Gary Fineout, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutApril 6, 2017

A bribery complaint against President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi lacks enough evidence to move forward, a state prosecutor told the Governor Thursday. The complaint filed by a Massachusetts attorney stemmed from scrutiny last year over a $25,000 campaign contribution Bondi received from Trump in 2013. Bondi asked for the donation near the […]

Gary FineoutApril 2, 2017

With about a month left in the regular session, Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature is on a major collision course over spending. This past week the House and Senate released rival budgets for the coming year that reveal a wide divide between the two chambers on everything from taxes to schools to state worker pay raises. The […]

Gary FineoutMarch 30, 2017

Calling it an “emergency,” Florida may agree to spend up to $200 million to shift students from chronically failing schools to charter schools run by private organizations. The idea crafted by House Speaker Richard Corcoran and other top Republicans in the Florida House is this: Offer up money to help build “Schools of Hope” in […]

Gary FineoutMarch 28, 2017

Blurring the lines between his role as an up-and-coming Republican legislator and his job as an attorney, the law firm of House Speaker Richard Corcoran once charged the state for a meeting with Corcoran in his capacity as a lawmaker. Newly-released billing records show that in October 2014 the firm of Broad and Cassel charged […]

Gary FineoutMarch 23, 2017

Students, their parents and school employees would be guaranteed wider rights to publicly pray and express their religious beliefs in public schools under a far-reaching bill approved Thursday by the Florida Senate. Backers of the legislation, including Senate President Joe Negron, contend that the measure is needed because schools have unnecessarily clamped down on free […]

Gary FineoutMarch 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott and other top Florida Republicans frequently complain about government spending, but they have quietly spent more than $237 million on private lawyers to advance and defend their agendas, an Associated Press investigation has found. Florida taxpayers have also been forced to reimburse nearly $16 million for their opponents’ private attorney fees. That […]

Gary FineoutMarch 12, 2017

Calling it a reflection of the “larger American experience,” a home that has been witness to slavery, the Civil War and the civil rights era has been opened to the public in Tallahassee. State officials on Saturday swung open the doors to The Grove, a state-owned mansion that was once the residence to Gov. LeRoy […]

Gary FineoutMarch 10, 2017

Setting up a debate over the future of Florida’s colleges and universities, the state Senate passed an ambitious proposal Thursday intended to lift schools in the Sunshine State into the ranks of elite counterparts nationwide. For college students, the legislation means more financial aid and incentives designed to help them graduate faster. For universities, it […]

Gary FineoutMarch 7, 2017

In a blow to parents seeking to have their children “opt out” of Florida’s high-stakes tests, an appeals court Tuesday ruled that school districts have a right to hold third-graders back when they score badly on a state reading test. The 1st District Court of Appeal threw out a ruling by a lower court judge […]

Gary FineoutMarch 7, 2017

Once the Florida Legislature kicks off its 60-day Session March 7, legislators are expected to pass, or kill, dozens of measures dealing with everything from abortion to gambling and the environment. So far, more than 2,000 bills have been filed, but in the end, legislators usually pass fewer than 300 pieces of legislation each year. […]

Gary Fineout

Not enough evidence found for Bondi, Trump bribery complaint

Divided over dollars: Florida legislators split on spending

Florida may shift students away from failing schools

State paid law firm for meeting with House Speaker

Bill would protect religious expression in schools

Under radar, State of Florida spent $240M on lawyers

The Grove, a witness to slavery, war and civil rights opens

Can Florida universities and colleges rival rest of nation?

Court: Hold back 3rd graders who do poorly on reading test

Guns, gambling and taxes: Legislators return to work