Associated Press, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressJuly 25, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott is asking for answers from those who received money in the state’s more than $78 billion budget. The head of Scott’s budget office is sending out more than 300 letters to groups and local governments that received money for projects in this year’s budget. Those letters ask the organizations to provide detailed […]

Associated PressJuly 24, 2015

The drama over Florida’s former lieutenant governor, who was forced to resign more than two years ago, may finally be over. The Florida Commission on Ethics on Friday unanimously approved a settlement with Jennifer Carroll where the one-time rising star in state Republican politics agreed to pay a $1,000 fine and admit she violated the […]

Associated PressJuly 23, 2015

Calling on his party to embrace diversity, former Gov. Jeb Bush declared Thursday that Republicans will never win the presidency if they don’t campaign in “every nook and cranny” of the country — especially in Hispanic and African-American communities. “I’m running to draw people toward our cause rather than push them away,” Bush said during […]

Associated PressJuly 23, 2015

Now that Cuba has an embassy again in Washington, D.C., consulates could be coming to serve its people, most of whom live in Florida. Miami and Tampa have the closest historical ties to the island, but they have very different things to say about the idea. Officials in Miami want no part of a consulate. […]

Associated PressJuly 23, 2015

Surrounded by supporters as he announced his bid for the presidency, Jeb Bush decried the “swarms of lobbyists” holding sway in Washington and said he was the candidate ready to do something about it. “We will also challenge the culture that has made lobbying the premier growth industry in our nation’s capital,” Bush said in […]

Associated PressJuly 21, 2015

Florida’s presidential primary is nine months away, but the state’s influential donors already are speaking with their wallets. So far the news is better for Jeb Bush than for Marco Rubio in the Republican money race between home-state heavyweights, but it’s even better for Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton. Former Governor Bush’s campaign drew nearly $1 […]

Associated PressJuly 21, 2015

Florida U.S. Rep. David Jolly announced Monday that he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio, who is running for president, and former Gov. Charlie Crist said he’s eyeing Jolly’s seat. Jolly, a Republican elected to Congress in spring 2014, made the announcement to the media Monday morning. He was scheduled […]

Associated PressJuly 19, 2015

Daytona Beach is famous for allowing drivers to cruise its sand-packed shoreline, but real estate experts say getting cars off the beach could raise property values. The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that property values and the volume of real estate deals are on the rise now that Volusia County has moved to eliminate beach driving […]

Associated PressJuly 19, 2015

Once again, Donald Trump isn’t backing down from comments that have inflamed the Republican presidential race. And some of his rivals are no longer treating him with kid gloves. Republican presidential contenders Marco Rubio and Rick Perry said Trump, with his latest bombast, has demonstrated he is not fit to be president. At an Iowa […]

Associated PressJuly 17, 2015

Florida’s unemployment is dropping slightly. The June unemployment rate was 5.5 percent, compared with 5.7 percent the month before. The state added 7,000 jobs last month, according to figures released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity. The state’s jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5.3 percent. There are about 529,000 unemployed […]

Associated Press

Gov. Scott wants answers from groups getting state money

Jennifer Carroll to pay fine, admit violations in ethics case

Jeb Bush calls on GOP to embrace Latinos, African-Americans

Cuban consulate possibility divides Miami, Tampa officials

Jeb Bush blasts ‘swarms of lobbyists’ but once registered as one

Hillary Clinton besting Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio in Florida money race

Rep. David Jolly running for Senate; ex-Gov. Charlie Crist eyes his seat

Volusia County beach-driving ban ups property values

No retreat, no surrender for free-speaking candidate Donald Trump

Florida’s unemployment rate drops slightly in June