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Bill to repeal shacking up ban unanimously passes in committee

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Florida is one of only three states that still has a law on the books prohibiting men and women from living together if they are not married. Attempts in 2011 and again in this year’s regular Legislative Session to repeal it failed, but Hollywood Democratic state Sen. Eleanor Sobel hopes it finally will happen in 2016. On Tuesday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to support Sobel’s proposal (SB 498). The law now states that a couple found to be “living…

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Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

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With a tip of the hat to Legislative IQ powered by LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off and On: Nancy Bernier is no longer a legislative assistant for Rockledge Republican state Sen. Thad Altman. She is now the district secretary for Melbourne Republican state Rep. Ritch Workman. Off: Aaron McKinney is no longer the legislative assistant for Cutler Bay state Sen. Dwight Bullard. On: Shannon Cooper is now Bullard’s new legislative assistant. Off: Courtney Vandenberg is no…

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Lauren Book posts blockbuster fundraising numbers in Senate race

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It’s been six weeks since Lauren Book announced she would run for termed-out state Sen. Eleanor Sobel’s Senate District 33 seat, and her first campaign finance report showed quite the haul. The author and advocate entered the race September 1 with more than $660,000 in committee money on-hand. September saw a $42,000 gain in committee money, with an astounding $354,974 in contributions to her campaign account, which can only accept contributions up to $1,000. Expenditures were minimal at $2,796. Cash…

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Greyhound injury reporting bill again circulates for 2016 Session

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Hollywood state Sen. Eleanor Sobel filed the “Victoria Q. Gaetz Racing Greyhound Protection Act” for the second time in as many years Friday. The bill, whose title honors the animal-loving wife of former Senate President state Sen. Don Gaetz, would mandate that greyhound racetrack operators report all injuries to the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation. While many tracks voluntarily report such information, there is currently nothing on the books that require them to, a state of affairs testifiers on the bill’s…

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The latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

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With a hat-tip to LobbyTools, here is latest on who is on and who is off the legislative staffing merry-go-round. Off: Jay Ferrin has left his position as legislative analyst for the Senate Majority Office. Off: Chase Daniels has left his position as legislative assistant for state Sen. Charlie Dean. On: Drew Aldikacti is the new legislative assistant for Sen. Dean. Off: Maria Chamorro is leaving her position as legislative assistant for state Sen. Anitere Flores. On: Tiffany Lorente is…

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‘Embarrassed’ by Alan Grayson, Eleanor Sobel endorses Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate

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If liberal U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson was counting on progressive backing for a possible Senate bid, ethical concerns cost him at least one important local supporter. Today, state Sen. Eleanor Sobel endorsed U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy‘s bid for the U.S. Senate, citing the latest revelations about Grayson as an important tipping point in her decision. “I cannot, in good conscience, sit back and watch Alan Grayson continue embarrassing my party and my state,” said Sobel. “His profane tirades were one thing, but…

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Hospital meeting is two weeks away but still no word on Rick Scott’s appointments

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Gov. Rick Scott‘s blue-ribbon healthcare and hospital commission is meeting in two weeks but the Governor’s Office is quiet on the appointments. Scott created the commission via executive order last week. The order doesn’t mention how many members would be on the commission or if any of them would be lawmakers but it did note that the governor would appoint the executive director and that it would be staffed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Though details haven’t been released,…

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