What's Going On

The latest news on Florida politics and politicians.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, vowed Friday that she would only submit earmark requests on behalf of "localities, non-profits, or government agencies."

Robert Wexler praises Crist on Chinese drywall issue

The space shuttle would continue flying until NASA builds its replacement vehicle or a U.S. company launches a private spacecraft capable of reaching the International Space Station, under a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Florida.

Legislation by Rep. Seth McKeel, R-Lakeland, requesting Congress withdraw a moratorium barring drilling for oil and gas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico is one step away from being voted on by the Florida House.

Sen. Charlie Dean says he should quit his post as Majority Whip if lawmakers move forward with a push to privatize a state-run mental hospital for the criminally insane in his district.

Miami Republican Rep. Juan Zapata just sent out an email to his colleagues all but daring House Speaker Larry Cretul to fire him as chair of the House Human Services Appropriations Committee.

The Florida House’s select tribal gaming committee advanced a no-frills Seminole compact Friday that would preclude the tribe from operating so-called banked table games at its seven casinos.

March 30-April 1 Mason Dixon poll for SayfieReview/PowerPlay (moe +/-4%) shows a dead heat between Bill McCollum and Alex Sink for governor: McCollum 36 percent, Sink 35 percent, undecided 29 percent.

Florida's heralded land-conservation program that has preserved millions of acres of green space during the past two decades is going away — at least for a year.

The SunRail commuter train proposed for Central Florida will not get any help from Sen. Gary Siplin, D- Orlando

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach, voted against a House budget bill today because the federal spending guidelines "does not give NASA the flexibility to fly the space shuttle past 2010."

In a letter to Gov. Charlie Crist, Mack says he will not run for Senate in 2010.

Senate Finance and Tax Committee Chairman Thad Altman said he thinks the temperature for a broad-based discussion of sales tax exemptions may not happen this session.

The Florida Senate voted Thursday to weaken the state's rigid growth laws that force developers to build roads around places where they choose to plant new shopping malls, factories or planned communities.

Florida senators signaled Wednesday that they want companies such as Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity to pay higher taxes.

One of the bill’s co-authors said the intention is to prevent a repeat of what happened at American International Group, where AIG executives initially received about $165 million in bonuses after getting more than $180 billion in bailout funds. “[The measure] is based on two simple concepts. One, no one has the right to get rich off taxpayer money. And two, no one should get rich off abject failure,” said U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, a freshman Democrat from Orlando.

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, today urged President Obama to extend the space shuttle era, "preferably" until NASA is ready to fly a replacement vehicle that the agency hopes can one day return Americans to the moon.

Alcee Hastings commemorates legacy of AIDS activist Pedro Zamora

Sen. Don Gaetz has filled a bill with Sen. Mike Fasano that will stop public officials from collecting a paycheck and a pension, known as Double-dipping.