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

Associated PressMarch 24, 2017

Three metro areas in Florida were among the nation’s 10 biggest gainers in the number of people moving there last year, and another three Florida metro areas were in the top 10 for overall growth rates. The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday said the Tampa area had the nation’s fourth-highest gain from people moving there […]

Associated PressMarch 24, 2017

It takes a lot of land to accommodate Cinderella’s castle, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Epcot’s 11-country World Showcase — and a hefty purse to pay the property taxes on it. To cut tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars, the specialists at Orlando’s famous theme parks have employed methods from […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2017

Abandoning negotiations, President Donald Trump demanded a make-or-break vote on health care legislation in the House, threatening to leave “Obamacare” in place and move on to other issues if Friday’s vote fails. The risky move, part gamble and part threat, was presented to GOP lawmakers behind closed doors Thursday night after a long and intense […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2017

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran has called on the governor to suspend a prosecutor for pledging to not seek the death penalty in any case while she is in office. Corcoran said Thursday that Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala was “violating the constitution” because she is not even considering the death penalty. Capital punishment is […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2017

The Latest on the upcoming health care vote in the House (all times local): 1:35 p.m. The chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus says there’s “no deal” on the GOP health care legislation after a meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump. The assertion from Congressman Mark Meadows of North Carolina throws […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2017

Children in foster care would get help obtaining a driver’s license and auto insurance under a bill unanimously passed by the Senate. The bill passed Thursday would make permanent a pilot program that began in 2014. The program reimburses foster parents or children for driver’s education, license fees and insurance. The idea is to help […]

Associated PressMarch 23, 2017

U.S. Treasury Department agents have recently obtained information about offshore financial transactions involving President Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, as part of a federal anti-corruption probe into his work in Eastern Europe, The Associated Press has learned. Information about Manafort’s transactions was turned over earlier this year to U.S. agents working in the […]

Associated PressMarch 22, 2017

A prosecutor who was given a case involving a police officer’s murder by Florida’s governor after the original prosecutor said her office would no longer seek the death penalty says the original prosecutor has no authority to ask for the case back. Gov. Rick Scott gave the case against Markeith Loyd to State Attorney Brad […]

Associated PressMarch 22, 2017

A bill that would ban injecting racing greyhounds in Florida with anabolic steroids is heading to the House floor. The House’s Commerce Committee approved the bill (HB 743) on Tuesday. Florida is home to 12 of 19 tracks in the United States and one of the few places where the use of steroids is permitted. […]

Associated PressMarch 22, 2017

Florida is investigating whether or not school districts are moving students around in order to manipulate graduation rates. Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announced Wednesday that she has asked top officials in her department to look closer at students who were in their senior year but weren’t counted in final graduation rates. Gary Chartrand, a member […]

Associated Press

Florida cities among the biggest population gainers

Mickey vs. the tax man: Disney, Universal fight tax bills

White House, in gamble, demands make-or-break health vote

Florida Speaker: Suspend prosecutor who nixes death penalty

House Freedom Caucus chairman says there’s ‘no deal’ on the GOP health care legislation after White House meeting

Bill will help foster children get driver’s licenses

U.S. probes banking of ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort

New prosecutor says old prosecutor shouldn’t get case back

Bill banning steroids for greyhounds headed to House

Florida investigating whether grad rates were manipulated