Capitol Watch: April 14, 2021 (Source: News Service of Florida) By News Service of Florida | April 14, 2021 at 7:42 AM EDT - Updated April 14 at 7:42 AM
TALLAHASSEE (News Service of Florida) - Hereâs whatâs on tap in the Capitol today.
GAMBLING ISSUES ON TABLE: The House Commerce Committee will take up two bills (PCB COM 21-03 and PCB COM 21-05) that would create a state âGaming Control Commissionâ and do away with a requirement that many pari-mutuel facilities conduct live horse racing or jai alai games to offer more-lucrative cardrooms. (9 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
TELEHEALTH AT ISSUE: The House Health & Human Services Committee will consider a proposal (HB 247), filed by Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miramar, and Rep. Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, that would expand the authority of doctors to prescribe drugs through telehealth. (9 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)
Gambling bills start moving in Florida Legislature amid talks
By Dara Kam article
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Murmurs, and at times shouts, of a renewed gambling deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida have bubbled during legislative sessions stretching back nearly a decade.
But, as legislative leaders and governors come and go, finalizing an agreement - repeatedly likened to a three-dimensional game of chess - has proven to be just out of reach year after year after year.
The House, the Senate, the governor, and the Seminoles are the central figures in trying to reach a deal, known as a compact. But the talks also include the state’s pari-mutuel operators and global casino giants willing to drop big bucks on even the possibility of planting roots in Florida, a vacation destination with a growing population that’s also home to some of the nation’s most affluent citizens.
Florida Senate advances gambling bill to add new commission, reduce live racing
The bill allows casinos and card rooms to operate without running harness or quarter-horse races or jai-alai matches, a concept known as decoupling.
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Updated 3 hours ago
TALLAHASSEE â The Florida Senate moved a step closer to consolidating and updating the stateâs gambling regulation Monday as a committee advanced bills to create the Florida Gaming Control Commission and another to end live racing as a condition of operating slot machines and card rooms.
But within minutes of presenting the proposal before the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, SPB 7080 ran into the same hurdles that similar attempts have faced year after year: The owners of a race track warned that the change will devastate their business and lead to the loss of jobs.
Sunburn â The morning read of whatâs hot in Florida politics â 4.12.21
Good Monday morning.
I wrote a little something about the race to be Speaker of the Florida House in 2026. I believe it’s worthy of your time.
Stephanie Cardozo, external affairs director to Agriculture Commissioner
Nikki Fried.
Spotted:
Brian Crowley, former member of the Florida Capitol Press Corps and publisher of The Crowley Report, at the Vinoy Renaissance in St. Petersburg.
Brian Crowley was seen hanging out in The Burg.
Spotted:
â SITUATIONAL AWARENESS â
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Joe]
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@JimSciutto: âThe former President is using the same language that he knows provoked Jan 6 … if you attack the rule of law, youâre not defending the constitution,â @Rep
Capitol Watch: April 12, 2021 (Source: News Service of Florida) By News Service of Florida | April 12, 2021 at 6:44 AM EDT - Updated April 12 at 6:44 AM
TALLAHASSEE (News Service of Florida) - Hereâs whatâs on tap in the Capitol today.
DEMOCRATS HOLD MEDIA AVAILABILITY: House Minority Co-leader Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, and Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, will hold an online media availability. (10 a.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84800461017?pwd=NHdjeFBkZnlMRWlKbUtBN2czSHQ3UT09)
PSC APPLICANTS INTERVIEWED: The Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council will interview five candidates to replace Julie Brown on the state Public Service Commission. The seat became open when Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Brown as secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The council will interview candidates Rosanna Manuela Catalano, Jeanne Curtin, Gabriella Passidomo, Ana Ortega and state Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood. The council will rec