Legislature 2013
Fight over money for tutoring went down to the wire
South Florida lawmakers led the charge to give millions of dollars to private tutoring firms, even after revelations of fraud and lax oversight in the programs.
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Politics
Marc Caputo: Why Dolphins owner Stephen Ross — not House Speaker Will Weatherford — owns stadium-deal death
Success has many fathers in the Florida Legislature. The Miami Dolphins stadium deal is an orphan.
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Sun Life Stadium
Miami Dolphins don’t plan to invest in Sun Life Stadium
Following the end of the team’s efforts for a subsidized renovation, the Dolphins’ chief executive said the team will not pay for stadium upgrades.
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To Our Readers
From the Editor: Legislative session’s over, but The Herald’s vigilance isn’t
More than 1,800 bills were filed during this year’s state legislative session, ranging from teacher pay raises to the contentious debate over Medicaid expansion.
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2013 Legislature
Lawmakers boost education spending, expand online learning
State lawmakers increased the education budget by $1 billion and revamped the way Florida awards high school diplomas.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Hefty budget poses stark spending choices for Gov. Rick Scott
Gov. Rick Scott has 15 days to act on the record $74.5 billion budget, making this a “money year” for the governor in more ways than one.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers pass bill to deal with Everglades suit
Florida legislators used a bill to change wetlands regulations to block a lawsuit against the state for approving two no-bid, 20-year lease agreements with sugar and vegetable farmers.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Legislature passes bill to extend early voting, moves back early presidential primary for 2016
State lawmakers finally agreed on legislation aimed at preventing a repeat of the voting problems that plagued the 2012 presidential elections.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Bill to support Miami Dade College dies on last day of session
Money would have gone to support building and maintenance projects at the nation’s largest college. But the bill never got heard in the Florida House.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Legislature toughens rules for unregulated children’s homes
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa and Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, adds more oversight of religious homes and boarding schools, some of which the Times found flew under state scrutiny or remained in operation after the state cited t
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | Sun life stadium
Florida lawmakers reject Miami Dolphins stadium referendum bill
The Miami Dolphins failed to reach a deal for a taxpayer-supported stadium upgrade on the last day of Florida’s legislative session.
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LEGISLATURE
Miami Children’s Hospital gets maternity wing
Although the labor and delivery unit was not popular among legislators, it was part of a bill that contained many member priorities.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Florida Legislature concludes in a burst of bipartisanship
On a smooth-sailing final day of the 2013 session, the Florida Legislature approved a record $74.5billion budget.
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MEDICAID
Failed Medicaid deal could be costly for businesses in Florida
Without a deal on health care, business owners across the state face the predicament of either paying to provide health insurance for their employees or facing federal government fines.
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ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES
Assisted living facility reforms fail to pass
Efforts to toughen up regulation of assisted living facilities fizzled in the Florida House.
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LEGISLATURE
Senate says no to maternity unit at Miami Children’s Hospital
Senate moves ahead with plan to allow trauma centers to be built in rural counties.
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2013 Legislature
Lawmakers take on ‘unsatisfactory’ teachers
A piece of the controversial ‘trigger bill’ is added to legislation that would hold charter schools more accountable for their finances and management.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers sign off on Everglades restoration plan
The bill is backed by environmental groups and sugar farmers, and its sponsors have said it marks a truce in a long-running dispute.
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LEGISLATURE
Tick, tock: With deadline looming, House gets moving
Governor stops by, but dodges questions on health care reform.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 |
Time running out for Dolphins stadium bill
As the Legislature enters its final day, The Miami Dolphins still do not have a deal on a taxpayer-supported stadium upgrade.
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LEGISLATURE
Texting while driving ban gets the green light
Supporters say bill is not ‘ideal,’ but it’s headed in the right direction.
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2013 Legislature
Florida public online school gets small budget increase
The Florida Virtual School says a change to the state’s education financing formula will hurt its bottom line.
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LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers tighten guidelines on nuclear advance fees
Utilities must be able to demonstrate they can complete construction of a nuclear power plant. If they can’t, they won’t be allowed to collect advance money.
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LEGISLATURE
Scott gets tax break, but House Democrats threaten lawsuit
A House vote on a the governor’s long-sought manufacturing tax break fell 12 votes short of a two-thirds vote. Democrats say that wasn’t enough, and they’re willing to challenge it in court.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Citizens Property reform bill — minus big rate increases — heads to governor’s desk
The bill approved by lawmakers and awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature will steer homeowners away from Citizens without boosting their rates.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Elections bill to fix long voter lines stalls over Miami-Dade elections office
An elections law bill to fix the long lines that angered scores of voters in the 2012 presidential election is stalled in the Florida Legislature.
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FLORIDA SUPREME COURT
Florida court clamps down on cops searching through cellphones
Florida justices, in a ruling hailed by civil libertarians, just made it harder for police to seize your cellphone and shuffle through the contents.
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In My Opinion
Fred Grimm: Tallahassee sticks it to the locals
Our good ol’ boys in Tallahassee surely do resent those meddlers from Washington sticking their big government noses in Florida’s business. “We know what’s best for Florida,” they’re fond of saying.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Gov. Rick Scott vetoes alimony bill; OK’s campaign finance, ethics bills
Facing a midnight deadline, Gov. Rick Scott acted minutes after the Legislature passed the second of his two session priorities — a three-year sales tax exemption on manufacturing equipment purchases.
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LEGISLATURE
There’s something about Mary — if you can take the voice
For more than 10 hours Wednesday, lawmakers sat and listened to the drone-like voice of “Mary,” a robotic auto-reader used to speed through hundreds of pages of legislative text.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers may change, but budget tricks stay the same
In Tallahassee, a flurry of deals were struck behind closed doors and at late night meetings on policy and spending decisions affecting millions of dollars.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers end subsidized tutoring program
A last-ditch effort by South Florida lawmakers to keep millions of dollars flowing to private tutoring companies suffered a resounding defeat on Wednesday, giving Florida school districts control over $100 million in federal education money for the first time in a decade.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
With no deal on Medicaid expansion, Democrats continue into Day 2 of protest, stalling tactics on House floor in Tallahassee
Democrats in the Florida House continued to use procedural tactics to slow down the legislative process Wednesday, part of a protest against the Legislature’s non-action on healthcare reform.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Bill extending foster care to age 21 goes to Gov. Rick Scott for signature
The Florida House passed a bill Wednesday giving young adults in state custody the option of remaining until age 21 – three years longer than in current law – to reduce their chances of ending up homeless, jobless or in jail.
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REDISTRICTING
Group sought to protect Wasserman Schultz’s congressional seat, emails show
The emails between the leaders and consultants of what’s known as the Fair Districts Coalition became a central piece of evidence in the Republican-led Legislature’s legal defense of the congressional districts it drew in 2012.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers take off the gloves as tensions mount
Democrats and Republicans faced off in a bitter, partisan and bizarre standoff in the Florida House on Wednesday, throwing the legislative session into chaos.
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Legislature 2013
Teacher pay raises placed on fast track
After an outcry from educators, Florida lawmakers decided to speed up the release of teacher pay raises.
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LEGISLATURE
What killed Florida’s plan to reform health care?
Despite assurances early on that it was a priority, the Legislature just can’t come to an agreement on statewide health care expansion.
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PolitiFact Florida
Will Sun Life Stadium renovation ‘create more than 4,000 new local jobs?’
PolitiFact Florida found the claim by “Friends of Miami First” in a mailer to be Half True because it was largely based on a 2010 study.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Florida House rejects attempts to repeal nuclear fees
The Florida House on Tuesday rejected attempts to repeal a controversial state law that allows utility companies to charge customers for nuclear power plant development in advance of construction.
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LEGISLATURE
House passes Citizens insurance bill that is easier on the pocketbook
A Florida Senate bill to reform Citizens Property Insurance Corp. passed the House on Tuesday, after lawmakers removed provisions that would raise rates on new policyholders.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Florida House grinds to a halt over healthcare feud
Protesting the House’s resistance to accept federal healthcare money, Democrats invoked a rare rule to demand that every bill be read in its entirety.
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LEGISLATURE
Texting while driving bill hits a roadblock in the House
Amendment would allow cell phone records to be used as evidence in the event of a crash. That’s not in the Senate version of the bill.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
State pension reform issue dies in the Senate
Plan would have steered new state and county workers into a private investment plan that would have taken burden off taxpayers.
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LEGISLATURE
Bill to remove 'mental retardation' wording from statute headed to Gov. Rick Scott
Brittany Norman, a 25-year-old Tallahassee woman with Down syndrome, had a message for Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday: “Sign the bill.”
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Legislature 2013 | EDUCATION
Legislature looks to speed release of school employee raises
South Florida school officials pushed back at the Legislature’s original timetable, and argued not enough money is being provided.
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Legislature 2013
Senate kills parent trigger bill in dramatic 20-20 vote
In a surprise vote, the Florida Senate killed a proposal that would let parents demand changes at failing public schools. Critics said it would have opened the door to school privatization.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Medical liability bill gets snagged by gun concerns
A proposal to limit the liability of doctors in medical malpractice cases got snagged by concerns that it could open the door to insurance companies seeking gun information on patients
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2013 Legislature
From the courthouse to the Capitol, Trujillo delivers
A sophomore state representative from West Kendall is making a name for himself in Tallahassee.
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LEGISLATURE
Senate and House play hot potato with Medicaid bills
Senate plan relies on $51 billion in federal funding, but the House plan uses only state money. The two chambers can’t come to an agreement.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | DEATH PENALTY
Bill reducing delays in implementation of death penalty approved
The bill was aimed at cutting down on the number of people who have been on Death Row for 20 or 30 years.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
State’s $74.5 billion budget comes with something for everyone
Lawmakers must wait until Thursday before they can vote on the $74.5 billion budget, which represents a $4.5 billion increase from last year.
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Politics
Marc Caputo: Two-minute offense time for Miami Dolphins in Tallahassee
The Miami Dolphins underwrote the $4.78 million cost of a referendum on whether the club gets tax money to help retrofit Sun Life Stadium.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | NEWS ANALYSIS
Rare legislative accord has led to session wins
The amicable relationship between the House and Senate this session has led to a spate of bills resolving long-fought turf battles and big-picture reforms.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmaker at odds with environmentalists
State Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Panama City, and environmental activists often butt heads in Tallahassee.
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Legislature 2013
Charter schools win $91 million for facilities
State lawmakers agreed to deliver $91 million for their construction and maintenance needs — more than last year but not as much as the governor and House wanted.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | SUN LIFE STADIUM
Dolphins’ stadium bill stalled
The Senate again delayed voting on a bill allowing the Miami Dolphins to use taxpayer money to renovate the stadium. The House is waiting for the Senate to act.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers agree on pay raise for state workers
Employees would get a raise of at least $1,000 under a deal struck by House and Senate negotiators.
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LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers putting a few clouds in front of Florida’s Sunshine Laws
The First Amendment Foundation, a watchdog group, called a bill to block off public access to some information ‘bad public policy.’
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2013 LEGISLATURE
With budget surplus for projects, it's game on for politicians
For the first time in years, there’s plenty of money in the pot. And South Florida legislators are poised to make sure some of it winds up back home.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Does Tallahassee dictate too much to cities, counties?
State lawmakers often complain about Washington’s top-down governance, but they, too, push bills that strip power away from city and county governments.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Medicaid plan puts Florida House on collision course with Senate
The House, as expected, signed off on a health care plan to provide health coverage to about 130,000 Floridians, using up to $300 million in state funds.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House panel rejects Florida Senate's repeal of insurance tax break
The Senate wanted to repeal the tax break for insurers and use the money to cut motor vehicle registration fees, saving Florida drivers about $220 million.
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LEGISLATURE
Three percent tuition hike tucked into Florida budget
Gov. Scott, who has said he doesn’t support a tuition increase, might veto the plan.
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2013 Legislature
Parent trigger bill spawns mystery video from supposed supporters
The video featuring South Florida moms praising the controversial parent trigger bill is tied to a mysterious grassroots group known as the Sunshine Parents, but it was actually produced by a group in California.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Gov. Rick Scott signs drones bill into law
The new state law limits how police can use unmanned drones for surveillance.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House votes to speed up executions
A proposal to limit the legal arguments used by lawyers for death row inmates in the post-conviction process will now be considered by the state Senate.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
New Citizens Property customers — not current — to see rate increases under bill approved by Senate
In a 24-15 vote, the Florida Senate voted to reform Citizens Property Insurance Corp., potentially raising rates for all new policyholders.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Voters’ email addresses will remain secret, House decides
Email addresses of voters will be secret under a bill the House passed and sent to the Senate Thursday.
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LEGISLATURE
Hope for health care compromise dwindles
Republicans refuse to accept Senate plan that includes accepting $51 billion in federal funds. The plan would ensure more than 1 million low-income Floridians have coverage.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Citizens Insurance overhaul bill delayed — again
The 100-page bill seeks to shrink the level of risk carried by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by raising its rates and forcing its policyholders into the private market.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Legislators finish rewrite of ethics, campaign bills
Florida legislators reached agreement on major ethics and campaign finance bills, declaring them landmark reforms and sending them off for the governor’s review.
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2013 Legislature
High school sports bill gets a Hail Mary in the Florida House
It will be up to the Florida Senate to decide whether athletic association will lose some of its power to govern high school sports.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Five things to look for in Wednesday’s legislative session
It's Day 51 of the Session, and all eyes will be on the Senate floor, which will start at 9 a.m.
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LEGISLATURE
Graham leads charge against sugar interests
Former senator says bills making their way through the state Legislature would be harmful to Florida’s wetlands.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Senate advances controversial bill to revamp high school sports association
Proponents of the Florida High School Athletic Association are on their defensive heels as those trying to revamp how high school sports are managed in Florida are driving with the ball as the clock runs down.
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FLORIDA
Wherever Florida Gov. Scott looks, he sees greatness
‘Great Floridian’ awards are being bestowed on a record number list of honorees, ranging from Juan Ponce de Leon to Walt Disney to Tim Tebow.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Legislators prepare for potential ‘fracking’ in Florida
Florida’s ancient oil fields may or may not be a potential place to plumb for oil and gas using new hydraulic fracking technologies but legislators say they want chemical disclosure rules in place anyway.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
ALF reform bill stalled in House
The Senate approved a bill tightening oversight of Florida’s assisted living facilities, but the House version is stuck in committee.
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POLITICS
Legislators push back on efforts to make state documents open to public
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater’s attempts to require all agencies to post their contracts to a secure public website has been dealt a setback as the House and other Cabinet officers oppose it.
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Legislature 2013 | SCHOOLS
Scott signs bill revamping schools, universities
Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill that will overhaul high school graduation requirements and allow the state’s top universities to create new online programs.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Legislators poised to adjourn with no Medicaid plan
As lawmakers debate an alternative plan to expanding Medicaid, they may leave Tallahassee with no plan at all.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
House wants fix for branding logo featuring tie
A new branding logo for Enterprise Florida has drawn some heat for neglecting women by featuring a symbol of male business attire.
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LEGISLATURE
Voting rights groups lambaste Florida GOP’s election law rewrite
Plan would prohibit anyone from helping a voter they didn’t already know, and limit help to 10 voters.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | NURSING HOMES
Move to limit lawsuits against nursing homes draws criticism
A measure heading to the Senate floor would raise the threshold for anyone suing a nursing home for severe misconduct.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House, Senate agree on merit pay raises for teachers
The agreement reached by House and Senate budget negotiators sets up a fight with Gov. Rick Scott, who wants all teachers to receive salary increases.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Future of Medicaid expansion in hands of key GOP House members
Senate Republicans seem willing to join Democrats in supporting a massive healthcare expansion, but many House Republicans are not convinced.
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Legislature 2013
Senate, House clash over controversial subsidized tutoring program
Public input has been limited in the debate over a state-funded tutoring program found to have paid people with criminal records and profiteers.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Clock ticking on Gov. Rick Scott’s legislative wish list
Only two weeks remain in the 2013 session and Gov. Rick Scott’s legislative priorities are in serious disarray.
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Fathers and children
Miami dads find political voice in Tallahassee
A group of dads and traveled to Tallahassee to push for fatherhood issues.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers playing favorites when considering raises for state workers and teachers
A budget surplus producing the first pay raises for state employees in six years has been celebrated by lawmakers as a chance to make up ground.
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LEGISLATURE
State Sen. Tom Lee, a divorced dad, leads charge for changes in custody laws
A divorced father himself, Lee says the courts need to catch up to 21st Century families. If his proposal becomes law, it won’t affect his own case.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Legislature opens door to giving Miami Children’s Hospital maternity ward
The hospital says the maternity beds are needed to avoid complications that might arise while transporting the baby or its mother to Miami Children’s after birth.
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BROWARD
Ban on machines at senior arcades challenged
The lawsuit alleges the ban on casino-style games at adult arcades is too vague.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | DOLPHINS
Dolphins stadium bill goes to Senate floor; trouble brewing in House
A bill to help the Miami Dolphins renovate their stadium with a state tax break is stalled — for now — in the House. The Senate version will soon go to the floor for a vote.
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2013 Legislature
Florida House passes bill overhauling alimony, awaits Gov. Rick Scott’s signature
A bill that would put an end to permanent alimony, and encourage judges to split custody evenly between divorced parents, is headed to Gov. Rick Scott.
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LEGISLATURE
Abortion, ‘anti-Shariah’ bills pass House, but fate uncertain in Senate
Heated exchange comes during debate of proposal that would ban an abortion based on unborn child’s gender or race.
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Five things to look for in Thursday’s legislative session
South Florida sports are in the spotlight and the Senate’s budget committee buckles down for a full day of voting on bills. Here’s what’s happening Thursday at the Capitol:
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LEGISLATURE
Drone bill heads to Gov. Scott’s desk without opposition
Proposal would control when and how drones, and the information they collect, could be used.
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Education
Teachers mount legal challenge to new evaluation system
Seven teachers are suing the state for deploying an “unfair” system for evaluating teachers. They’re being rated on test scores of students they haven’t taught.
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2013 Legislature
Lawmakers ease rules on sewage outflow that will save South Florida $1.6 billion
Florida House agrees to change that would save Miami-Dade, Broward and Hollywood each hundreds of millions of dollars.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
House unanimous on abortion bill
Measure would require doctors to provide care for an infant born alive following a failed abortion.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Senate advances competing Medicaid alternatives
A Senate committee approved two different alternatives to expanding Medicaid, making it clear that Senate Republicans are willing to accept billions in federal funds to provide insurance to 1 million poor Floridians, even if the House is not.
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LEGISLATURE
Texting-while-driving-ban sails through the Senate
This will be the first time the measure has been heard in the Florida House.
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Legislature 2013
Florida Republicans target foreign-language voting
The state Senate passed a measure designed to restrict alleged partisan activities by interpreters but would also expand early voting. Voting-rights groups say they may sue.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Nuclear fee hinges on disparate House, Senate bills
A Senate bill takes a more aggressive approach to ratcheting down the fee electric customers pay for nuclear power development, while a House bill leaves charges intact.
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LEGISLATURE
Miami-Dade State Attorney wants Legislature to reinstate witness signature on absentee ballot
Elections supervisors say they think the practice would ‘disenfranchise’ voters and they want language taken out of bill.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Sen. Jack Latvala raises doubts over Sen. Maria Sachs’ residency
Sen. Jack Latvala, chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, grilled a woman who rents her Broward condo to Sen. Maria Sachs.
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2013 Legislature
Legislators grapples with what to do with student data
Florida lawmakers are debating what to do with the abundant education data collected about students.
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Healthcare
Cancer ‘parity’ bills churn through Florida Legislature
Bills in the Florida Legislature would compel health insurers to cover cancer pills the same way they cover intravenous or injectable chemotherapy.
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Legislature 2013
Lawmakers approve major changes in graduation requirements, online university
State lawmakers approved a sweeping education proposal that would create two distinct designations for high school diplomas.
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Healthcare
Florida can save millions by accepting federal Medicaid funds, state agency says
A state agency says savings from the feds picking up the cost of Florida’s ‘Medically Needy’ program would more than cover the first decade of Medicaid expansion.
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2013 Legislature
House OKs bill giving children of undocumented immigrants in-state tuition
State representatives overwhelming voted in favor of a bill extending in-state college tuition rates to students born in the United States, but whose parents are undocumented immigrants. However, the Senate hasn’t yet had a hearing on the subject, lessening its chances of it becoming a law this session.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
$74.4 billion House budget has money for education, state workers
Next week, legislative leaders will begin to meld the House and Senate versions of the state’s spending plan.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House committee moves bill to modify nuclear fee law
After years of inaction, a House committee approved a bill that would prevent utility companies from charging customers for the development of nuclear plants before obtaining a license.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House Medicaid alternative would subsidize far fewer poor Floridians than expansion plan
The bare-bones plan would cover disabled adults and adults with children, allowing them to purchase insurance using a state-based health marketplace.
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2013 Legislature
Tougher standards for Bright Futures likely to remain in place
Republican lawmakers are refusing to hear a proposal to offset an expected decline in the number of students eligible for state-funded scholarships.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Gov. Rick Scott signs foster care bill backed by advocates
Gov. Scott signs foster care bill backed by advocates
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In My Opinion
Fred Grimm: Feral-cat bill is bad news for wildlife
Florida Senate Bill 1320 has to do with feral cats. And little to do with science.
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PROPERTY INSURANCE
Property insurance rates could go through roof under Senate bill
Lawmakers have largely ignored the massive potential premium property insurance rate hikes included in SB 1770, a bill moving swiftly through the Florida Legislature.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Gov. Rick Scott signs Internet cafe ban bill into law
The measure, HB 155, was approved in response to a three-year federal and state investigation into illegal gambling at Internet cafes affiliated with a veterans charity.
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LEGISLATURE
House, Senate differ on how to structure tax break for Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are looking to the Florida Legislature to seal the deal on taxpayer funding for a stadium renovation. In Tallahassee, the House and Senate are divided over how to structure the deal.
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Florida senate unanimously passes $74.3 billion state budget
Plan includes 3 percent raises for state workers, and money for Everglades restoration and public schools.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | ALLERGIES
Parents back bill to let Florida schools stock ‘EpiPens’
Parents rally behind a bill that would enable public and private schools to have supplies of epinephrine injectors to treat allergic reactions.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Lawmakers eye ‘blind trust’ in ethics reform bill
The Senate version — for the first time in Florida — would allow elected officials to establish “blind trusts.” Some criticize the move as creating “cloak of invisibility.”
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2013 Legislature
Senate Medicaid plan would cut funding for Jackson, safety-net hospitals
CEOs of the Florida’s safety-net hospitals are fighting a proposal that they say would slash their Medicaid funding.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Senate advances bill to put brakes on nuclear fees
A bill to raise the hurdle for electric utilities to charge customers in advance for nuclear projects clears a committee after years of attempts.
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GAMBLING
With ban on Internet cafes, gambling operators scramble to hang on
New law prohibiting casino game look-a-likes is expected to put 14,000 workers out of their jobs.
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ABORTION
Abortion bill in Florida Legislature has rare bipartisan support
The bill would require doctors who provide abortions to offer emergency medical care in the unlikely event a baby is born alive.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Stop the music, says Senate panel
A Senate committee backed a plan to rewrite the state’s noise law by barring motorists from blaring music from their cars.
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INTERNET CAFES
Legislature sends Internet cafe ban to governor
Following a sweeping law enforcement crackdown on a chain of Internet cafes, lawmakers outlaw slot-machine style games.
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2013 Legislature
Virtual learning bills gain momentum in Florida Legislature
Florida lawmakers are moving aggressively to expand students’ access to online classes.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Pinellas sheriff says civil liberties bill would protect drug dealers, pedophiles
The controversial bill would require police to obtain a warrant from a judge before searching cellphone contents.
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SUN LIFE STADIUM
Time running short on Dolphins’ Sun Life Stadium renovation talks
As another hurdle was cleared in Tallahassee, the Dolphins’ negotiations with Miami-Dade County over funding for stadium renovations appear to be edging closer to completion.
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INTERNET CAFES
Convicts slip past Internet cafe law in Florida
Florida’s lack of regulations on Internet cafes and adult arcades opened the door for some owners with criminal records to remain in business with no protections for customers.
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INSURANCE
Lawmakers could raise rates for Citizens Insurance customers
Citizens Insurance says it has done an ‘extraordinary’ job of reducing risk since last year, but lawmakers are pitching sweeping rate hikes anyway.
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2013 Legislature
Bill to end alimony draws acrimonious debate in Tallahassee
The Florida Senate is set to vote on a proposal to end permanent alimony. Opponents say the bill is “anti-family” and “anti-woman.”
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Needle exchange bill inching forward in the Florida Legislature
Florida legislators are considering a bill to allow needle exchanges as a way to curb HIV, hepatitis and other blood diseases among injection drug users. If approved, a five-year pilot program would be based in Miami-Dade.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Senate moves closer to outlawing slots-like cafe and arcade games
A Senate committee continues the fast-paced push to ban electronic sweepstakes and adult arcade machines popular with many senior citizens.
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MEDICAID EXPANSION
Lawmakers weigh alternatives to Medicaid expansion
House Speaker Will Weatherford seems open to the idea of accepting some federal dollars in crafting an alternative state plan to expanding Medicaid in Florida.
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FLORIDA
Florida U-turns on international driver’s permit requirement
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Tuesday repealing a law that required tourists from Canada and other countries to obtain a special $25 driving permit.
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2013 Legislature
Proposal would lead to high-school free agency, opponents say
A Lakeland lawmaker is pushing a measure that she says would give student athletes more rights. The Florida High School Athletic Association says it would turn public high schools into “recruiting-frenzied sports giants.”
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CITIZENS
Senate criticizes then casts support for Citizens Insurance chief
After a lengthy grilling, Citizens Insurance president Barry Gilway received a unanimous vote of support from a committee in the Florida Senate.
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2013 Legislature
Debate grows over merit pay plan for teachers in Florida
Will Florida be ready to launch its ambitious merit-pay program for teachers in 2014? Lawmakers say yes. Educators are not so sure.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Florida lawmakers weigh bill to tweak lobbyist gift ban
Enjoying a steak dinner on a lobbyist’s tab would still be banned. But a cup of coffee? Maybe not.
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ALLIED VETS INVESTIGATION
Undercover slot machines expert to be key witness in Allied Vets probe
Using sophisticated computer networks that rely on servers that set payouts and odds, the Internet cafes were running a gambling ring of illegal slot machines, police expert contends.
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Sun Life Stadium
Miami Dolphins agree to pay back more stadium tax dollars
In back-to-back press conferences in Tallahassee and Miami, the Dolphins said it would be willing to repay much of the taxpayer financing, including nearly $50 million in state tax rebates.
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LEGISLATURE
Senate’s tax break for drivers has insurance lobbyists up in arms
Despite the insurance industry balking at losing a tax break it’s enjoyed for 26 years, the state Senate moves ahead with giving motorists some relief in fees.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Financial picture brighter for Florida universities, but tuition hikes still on table
Universities and colleges are getting more money from the Florida Legislature, a real change from previous years.
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Miami
Miami Commission wants to confiscate ‘maquinitas,’ hire more police
Miami commissioners directed the city manager to confiscate video-gaming machines, approved an up-sizing of one of the city’s largest development projects, and asked the feds for the right to hire more cops.
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politics
Senate creates task force to review budget transparency
The Legislature remains a long way from offering the public real-time access to budget data.
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ABORTION
Abortion bills clear Florida House panels
Several abortion-related bills are making through the Florida Legislature during a session void of controversial social issues.
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Legislature 2013
Confusing law about foreign drivers repealed
The law called for foreign visitors to get international driving permits before leaving their home countries.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Foster care bill would give kids more freedom
The Florida Senate approved a bill eliminating many of the restrictions that keep foster children from participating in normal activities, like a field trip or sporting event.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Gun-toting teachers? House education panel says ‘yes’
Despite strong opposition from parents and educators, a bill that would allow teachers to carry concealed weapons on school property got an early OK from a House panel.
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FLORIDA
Lawmaker complains about getting out of speeding ticket; trooper fired
For decades, Florida Highway Patrol has shown deference to legislators because they set the patrol’s budget.
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DOZIER SCHOOL FOR BOYS INVESTIGATION
Sen. Bill Nelson seeks money to investigate reform school
Former students have alleged that physical and sexual abuse — and even wrongful deaths — occurred at the former Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.
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Sun Life Stadium
Miami Dolphins offer to repay portion of public costs to renovate stadium
The football team has also told Miami-Dade County it would pay penalties if it fails to bring major events, including Super Bowls, to Sun Life Stadium
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POLITICS
Ex-RPOF chairman Jim Greer faces sentencing hearing
Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer’s pretrial guilty plea in February allowed him to avert the possibility of up to 75 years in prison for fraud, money laundering and theft.
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POLITICS
Legislators ask court to shield them from having to testify over maps
An appeals court hears arguments on whether state leaders should have to explain under oath how they came up with redistricting maps last year.
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2013 Legislature
Lawmakers grapple with future of special needs students
A controversial question has spurred an emotional debate in Tallahassee: Who should have the final say over a special needs child’s education?
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Despite budget surplus, affordable housing money still up for grabs
Lawmakers are stripping $200 million in housing aid after receiving the same amount in a civil settlement with mortgage banks.
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Larcenia Bullard | 1947-2013
Hundreds gather for former state senator Larcenia Bullard’s funeral
Hundreds gathered to pay their respect at the funeral service for former state senator Larcenia Bullard Saturday morning at the South Dade Cultural Arts Center in Miami.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
House votes to close state pension to new employees, Senate unsure
The proposal, a priority of House Speaker Will Weatherford, passed along party lines 73-43 after nearly four hours of debate over two days.
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INTERNET CAFES
Florida regulators to probe another charity tied to alleged illegal gambling at Internet cafes
The Associated Press reports that Florida regulators will investigate a children’s cancer group connected to a sweepstakes network that is four times bigger than Allied Veterans.
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POLITICS
Florida House votes to ban internet cafes
Internet cafes across Florida could soon be forced to close their doors as state lawmakers move swiftly to outlaw the storefront operations.
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Federal appeals judges, meeting in Miami, question state’s controversial Cuba law
The judges peppered an attorney for the state with questions about the constitutionality of a Florida law prohibiting local governments from contracting with companies that do business in Cuba and Syria.
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Senate Republicans pitch Medicaid expansion alternative
Health Florida, a proposed new program, would subsidize private insurance policies for low-income families.
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Legislature 2013
Cyber-bullying proposals win support, raise legal questions
Proposals intended to stamp out cyber-bullying have raised complex legal questions for Florida lawmakers.
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Sun Life Stadium | MIAMI DOLPHINS
Miami Dolphins: Public funding for stadium will be contingent on Super Bowl award
The Miami Dolphins, sure S. Florida will get a Super Bowl, say they’ll make county funding for stadium work contingent on landing the game.
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Quinnipiac poll
Poll: Most Florida voters favor universal background checks
A poll found that most Florida voters support universal background checks for all gun purchases, and also back Hillary Clinton over homegrown political stars.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Republicans in Tallahassee back alernative Medicaid expansion plan
Top Senate Republicans want to expand the state’s Florida Healthy Kids program to cover qualifying adults as an alternative to expanding Medicaid.
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LEGISLATURE
Legislators rush to unload tainted gambling cash
Stung by the discovery that the gambling chain that purported to be a veteran’s charity may have been a fraud, legislators are scrambling to give back thousands in campaign donations.
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POLITICS
Who might be Rick Scott’s next lieutenant governor?
The job of lieutenant governor in Florida often gets little respect, but this year it matters plenty to the political future of Gov. Rick Scott.
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2013 Legislature
Bucking Scott’s plan, Senate proposes merit-based raises for teachers
Gov. Rick Scott is encountering more resistance than he expected from fellow Republicans on his signature issue: a $2,500 across-the-board pay raise for teachers.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Despite warnings, Jennifer Carroll says she was duped by Allied Veterans
As a member of the state House, former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll filed a bill to legalize Internet sweepstakes cafes while she simultaneously consulted for Allied Veterans.
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LEGISLATURE
Most gun bills are languishing in firearm-friendly Florida legislature
Democrats in the Florida Legislature have filed a bevy of gun control bills this year, but the state has been reluctant to engage the gun debate.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Senate panel moves to ban Internet cafes amid vigorous protests from operators
A Florida Senate committee followed the House lead on Monday and passed legislation to effectively ban electronic sweepstakes games operated at Internet cafes statewide.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
A flurry of proposals for making Florida schools safer
Herald readers offer a mix of opinions on how Florida lawmakers should deal with school security in the wake of last December’s mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school.
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Larcenia Bullard | 1947-2013
Larcenia Bullard, former Miami state senator with ‘biggest heart’, dies
The former lawmaker, who left office in 2012, was well-liked on both sides of the aisle during her 18 years in the Legislature.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Gaming committee chairman relies on flights from gaming lobbyist for travel to Tallahassee
A charter flight service operated by a prominent gaming lobbyist has become the airline of choice for the chairman of the Senate gaming committee.
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POLITICS
House Speaker Will Weatherford’s fast rise started from humble beginnings
At age 33, House Speaker Will Weatherford stands atop a political system that rewards those who win doing whatever it takes. He’s gone negative at times, raised big campaign cash, and espoused hard-edged GOP positions. What sets him apart is that he still comes across as extraordinarily likable.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House panel passes bill to outlaw illegal gambling machines
The bill to ban online slot machines at Internet cafes, including maquinitas in Miami-Dade, was prompted by this week’s arrest of dozens of individuals connected to a statewide illegal gambling operation.
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Legislature 2013
Widespread support for Dolphins stadium bill, except in Miami-Dade
The state bill to help the Miami Dolphins pay for stadium renovations has broad support in the Legislature, but Miami-Dade lawmakers are split.
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2013 Legislature
For Florida education laws, it’s out with the old
Efforts to repeal more than two dozen education laws show how public-school policy comes and goes in Florida.
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tallahassee
Internet cafe campaign cash flooded state capitol, lawmakers’ coffers
The probe into illegal gambling at Internet cafes has prompted a swift response from Florida lawmakers, who now say they will outlaw them and return campaign checks from industry officials.
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CHARITY SCANDAL
Officials: Fla. lawyer at center of $300 million scheme
Jacksonville attorney Kelly Mathis was identified by authorities as the man at the center of the alleged racketeering scheme to use a veterans charity as a front for an illegal gambling operation.
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2013 legislature
Key lawmaker calls for shutdown of Internet cafes
An influential senator who has sought to place a moratorium on new Internet cafes said Wednesday that criminal allegations of racketeering and other wrongdoing in the industry should spur lawmakers to close the storefront businesses.
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GAMBLING
Internet cafe probe snags dozens, could doom industry in Florida
A three-year probe into the Internet cafe industry led to dozens of arrests, and the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, in what investigators say is only ‘the first wave.’
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers want drones grounded in Florida
The bill would ban local law enforcement officials from using drones without a warrant or threat of a terrorist attack and prohibit information collected by drones to be used as evidence in courts.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Debate over school security shifts to Tallahassee
Florida lawmakers are proposing a flurry of bills aimed at beefing up security at schools. One would enable teachers to carry concealed weapons on school property.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers do about-face on foreign driver’s permit requirement
The Florida Legislature moved to repeal a 2012 law that requires foreigners to get an international driver’s permit in order to drive in Florida.
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LEGISLATURE
Senate’s campaign finance compromise creates mega PACs
The controversial political slush funds are being replaced by political committees with tighter restrictions but with no contribution limit.
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LEGISLATURE
In the midst of health care fight, Legislature pushes bills to limit medical liability
Opponents point to a decline in lawsuits against doctors and hospitals, and the drop in insurance costs, but proponents say it’s time to impose new limits on liability.
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Legislature 2013
Senate panel rejects Medicaid expansion in Florida
A Senate committee voted against moving forward with expanding Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, suggesting instead an alternative that would rely on private insurers.
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Education
Education proposals have Gov. Rick Scott stuck between a rock and Republicans
The governor appears to be wooing the support of teachers, but his GOP allies in the Legislature have other ideas about how best to improve education policy.
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IN MY OPINION
From the managing editor: Why we all should care about public records
There is seemingly a never-ending quest to chip away at public records laws.
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Politifact Florida
What Gov. Scott did and didn’t say on education
Is it true that Gov. Scott said education isn’t a ‘core function’ of the state?
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2013 Legislature
Stadium renovation bill survives amendments, wins House panel approval
The Dolphins stadium bill cleared its first committee in the Florida House on Friday, but only after surviving rogue amendments and tough rhetoric.
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POLITICS
Ethics Commission throws out Diaz de la Portilla complaint
The state ethics commission on Friday dismissed a complaint against Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, saying it was no longer in the public interest to proceed with the case.
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LEGISLATURE
House pushes bill to cap Everglades cleanup costs for agriculture
A House committee gave swift approval to a measure that would limit how much the sugar industry would pay for Everglades cleanup.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | ASSISTED-LIVING FACILITIES
Senate panel approves tougher rules for ALFs
The bill requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to inspect ALFs, rate them for consumers and revoke or deny the licenses of those whose staffers deliberately harm residents.
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LEGISLATURE 2013 | MIAMI-DADE
Poll: Dolphins stadium-tax deal highly unpopular
On a day when a Senate panel OK’d the Miami Dolphins stadium renovation plan, a poll obtained by The Miami Herald shows most Dade voters aren’t fans of the idea.
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LEGISLATURE 2013
Bill could bring higher insurance rates for property owners
A major proposal to overhaul Florida’s property insurance market cleared its first hurdle in the Legislature on Thursday. It could mean higher insurance rates for Floridians.
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Florida Legislature
Bill to ban texting while driving picks up speed in Florida Legislature
A bill to make texting while driving illegal passes a House committee unanimously.
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2013 Legislature
Controversial ‘parent trigger’ bill gets first nod from House subcommittee
Voting along party lines, legislators give the thumbs up to a bill that would allow failing public schools to be turned into charters.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
5 things to watch Thursday in the Legislature
Politics often makes strange bedfellows, as will be obvious once again in the state Capitol Thursday. Here are five things to watch:
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2013 Florida Legislature
Miami-Dade politicians blast Legislature over wage laws
Several proposed bills in Tallahassee would ban existing county laws setting a “living” wage and prohibiting wage theft, among other protections.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
House Republicans searching for alternatives to Medicaid
House Republican have a goal and lots of ideas, but no clear idea on where to start.
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LEGISLATURE
Five things to look for in Wednesday’s Legislative session
On the second day, the Florida Legislature will get down to business. Here are five things to watch Wednesday:
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2013 Florida Legislature
Tuition break for students with undocumented immigrant parents sails ahead in Florida House
Republicans and Democrats in the Florida Legislature are rallying behind a plan to extend in-state college tuition rates to the U.S.-citizen children of undocumented immigrants.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
House Speaker: program that helped his family was financed by Medicaid
A day after telling fellow legislators how a program for the needy helped pay his brother’s medical bills, House Speaker Will Weatherford acknowledges the program is financed by Medicaid. Weatherford is opposed to expanding Medicaid.
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DOLPHINS STADIUM FINANCING
Senate panel gives green light to Dolphins bill
A bill that would help the Miami Dolphins pay for half the cost of renovating their stadium got the go ahead from a key Senate committee.
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LEGISLATURE
Fla. legislators work to regain voter trust
After the ritual opening of their annual session, legislators push through bills aimed at repairing their image with the public.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Gov. Rick Scott says his policies making Florida economy stronger
The governor says the state’s economy has steadily improved on his watch, and his top priority is paying teachers more money.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Bill would require warrants for cellphone searches
Police would need court approval to seize pictures, text messages or other material on cell phones or other personal electronic devices under a bill approved Monday by a Senate committee over the objection of police and prosecutors.
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Florida government
Eustis, Fla.: A place where some don’t recognize the ‘new’ Rick Scott
In a conservative Central Florida town, people have trouble reconciling the governor they happily supported two years ago with the politician he has become.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers to focus on pocketbook issues
As the Florida Legislature prepares to begin another session, lawmakers will make decisions on a number of pocketbook issues, including insurance, taxes and housing.
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MEDICAID
State lawmakers in House balk at Medicaid expansion in Florida
Refusing to go along with Republican Gov. Rick Scott and angering Democrats, a House select committee opposed a major expansion of the Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act.
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Legislature
Lawmakers seek larger share of state budget, caps on property insurance rate hikes
South Florida lawmakers will have to stick together — and cozy up to the people in power — to win state money for local interests.
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MEDICAID EXPANSION
Legislature could tip hand on Medicaid expansion Monday
House and Senate committees studying the expansion of Medicaid in Florida could make recommendations before Tuesday’s start of the 2013 legislative session.
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POLITIFACT FLORIDA
PolitiFact Florida to track Tallahassee lawmakers
When politicians start legislating in Tallahassee, PolitiFact Florida will be checking for the truth. We’ll be in the committee rooms and at the press conferences.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
The freshman 15: South Florida’s newest lawmakers
There are 59 new members of the Florida Legislature and they have a variety of different experiences. Here are the 15 locals.
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POLITICS
Harry Sargeant, Florida Republican money man, is a highly controversial figure
Harry Sargeant is a Republican financial powerhouse, but congressional investigators have called him a ‘war profiteer.’
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CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE
Florida class-action case takes aim at Citizens’ reinspection program
The proposed class-action lawsuit, filed in Broward, aims to halt Citizens’ reinspection program, claiming it has illegally stripped discounts from homeowners.
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LEGALIZED MARIJUANA
Poll: 7 in 10 back Florida medical-marijuana plan, enough to possibly affect governor’s race
Medical pot’s sky-high approval cuts across party and demographic lines, with even GOP voters in favor, according to a new poll conducted for People United for Medical Marijuana, or PUFFM. Will the measure make the ballot?
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CITIZENS PROPERTY
Citizens Property Insurance strains to pull in belt on spending
A review of travel costs shows that Citizens Property has taken some steps toward frugality since the Herald/Times revealed in August that executives were enjoying lavish meals and five-star hotel stays at the same time the state-run insurer was aggressively trying to raise rates.
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Capital Punishment
Execution of murderer raises new questions about the death penalty in Florida
Paul Augustus Howell, convicted of killing a state trooper, would be the first put to death in Florida after being denied a federal protective review
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Renewed fight begins for bill to ban texting and driving
Thirty-nine states ban text messaging for all drivers. Florida is among six without any ban.
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STAND YOUR GROUND LAW
Florida task force says no major changes needed to Stand Your Ground law
Stand Your Ground is a good law that should stay the same, a state task force concluded. Critics of the makeup of the panel said they’re not surprised.
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MEDICAID
Medicaid expansion faces uncertain future in Legislature
Top House and Senate leaders are skeptical about the idea of expanding Medicaid to more Floridians.
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POLITICS | NEWS ANALYSIS
Gov. Rick Scott’s new ideology? ‘Getting reelected,’ some say
With his call for a dramatic expansion of Medicaid in Florida, Gov. Rick Scott — the onetime outsider-conservative — now is butting heads with some Republican leaders and former supporters.
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politics
St. Pete lawmaker to be next House Democratic leader
Rep. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg narrowly won a caucus vote to be leader of House Democrats, who are a minority in the Florida Legislature.
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MEDICAID
Florida Gov. Rick Scott supports Medicaid expansion
The announcement reflects a dramatic policy reversal for Gov. Rick Scott, who had long pledged to defeat President Barack Obama’s health care law.
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NUCLEAR POWER
Florida legislators hope to fix nuclear advance fee law
A Florida law allowing utilities to charge customers in advance for nuclear power projects is proving costly for everyone, except the utilities themselves.
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WAGES
Bill to block local ‘living wage’ ordinance gets push in House
An Orange County legislator’s plan to stop his local county from enacting a living wage bill also would repeal the proposals in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
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MEDICAID
Consumer groups push for Medicaid expansion in Florida
Expanding Medicare in Florida would create 71,300 jobs and $8.9 billion in economic activity, say two consumer groups.
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CITIZENS PROPERTY
Gov. Rick Scott outraged over salary increases at Citizens
Gov. Rick Scott slammed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for giving out five-figure raises to some of its highest paid executives last year.
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TRANSPORTATION
More state spending on roads, ports
The state plans to increase transportation spending to boost jobs, build more roads, and get the state’s ports ready for the Panama Canal expansion.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Domestic partnership bill on hold for now
A measure that would allow for civil unions, granting legal relationship rights to people who aren't married, stalled in a Senate committee
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CITIZENS
Amid higher premiums, Citizens execs land big raises
Citizens doled out big raises to its top executives while jacking up rates and fending off criticism over various scandals.
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Legislature 2013
Debate over red-light cameras heats up in Tallahassee
Once again, a bill is making its way through the Legislature that would eliminate red-light cameras.
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TAXES
Gov. Rick Scott needs Democrats to pass business tax cut
As he pushes for a new multimillion-dollar tax cut for manufacturers, Gov. Rick Scott finds himself in the unfamiliar position of needing Democratic votes.
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CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Greer whistleblower blasts loopholes in campaign finance bill
The campaign finance bill pushed by Republican leaders is coming under fire from an unusual source — the former budget chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
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STATE BUDGET
State’s flawed contracting process comes under fire
State leaders vow to make changes in the state’s contracting sytem after facing financial losses.
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2013 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
Gov. Rick Scott turns to lobbyists to help push his agenda
In an about-face, Gov. Rick Scott is asking lobbyists to help get his agenda through the Legislature.
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FLORIDA 2013 LEGISLATURE
Lawmakers take aim at limits on alimony payments
A bill would rein in the amount of time that alimony payments could be required, eliminating the idea of permanent idea.
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SUN LIFE STADIUM RENOVATIONS | MIAMI DOLPHINS
Miami-Dade County may require NFL to commit to a Super Bowl before agreeing to stadium fix-up money
Mayor Carlos Gimenez and the Dolphins have agreed to a countywide vote on using tax dollars to renovate Sun Life. But he may hold back funds if the NFL snubs South Florida.
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In My Opinion
Fred Grimm: A stadium upgrade? Broward loves it — if Dade pays
I love sailing. So I have a friend with a sailboat.
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CAMPAIGN FINANCE
House moves ahead with plan to end slush funds, raise campaign contribution limits to $10,000
Candidates for political office could raise up to $10,000 per donor under a new plan that critics say will also concentrate power in the party and favor incumbents.
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Education
With millions at stake, tutoring lobby goes into action
Florida won a waiver from a requirement that school districts hire tutors, but the industry made sure the money kept flowing.
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STATE BUDGET
Cashing in on state contracts becomes growth industry
Florida’s two-decades-long push to shift state services to contract vendors has meant big business for a burgeoning industry of lobbyists.
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‘anti-aging’ clinics
Legal loopholes fuel growth of steroid clinics in South Florida
Legal loopholes have allowed the growth of ‘anti-aging’ clinics in South Florida, making the region one of the top markets in the country for illegal steroids and growth hormones.
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PolitiFact Florida
Fla. House Speaker says state’s campaign contribution limit is nation’s second-lowest
PolitiFact Florida checked out House Speaker Will Weatherford’s claim on Florida’s contribution limit and ruled it false.
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2013 LEGISLATURE
Red-light camera opponents find questionable champion in Rep. Campbell
State Rep. Daphne Campbell of Miami, whose husband’s car has received five tickets, is sponsoring legislation to outlaw red-light cameras.
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