Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Author

Ryan Ray - page 17

Ryan Ray has 632 articles published.

Ryan Ray writes about campaigns and public policy in Tampa Bay and across the state. A contributor to FloridaPolitics.com and before that, The Florida Squeeze, he covers the Legislature as a member of the Florida Capitol Press Corps and has worked as a staffer on several campaigns. He can be reached at [email protected].

Devaughn Darling claims bill clears education budget panel

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

A Senate budget panel advanced a bill Wednesday for a grant to the family of a Florida State University football player who died on the practice field. The bill – SB 16 by Sen. Arthenia Joyner – appropriates $1.8 million to the family of Devaughn Darling, who died during preseason drills from complications of an undiagnosed health problem in 2001. Awarded $2 million by a jury in 2005, Darling’s family received just $200,000 of that sum. The legal doctrine of sovereign immunity, which shields governments…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Rick Scott declares state of emergency, pledges funds after Escambia tornado damage

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency and authorized the release of state funds in the wake of severe tornado damage in the Escambia County city of Century last week which saw wind gusts of over 150 miles per hour tear through the Panhandle town, causing severe damage to numerous houses and buildings. Scott, in issuing Executive Order 16-54, acknowledged the emergency circumstances in Century and authorized state officials to step in to cope with the disaster. The order names the…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Senate panel OKs call for “use of military force” against ISIL

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Florida lawmakers continued to dabble in foreign policy on Monday, when the Senate panel unanimously passed a bill calling for an authorization of force against Al-Qaeda and Islamic State groups in Iraq and the Levant. The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security approved SB 1710 by Sen. Greg Evers, which calls on Congress for the “authorization for the use of military force” against the groups. The bill originally called on federal lawmakers to “declare that a state of war…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Florida TaxWatch backs Enterprise Florida fund, economic incentives

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Florida TaxWatch trumpeted the release of a new report Thursday morning, in which the conservative watchdog group endorsed plans to keep tax dollars flowing to economic incentives along the lines of those favored by Gov. Rick Scott, including $250 million Scott has requested for a dedicated fund for Enterprise Florida business recruitment efforts. The report, entitled “A Catalyst for Growth: An Analysis of Florida’s Economic Development Incentive Programs,” said incentives are bringing results in the form of job growth and better economic…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Senate panel advances bill to defund abortion providers

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

After nearly an hour of at times emotional debate on Wednesday, a Senate budget panel approved a controversial proposal to prohibit public funds from going to any facility that provides abortions. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health & Human Services passed SB 1722 by a party-line vote Wednesday morning, with the eight-member panel’s three Democrats voting in opposition. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel, targets state funding for family planning and women’s health. While Florida already has a ban on publicly financed abortions on…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Alan Hays says Ted Cruz can return America to her founding principles

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Alan Hays is Ted Cruz‘ champion in Tallahassee. The state Senator from Umatilla is the co-chair (along with Lakeland Representative Neil Combee) of the Texas Senator’s presidential campaign in Florida, and he’ll be among the special guests appearing at a rally for Cruz this Saturday in Clearwater (A rally that will be sans Cruz, who will be otherwise engaged in South Carolina this weekend). “He has proven that he is willing to stand up against the establishment,” said Hays on…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

Bill to start 2018 Legislative Session in January advances in Florida Senate

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in mid-February is more than halfway complete, an anomaly that usually happens once every decade. Under a bill, SPB 7076, that narrowly passed through the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Tuesday, the early start could happen again in 2018. It passed on a party-line vote, with all three Democrats on the panel dissenting. Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens said he’s not sure the Legislature could be provided with sufficient economic data that early to…

Keep Reading

You might be interested in

1 … 15 16 17 18 19 … 91
Go to Top