MiamiHerald.com: Legislature

Capitol Buzz: Quiet day expected in Tallahassee

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00 EST

It’s a light-day at the Capitol: Both the House and the Senate are not in session, and there are no scheduled committee meetings.

Before the ink dries on Florida’s redistricting maps, lawsuits fly

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:49 EST

Moments after legislators take the final vote in their congressional and legislative maps, the Democratic Party and a coalition of voters groups file lawsuits.

Board of governors at odds over making USF Polytechnic state’s 12th university

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:07 EST

Lawmakers are crafting legislation to split the Lakeland campus of the University of South Florida into the state’s 12th university, but the Board of Governors is not happy.

Paranoia is justified on charter-school bill

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00 EST

In their despair, people who care deeply about public education in Florida sometimes get a little carried away.

Capitol Buzz: Housing and school bus ads are topics of debate

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00 EST

Catholics Days continues at the Capitol, culminating with Red Mass of the Holy Spirit program at 6 p.m. Note: It’s also Caribbean Heritage Day.

Ex-South Florida politician to plead guilty to tax charges in federal corruption probe

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:52 EST

Former Fort Lauderdale legislator Mandy Dawson will plead guilty to tax-evasion charges stemming from secret payments she received from a Hollywood doctor at the center of a federal corruption probe.

Miami-Dade college president deems budget allocation process unfair

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:26 EST

The House budget proposal includes special allocations for a trio of colleges in north and central Florida.

Gov. Scott’s Facebook page draws praise and protests

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:58 EST

Gov. Rick Scott’s Facebook page is intriguing because the comments to a question about the Florida Legislature provides a snapshot of a divided state.

Bills to revamp high school sports spark debate

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27 EST

A pair of proposals would dramatically change the structure of high school sports in Florida.

Legislators reject attempt to clarify state’s regulation of slot machines

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:49 EST

While holes in state gambling laws threaten payments from the Seminoles, legislators rejected regulators’ bid for more powers.

Capitol Buzz: Biden visits Tallahassee to talk jobs

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00 EST

Here’s what we’re watching on Monday edition’s of the 2012 Legislature:

Debate on Florida private prisons hinges on cost

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:27 EST

Proponents say private prisons would save seven percent over state-run prisons, but opponents are skeptical.

Legislators propose shifting oversight of utility watchdog

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:26 EST

A proposal to move the office that represents consumers before state regulators gets mixed reviews, as some say it will make the job more political and others suggest it will insulate it from politics.

Charter schools seek construction money

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:45 EST

Florida school districts are fighting a bill that would require them to share construction dollars with charter schools.

As bill dies, future of mega-casinos remains uncertain

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:59 EST

The debate over Las Vegas-style casinos has ended in defeat for supporters, who now have to wait until next year to try again to revive the gambling legislation.

Mega-casino gambling is dead – or is it?

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:21 EST

Time to exhale, at least a little, and take down names.

House okays new redistricting map

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:40 EST

The House approved new redistricting maps amid opposition from Democrats who said the political boundaries favor Republicans.

Ethics bill left on cutting room floor of state capitol

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:17 EST

Senate President Mike Haridopolos and his staff effectively killed an ethics bill for 2012 by assigning it to five different committees before the beginning of the legislative session.

House approves ‘downsizing” Citizens Property

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:25 EST

The House passed a bill to allow surplus lines carriers to take over some insurance policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp.