrer - 32 months ago -
![Sen. Don Gaetz speaks on the Senate floor. File photo by Ana Goni-Lessan.](People/LegislatorCandids/i-hJRtkCp/0/200x100/1277503537_hJRtkCp-200x100.jpg)
The incoming Senate president wants senators to abstain from voting if there is a conflict of interest and is setting up two new committees dealing with health care and gambling. ... Related Research: Draft Rules of the Florida Legislature for 2012-2014.
by Florida Current Staff - 33 months ago -
![Sen. Don Gaetz Tuesday discussed his plans for the Senate with reporters. The Niceville Republican is in line to be Senate President after the November election. Photo Credit: Bill Cotterell.](People/Other-People/i-24fdcbB/0/200x100/2154604864_24fdcbB-200x100.jpg)
The incoming Senate President would like to eliminate committees of continuing existence, enact stricter conflict of interest rules and see the state's higher education system produce more graduates ready to step into the workforce.
by Bruce Ritchie - 34 months ago -
![Tea party activists and others have emailed the governor in opposition to the reappointment of PSC Commissioner Lisa Edgar. Photo by Bruce Ritchie.](People/Other-People/i-8jmDQNQ/1/200x100/2067149523_8jmDQNQ-200x100.jpg)
Gov. Rick Scott has until Sunday to reappoint Edgar or pick among three other candidates offered by the PSC Nominating Council. About 80 percent of emails the governor has received are supporting former Rep. Ken Littlefield, a Republican from Wesley Chapel. ... Related Research: Emails and letters concerning the PSC nomination, and the FDLE investigative report.
by Bruce Ritchie - 35 months ago -
![Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard. Photo Credit: Ana Goni-Lessan](People/Other-People/i-QCbTxLd/1/200x100/1998538087_QCbTxLd-200x100.jpg)
Federal law says a person cannot work with an agency that issues water pollution permits within two years of receiving a substantial portion of their income from a permit holder or applicant. In February 2011, two groups petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking it to investigate Vinyard's prior employment. The EPA in April requested additional information and DEP responded on Aug. 29.
by Bruce Ritchie - 36 months ago -
![Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard. Photo Credit: Ana Goni-Lessan](People/Other-People/i-QCbTxLd/1/200x100/1998538087_QCbTxLd-200x100.jpg)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on April 27 requested more information about DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr.'s employment prior to being appointed in January 2011. Environmental groups petitioned for an investigation into a possible conflict of interest under the federal Clean Water Act. DEP has yet to respond but a spokeswoman said the issue is a high priority and is complex. ... Related Research: Documents related to the challenge to Vinyard's qualifications.
by Bill Cotterell - 36 months ago -
by Bill Cotterell - 37 months ago -
by Gray Rohrer - 38 months ago -
by Christine Jordan Sexton - 48 months ago -
by LobbyTools - 48 months ago -
by Bruce Ritchie - 49 months ago -