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Jeff Brandes, Matt Caldwell want to rein in asset seizure by law enforcement

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A pair of Republican lawmakers spoke to reporters Thursday about their proposal to revamp the seizure of assets by police in Florida, amid reports the value of property taken from suspects across the country now exceeds that of property stolen by criminals. St. Petersburg Sen. Jeff Brandes and Lehigh Acres Rep. Matt Caldwell told assembled media some elements of law enforcement are wrongly “self-appropriating” funds by taking advantage of civil forfeiture laws. The legislators say some laws — like the landmark federal RICO Act passed in part…

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House panel votes to allow state to set municipal election dates

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A House panel approved a bill Thursday morning that would reshape the timing and electorate of Florida’s local elections. The bill, PCB SAC 16-04, would preempt local authority to set the date of municipal elections, granting the ultimate say-so on when they are held to state lawmakers. Bill sponsor Rep. Matt Caldwell chairs the State Affairs Committee which passed the bill Thursday in its first stop along its way to a vote before the full House, after an hour of discussion. Debate focused on…

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Long-awaited water policy bill passes House committee

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A House budget panel on agriculture and the environment passed an expansive water policy bill by Rep. Matt Caldwell Wednesday afternoon. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Committee approved HB 7005 by a vote of 11 to 1, with Democratic Rep. José Javier Rodríguez opposing. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has signaled its approval for the bill, as did a number of business-backed groups such as Associated Industries of Florida and Florida Chamber of Commerce, while some environmentalists stay on the fence. Stephanie Kunkel, a lobbyist with the…

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Two more maps filed for Senate redistricting

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Two more state Senate maps were submitted late Tuesday as part of the ongoing Special Session to redraw the districts, which the chamber previously admitted were gerrymandered to benefit Republicans. State Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican, and state Sen. Jeff Clemens, a Lake Worth Democrat, each filed their own map. A cursory review shows that neither map contains districts that cross Tampa Bay. The six staff-drawn “base maps” now being considered by lawmakers all have districts that…

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Associated Industries of Florida to hold water forum today

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Associated Industries of Florida, the state’s premier business lobby, will hold its sixth annual Florida Water Forum today. The forum begins 9 a.m. at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. “This meeting will provide participants with the most current information from Florida’s policy leaders in the Legislature and state government on issues relating to water policy,” according to a news release. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is scheduled as keynote speaker, with former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard, now…

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Ritch Workman’s legislative colleagues praise his Uber ambitions

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State Rep. Ritch Workman, Tallahassee’s newest Uber driver-partner, is getting rave reviews from his legislative colleagues. Workman, whose other part-time job is chairman of the House Rules Committee, is also director of business development at Keiser University. The Melbourne Republican hopes to use his passion for Uber to gain insight on an issue sure to face legislative battles in the 2016 session. Impressed by first-hand participation, several legislators praised Workman as both an ambitious Floridian and hardworking businessperson. Married with six children,…

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State officials say Everglades water policy, BMP regime are working

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The South Florida Water Management District was joined by Republican elected officials Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and state Rep. Matt Caldwell this week in saying tighter restrictions on agriculture in the Everglades Agricultural Area are unnecessary because best management practices, or BMPs, are working. Levels of harmful phosphorous — a product of agricultural runoff into the ecologically sensitive area — are down 79 percent according to recently released state data. “For a milestone 20th year, water flowing from farmlands in the Everglades Agricultural Area achieved phosphorus reductions that…

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