Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, released a web video on Tuesday, the first day of the 2011 legislative session. Gardiner offered a quick glimpse of what the Senate will focus on during the first days of the fledgling session.
After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton
You probably can't imagine how much fun I've had at Sunshine State News over the last 10 years. I don't think anybody could.
November 1, 2019 - 6:00am
Politics
Trending Now
By Kevin Derby
Before kicking off the legislative session, Oscar Braynon II, D-Miami, was sworn in Tuesday in the Senate chambers to complete the body's full complement of 40 members.
Braynon moves from the state House, having won special election recently after Frederica Wilson vacated her state Senate District 33 seat to take a spot in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News.
By Kevin Derby
Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and ranking Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi calling on them to back a proposal looking to pull the plug on the federal EPA water-quality proposals for Florida.
By Kevin Derby
The Florida House just inaugurated its newest member in its opening moments. Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, won a special election last month to represent parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties. She replaces Oscar Braynon who vacated the seat to run successfully for the Senate. Watson, who was introduced by Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, offered some brief words of thanks before taking her seat and joining the House.
Sign up for news alerts from Sunshine State News
By Kevin Derby
The Florida Senate is open for business.
The 2011 regular legislative session got underway Tuesday, with the state Senate scheduled to vote on a slate of substantive bills during a busy first week.
By Kevin Derby
While most eyes in Florida politics are on Tallahassee this week as the legislative session opens later on Tuesday, keep an eye on Washington on Wednesday. Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who chairs the U.S. House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, will be examining the FEMA budget for FY 2012 and getting testimony from FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.
By Kevin Derby
Earlier this week, conservative Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, launched the first in a series of video blogs. Workman, who represents parts of Brevard County and chairs the Space Caucus, won some attention last year for preparing an Arizona-style immigration law. In the video, Workman touched on some of the major issues facing the Legislature.
By Kevin Derby
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney applauded President Barack Obama changing course on holding military commissions trying suspected terrorists, but insisted on Monday that the White House did not go far enough in its new decision.
While Im pleased that the president has reversed his previous position and will allow military commissions to resume at Guantanamo Bay, Im deeply concerned that his executive order will leave the door open for the administration to hold civilian trials for terrorists like Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Rooney said.
By Kevin Derby
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, who is considering taking on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, wrote to Gov. Rick Scott on Monday supporting his fellow Republicans rejection of federal funds set aside for high-speed rail projects.
By Kevin Derby
The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will host a straw poll for the 2012 presidential candidates in Orlando in September. The candidates will engage in debate on Thursday, Sept. 22, which will be televised across the nation on Fox News, before taking part in the Presidency 5 straw poll.
Live streaming of WBOB Talk Radio, a Sunshine State News Radio Partner.