Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2016

A 34-year-old former high school math teacher was named Friday to be the next Florida Insurance Commissioner. David Altmaier, currently a deputy commissioner at the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), starts on Monday. Altmaier, who will be paid $165,000 a year, began at OIR as an insurance examiner in 2008. The selection caps off weeks of […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are supposed to meet Friday to pick the state’s new Insurance Commissioner. But except for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, none of them will actually be there. The rest, including Scott, will be phoning it in. Friday’s get-together (or lack thereof) is a last-minute emergency meeting, called by the […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

An internal review by the Department of Children and Families depicts a still dysfunctional agency, with workers feeling “unsupported,” “overwhelmed,” and “defeated.” The 133-page report, commissioned by DCF Secretary Mike Carroll, was released Thursday afternoon to FloridaPolitics.com in response to a public records request. It has been referred to informally in DCF circles as the “Sanford Report” after […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

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A top House Republican now is questioning the shutdown of a South Florida prisoner re-entry program. Dana Young, leader of the Florida House of Representatives’ controlling Republican caucus, wrote a letter to Corrections Secretary Julie Jones on Wednesday. The letter, released to reporters on Thursday, comes on the tail of the department’s decision to discontinue a Broward County […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday decided not to consider a case that challenged the constitutionality of the state’s workers’ compensation system. The move leaves a contentious 2003 overhaul untouched – for now. After hearing arguments in Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital earlier this month, all seven justices agreed to “exercise our discretion and discharge jurisdiction,” the court’s one […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2016

If it’s approved, would a proposed constitutional amendment outlaw currently legal kinds of gambling? A panel of state economic analysts debated the question on Tuesday. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference, a slate of economists for the Legislature and executive branches, held a public workshop in Tallahassee on the Voter Control of Gambling amendment. It would “ensure that Florida […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

Lobbyist Frank Tsamoutales and former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos have settled their respective lawsuits against each other, court records show. The terms of the agreement, reached earlier this month, were not available in online court dockets. Haridopolos and Douglas Marks, Tsamoutales’ attorney, did not immediately respond to separate emails sent Tuesday. Tsamoutales sued first in February, in Leon County. He is based in […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

A second Florida Cabinet meeting has ended with no agreement on a new state Insurance Commissioner. Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater again deadlocked on Tuesday, further stalling the process. In a near replay of the last meeting, an intransigent Scott again moved to hire retired insurance executive Jeffrey Bragg. An equally intransigent Atwater declined […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

More than 5,000 acres in St. Johns County have been set aside for conservation. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved spending nearly $6 million toward the wooded land. State officials want to add the tract to the St. Johns River Blueway Florida Forever project. The move is supported by conservationists. The North Florida Land Trust’s Jim […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

And then there were four. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are scheduled to interview four candidates Tuesday for the position of state Insurance Commissioner. The Cabinet meeting kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Capitol. The interviews, which could result in someone being appointed at the meeting, are last on the agenda. Time […]

Jim Rosica

David Altmaier named Insurance Commissioner

Jeff Atwater may be alone in Cabinet meeting

DCF workers feeling “overwhelmed” and “defeated,” new report says

Dana Young dubious about prisoner program shutdown

Fla. Supreme Court punts on workers’ comp case

Economists puzzle over proposed gambling amendment

Frank Tsamoutales and Mike Haridopolos settle lawsuits

Top state officials still can’t agree on new Insurance Commissioner

Rick Scott and Cabinet OK land buy in St. Johns County

Could new Insurance Commissioner be hired Tuesday?