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

Gary FineoutJune 7, 2016

An accountant who works for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says she tried to return a controversial $25,000 donation from Donald Trump‘s foundation, but it was not accepted. The Trump Foundation gave the money to Bondi’s political committee in 2013, but renewed questions about it were raised shortly after Bondi endorsed Trump for president. Nancy […]

Gary FineoutJune 4, 2016

State officials have given a good review of Florida’s tourism marketing agency and a second outfit that promotes the aerospace industry. Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year called for the reviews of both Visit Florida and Space Florida. Scott ordered the review of Visit Florida after the Orlando Sentinel reported taxpayers paid thousands of dollars […]

Gary FineoutJune 3, 2016

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Florida taxpayers are going to pay nearly $500,000 for the state’s losing battle to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. State officials have now reached settlements with two separate groups of attorneys representing same-sex couples that challenged the state’s ban. Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office reached a final settlement on Wednesday that brought […]

Gary FineoutJune 2, 2016

The shooting of a Florida State University law professor in his upscale neighborhood two years ago was part of a murder-for-hire scheme that may have been set in motion by a bitter divorce between Daniel Markel and his ex-wife, according to court records released Thursday. Sigfredo Garcia was arrested last week in South Florida in […]

Gary FineoutJune 2, 2016

A new audit is critical of how the administration of Gov. Rick Scott oversaw a state worker charity campaign. Florida auditors reported the Department of Management Services did not initially document costs incurred by the vendor hired to oversee the charitable campaign. The audit also found that between January 2013 and December 2015, state officials did not […]

Gary FineoutMay 31, 2016

Florida will only get back a small portion of the millions it invested in a failed visual effects film studio whose high-profile bankruptcy was used in the contentious 2014 election between Gov. Rick Scott and Charlie Crist. State and local governments in April reached a settlement in a complicated legal battle that involved filings in […]

Gary FineoutMay 26, 2016

After an investigation spanning nearly two years, a South Florida man has been arrested in the killing of a well-known Florida State University professor. But the arrest of 34-year-old Sigfredo Garcia hasn’t answered a long line of questions about why Daniel Markel was gunned down in the garage of his Tallahassee home in July 2014. […]

Gary FineoutMay 25, 2016

Florida is going to pay at least $213,000 for its losing battle to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. State officials have agreed to pay that much to the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida to cover attorney fees and other costs. Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office is also actively negotiating a settlement […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

Florida’s continued lucky streak when it comes to dodging hurricane is helping a key state fund reach its best financial shape ever in the two decades it has been in place. The state-created fund known as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund should have $17.4 billion available for the Atlantic hurricane season that starts June 1. […]

Gary Fineout

Pam Bondi tried to return Donald Trump cash, her accountant says

Review says it’s mostly sunny for state tourism agency, Visit Florida

Florida’s bill for opposing gay marriage? Nearly $500,000

Police: Killing of FSU professor linked to bitter divorce

Audit criticizes Rick Scott administration over charity contract

Florida to get $5 million from failed visual effects studio

Mystery remains after arrest in killing of FSU professor

State will pay opponents’ legal bills in gay marriage fight

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Florida’s hurricane fund in best shape ever ahead of season