Michael Moline, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMay 18, 2017

Belinda Miller, a stalwart of Florida’s insurance regulation efforts since 1985, will retire on July 2, but plans to keep her hand in the industry via consulting work. ”I’m going to retire from the state,” Miller said during a telephone interview Thursday. “It’s just time. I’ve been there a long time, so I’m going to […]

Michael MolineMay 17, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet will interview a single candidate for the vacant secretary slot at the Department of Environmental Regulation — Noah Valenstein, a former environmental aide to the governor. His was the only name put forward for an interview during a meeting of aides to the governor and Cabinet Wednesday morning. “The […]

Michael MolineMay 17, 2017

The state would run out of money to buy agricultural conservation land easements by the end of 2017 under the budget approved by the Legislature, the head of the Florida Forest Service said Wednesday. The service asked for $50 million and got $10 for the Rural & Family Lands Protection Program, land program administrator John […]

Michael MolineMay 17, 2017

The Triple S Ranch lies 15 miles north of Lake Okeechobee — a 7,000-acre cattle operation, relatively untouched by development, within the recharge zone for the Kissimmee River. Rare and endangered species, including a Florida panther, wander its streams and cypress swamps. On Wednesday morning, aides to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet will peruse […]

Michael MolineMay 15, 2017

Proposed rules for the Constitution Revision Commission could let members deliberate in secret, limit public participation, bottle up ideas in committee, or bog down debating proposals with little support, government watchdog groups warned Monday. Sixteen organizations, including the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, Florida Consumer Action Network, and unions, including Florida AFL-CIO, critiqued the […]

Michael MolineMay 12, 2017

Innovate Florida, state Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee, spent a quiet April on the fundraising front while the Legislative Session concluded. It collected exactly $0. This after amassing $494,200 during the first three months of the year and $6.2 million since 2013, according to state records. Sen. Wilton Simpson’s Jobs for Florida committee’s fundraising took […]

Michael MolineMay 12, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott’s Let’s Get to Work political committee raised $485,100 during April, with United Health Group Inc. kicking in the largest single donation of $100,000. Fundraising was down from March, when the PAC raised nearly $610,000. The committee has raised more than $56.8 million since 2014. Its best month thus far this year was […]

Michael MolineMay 9, 2017

A state appeals court has upheld a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, rejecting legal arguments that it was approved in violation of Florida’s open-government laws. “This argument ignores the plain language of the statute and the ordinary meaning of the terms within it,” a three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of […]

Michael MolineMay 9, 2017

Jacksonville House member Jay Fant announced for state Attorney General Tuesday, promising to fight for the Constitution — especially the First and Second amendments — and against “big government.” Fant said during a kickoff news conference in the state Capitol that “fighting big government, fighting for the Constitution, and fighting for free enterprise” were what […]

Michael MolineMay 8, 2017

The Senate manager for two of the most ambitious bills debated during the Legislative Session was a little wistful following sine die. Sen. Rob Bradley, who carried SB 10 for Senate President Joe Negron, called the bill “one of the real legislative achievements of the last decade or so, that we can all be very […]

Michael Moline

Office of Insurance Regulation veteran Belinda Miller announces retirement

A single candidate scores interview for DEP top job: Noah Valenstein

State will exhaust budget for agriculture conservation easements by year’s end

Thousands of acres of conservation easement on Cabinet aides’ agenda

Watchdogs decry Constitution Revision Commission’s proposed rules

Future Senate leaders’ political committees went quiet during Legislative Session

Rick Scott’s Let’s Get to Work committee raised $495,000 during April

State appeals court upholds 14.5 percent workers’ comp premium increase

Jax House member Jay Fant launches campaign for Attorney General

Rob Bradley reflects on his big win, and big loss, during the Legislative Session