State & Local
Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about issues, legislation, and lawmakers in local municipalities and at the state level
The US is ramping up pressure against Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro as he prepares to pronounce himself as the next Venezuelan President on January 10th. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke to President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to express the US’ support in their efforts to uphold their electoral victory […]
Former State Representative and State Senate candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-FL) shared his frustration with a recent gun bill that was filed in the state’s upper chamber that loosens restrictions on "weapons of war." According to Smith, the bill HB 1124 – filed by State Senator Jonathan Martin (R-FL) – relaxes existing gun legislation by […]
Florida Republican Legislators have introduced sister bills in the state Senate and House of Representatives that would prohibit state and local governments from displaying certain flags. Senator Jonathan Martin (R-33) filed the senate version of the bill yesterday, December 28th. The bill specifically prohibits displaying flags that represent “a political viewpoint, including, but not limited […]
Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book (D-FL) announced that abortion is currently on track to be on the ballot in the state of Florida in the 2024 election. The Florida state senator showcased the abortion coalition’s progress that has been made to get the issue in front of voters come November. BIG news: Florida is ON […]
Florida Senator Jonathan Martin (R-33) has filed a bill that would protect public monuments, including Confederate memorials, from being removed or relocated without legislative approval. Senator Martin’s “Historical Monuments and Memorials Protection Act” would direct Florida’s Historical Commission to counsel Florida executive officials on monument preservation. The act claims that “an accurate and factual history […]
The Florida Democratic Party has effectively canceled their primary race by only putting Biden's name on the ballot, despite challengers rising against the president in his own party. In 2020, former President Donald Trump (R) faced a primary challenge from long-shot candidates himself. Although not heavily reported, President Trump blew these Republican challengers out of […]
US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fl) have both suffered ‘swatting’ attempts at their homes. ‘Swatting’ is the term given to calls made by third parties to emergency services falsely alleging a need for officers to be dispatched to the home of the targeted individual. Swatting can result in tense and […]
Florida Senator Jonathan Martin (R-33) has filed a bill that would alter Florida law regarding how immunization requirements are to be adopted and expands potential exemptions to them. The bill would require the Florida Department of Health (FDH) to obtain approval of the Legislature to add any new immunizations to those required for school attendance. […]
Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL) announced that she and her team secured over $1 billion in federal grants for the Tampa Bay area in 2023. This includes over $10 million in “aid, benefits and refunds to veterans, seniors, small businesses, and families.” The $1 billion was acquired through a total of 207 federal grants. “The Tampa […]
The gutter politics war being waged between the presidential campaigns of Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former President Donald Trump (R) has been nothing less than the biggest spectacle of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. The America First Policy Institute is a group closely associated with Donald Trump in terms of its policy positions […]
With 2023 coming to a close, the state of Florida has gone under great changes this year, the most notable being the use of capital punishment. Florida was one of the leading states this year in executions along with states like Texas. The state of Florida only executed less people than Texas, with six executions […]
Over the weekend, Florida State University officially sued the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in an attempt to leave the conference after joining it in 1991. The lawsuit’s main purpose is to challenge the grant of (media) rights and the $130 million exit fee. One of the main points for FSU is their argument that the […]
The Florida legislature is considering creating an investment fund to support the development of counties that have been swarmed with pari-mutuel (gaming) facilities. Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-11) filed a bill , that would create the ‘Prospect Del Vista Incorporation to create and administer an investment fund to support ‘gaming concentrated counties’. Per the bill, gaming-concentrated […]
Earlier this year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed CS/HB 1297 into law, which made sexual assault and battery on children 12 or younger a capital offense, taking effect in October. Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit could see the first application of the new law in a case now. Florida's Fifth Judicial Circuit, which covers Lake, […]
State Rep. Chuck Clemons (R-FL) has made a key endorsement of Levy County Commissioner Chad Johnson (R-FL) who is running to succeed Clemons in the upcoming election in House District 22. Clemons has been term-limited this election cycle, reaching the maximum time allotted to a representative in the Florida House. Clemons has been serving since […]
Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced his 2024 $114.4 billion proposed budget for the State of Florida. Sticking to several of presidential themes, Gov. DeSantis rolled out this plan at a charter school on Marco Island. “We have, since I’ve become governor, paid off 25% of our state’s total debt. ... That’s something […]
After Florida State University’s star quarterback Jordan Travis suffered a gruesome lower leg injury on Saturday which effectively ended his collegiate career, Florida Chief Financial Officer and FSU Alumni Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to the FSU QB, thanking him for his time with the program. For those unfamiliar with the Florida State athlete, Jordan […]
Southwest Florida, specifically Lee and Collier County, is an area worthy of recognition on multiple fronts, be it agriculture, the environment, its demographics, or its economic potential. As such, it is for these reasons Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) has introduced a resolution calling for the appreciation of the area it deserves. Rep. Donalds' resolution provides […]
