Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMay 18, 2018

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund has reserves enough to easily cover its Hurricane Irma liabilities — as much as $300 million in excess of its $17 billion statutory liability limit. But what happens if a major storm — or a swarm of them — wipes out the fund’s assets? It might have to demand emergency […]

Staff ReportsMay 16, 2018

Florida wants to spend $616 million in post-Irma federal emergency money to repair damaged homes, build new affordable housing, and to help businesses that suffered damage in the storm. The money would come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through a disaster-recovery community block grant. Gov. Rick Scott submitted his plan for […]

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2018

Real estate billionaire Jeffrey Soffer has closed on a deal to buy South Florida’s former Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track. The closing was disclosed in a final order filed Monday and released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). But the department, which regulates gambling in the state, withheld a final […]

Danny McAuliffeMay 1, 2018

A bit more money is on the way for Florida citrus growers affected by Hurricane Irma. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Monday that his agency will provide a $340 million block grant to the state to cater to Irma-affected farmers during the 2018-2020 crop year — that’s in addition to the […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2018

The U.S. Department of Education will move forward with grants to schools in Florida and other states that took in children evacuees from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and then struggled with unexpected costs, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy‘s office announced Tuesday. Under legislation Congress pushed through and approved in February, with Murphy’s backing, the department will […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2018

A new report from the National Employment Law Project Action Fund charges that Florida’s workers got shortchanged by state and federal efforts to provide disaster unemployment assistance following Hurricane Irma last fall. The report alleges Floridians, under Gov. Rick Scott‘s guidance, received far less from the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program than under any Florida governor […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2018

Democrats are sharpening their attacks on Rick Scott just as Florida’s Republican Governor bides his time with a no-comment period until the big announcement Monday when he’s expected to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. On Thursday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched a new website “SelfServingScott.com” anticipating Scott’s candidacy. The site lays out […]

Phil AmmannMarch 31, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill this week aimed at eradicating invasive species, such as the rightly maligned Burmese python, from wreaking havoc in Sunshine State ecosystems. SB 168 creates a pilot program within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) allowing them to hire private contractors to capture or kill any of a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 29, 2018

Updated May 1 — Court records show that the cases reported below were settled out of court and closed. The terms of the settlements were not disclosed. __ As news broke earlier this year that a real estate tycoon was in talks to buy Hallandale Beach’s Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track, longtime casino head Dan Adkins […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 24, 2018

A bill that would ban marriages for anyone under the age of 17 and legislation expressing the state’s intent to observe Daylight Saving time year-round were among 74 bills Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on Friday. The marriage bill (SB 140) prevents minors from being granted nuptial licenses. With parental consent, 17-year-olds can wed […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma

Florida CAT Fund healthy, but council contemplates doomsday scenario

Rick Scott earmarks federal Hurricane Irma block grant for housing, infrastructure

Jeffrey Soffer closes deal to buy South Florida’s Mardi Gras Casino

Feds announce $340M grant for Florida citrus

Feds to provide grants to schools enrolling hurricane evacuees

Report: Florida shortchanged on Hurricane Irma unemployment assistance

Democrats aim new website at Rick Scott

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Python purge

Ante up: Dan Adkins, Hartman & Tyner suing each other over lost ‘millions’

Child marriage ban, year-round Daylight Saving time signed into law