2015 Regular Session

Tom Lee calls out Ritch Workman for comments involving his family

Published on May 5, 2015 in Top Headlines by James Call

Lawmakers left the statehouse last week amid a stream of insults and without a budget in place for the fiscal year that begins in July. Most observers seemed to think time away from Tallahassee would lower the temperature in the room and allow budget work to begin but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Lee is taking exception to comments House Rules Chair Ritch Workman made in the media about an alimony reform bill left dead on the special order calendar…

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Epilogue: Lawmakers hit new low in number of bills passed

Published on May 1, 2015 in Top Headlines by James Call

Friday morning lobbyist Ron Watson was preparing reports for clients whose interests he represents before the Florida Legislature. The curtains close officially on the 2015 regular session Friday, but for all intents and purposes, it ended Tuesday with the House and Senate exchanging insults and the House adjourning with no state budget in place for the fiscal year beginning in July. “In the latest episode of As Tallahassee Turns,” Watson joked, citing the opening line of the dispatch he’s sending clients.…

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Lawmakers tweet insults over budget dispute

Published on April 30, 2015 in Statewide/Top Headlines by James Call

Now Florida lawmakers are arguing on Twitter. The 2015 regular session came to a screeching halt Tuesday when the House adjourned three days before the session’s scheduled end. Thursday Senate Democrats filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court to order the House back in session for the Friday. Senate Republican leaders say the House’s move is unconstitutional, trying to leverage power over the Senate by its absence. Thursday Senate Democrats filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court to…

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Senate president proposes a three-week special session in June

Published on April 30, 2015 in Top Headlines by James Call

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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