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James Call has 398 articles published.

Florida House ordered to respond to sine die lawsuit by 10 a.m. Friday

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On Thursday afternoon, Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner asked the Florida Supreme Court to order the House to return Friday, the session’s last regularly scheduled day. The Court responded by ordering the House until 10 a.m. Friday to respond to the petition. The Democrats will then have until 12:30 p.m. to answer the House’s reply. The complaint alleges the House’s action was unconstitutional. Florida’s Constitution includes a provision that neither chamber can adjourn for more than 72 hours during the…

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Senate president proposes a three-week special session in June

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Senate President Andy Gardiner wants to schedule three weeks in June for a special session to write a state budget. Gardiner wrote to House Speaker Steve Crisafulli Thursday, thanking the speaker for a prompt response to his previous letter and acknowledging the House’s intention not to return to Tallahassee prior to the scheduled expiration of the 2015 regular session. “For this reason, I have enclosed a draft call for a special session of the Florida Legislature to begin on June…

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Senate president, House speaker exchange letters as budget dispute deepens

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Instead of a Doctor of the Day, when the Florida House and Senate next meet, maybe they should consider a psychologist, counselor or mediator. After an exchange of insults and letters Wednesday it became even more uncertain when the two chambers will be able to begin budget negotiations. The gulf between the Florida House and Senate became wider Wednesday after Senate President Andy Gardiner sent House Speaker Steve Crisafulli a letter stating the House adjournment on day 57 of the…

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Rob Bradley talks pot, Rick Scott and the people’s business

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When the Senate broke for lunch on Wednesday, state Sen. Rob Bradley engaged the Capitol Press Corps in a discussion of dead bills, a broken session and the Senate healthcare proposal to provide coverage to uninsured workers. Q: SPB 7066, a rewrite of the medicinal marijuana law died yesterday. Do you intend to bring it back next session or will you do another rewrite? Bradley: I want to see what happens with the administrative law judge and how that comes…

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Five minutes with Ron Book: sausage making, dead bills and special session

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Lobbyist Ron Book sat, head in hand, in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday morning. He just observed the Senate grind through an agenda of bills sent over from the House before it unexpectedly adjourned the day before, only three days away from the scheduled end of session. Book has been around the Capitol for a while. His over 40-year career started by working for the House, then in the Cabinet of former Gov. Bob Graham as legislative counsel and, for a time, as acting chief of…

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Medical marijuana advocates disappointed, looking to 2016

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Medical marijuana advocates are now looking to 2016. One of the casualties of the budget debate raging between the House and Senate is a glitch bill for last year’s Charlotte’s Web law. SPB 7066 died when the House unexpectedly adjourned the 2015 session three days early. “I have never seen more lobbyists with their mouths literally drop (open) and I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” Ron Watson said. Watson works health issues and focused this year on the glitch…

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Sine Die 2015: No joy in Tally tonight

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Florida’s impasse over the state budget has rubbed nerves raw, throwing lawmakers and lobbyists’ plans for May and June into chaos. On Tuesday, the Legislature quickly deflated the party atmosphere that usually engulfs the end of the annual 60-day session. The House adjourned unexpectedly Tuesday and is in recess, in the words of Speaker Steve Crisafulli “until the Senate decides it is ready to negotiate.” There will be no Sine Die traditions this year. Usually, when the speaker of the House and…

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