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

Jim RosicaApril 25, 2016

Nearly 3,000 needy people received $2.7 million worth of free dental care this weekend in Jacksonville. The event, Florida Mission of Mercy 2016, was sponsored by the Florida Dental Association Foundation. It was held at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. This year’s event drew 2,400 volunteers, according to a press release, including almost 600 dentists […]

Jim RosicaApril 22, 2016

A nonprofit specializing in helping former prisoners re-enter society is slamming the state for shutting it down. Specifically, Bridges of America says the Department of Corrections is pulling the plug on its transitional and substance abuse program in Broward County. The current contract between Bridges and the department ends May 16. The state told the […]

Jim RosicaApril 22, 2016

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater again picked state Rep. Bill Hager and two others to be interviewed for state Insurance Commissioner at next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The decision came in a Thursday email. The current commissioner, Kevin McCarty, plans to leave the post this year. Hager, a former Iowa Insurance Commissioner, is Atwater’s choice but Gov. […]

Jim RosicaApril 21, 2016

POLITICO, the primarily online political news outlet, has been granted $205,000 in tax credits to expand its California operation. And while one commentator lambasted the move, a trio of journalism ethicists applauded the company’s decision to apply. POLITICO, which already has a presence in California, has a five-person Tallahassee bureau and political writer Marc Caputo based in South Florida. (There […]

Jim RosicaApril 21, 2016

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Despite Congresswoman Gwen Graham‘s email telling supporters she wanted them to “hear it first” of her possible bid for governor, two other media outlets broke the news before she did. The admittedly inside-the-Tallahassee-bubble question is, who got the scoop: POLITICO Florida or the Tallahassee Democrat, Graham’s hometown newspaper? For the record, Graham’s own email announcing her […]

Jim RosicaApril 21, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham says she’s giving up on Congress and “seriously considering running for governor in 2018.” In an early Thursday email, the Tallahassee congresswoman wrote, “I have major news, and I want you to hear it first” (even though at least two news media outlets actually broke the story first). “The politicians, lobbyists and […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

A top plaintiffs’ insurance lawyer is lauding Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty‘s offer to extend his departure, which was originally set for May 2. McCarty “staying on until a replacement is named is a massive blessing,” said Chip Merlin of the Merlin Law Group in Tampa. Merlin has built a business out of suing insurance companies that “deny, delay or underpay property […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

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Kevin McCarty is telling his bosses: You need more time? You got it. The state’s outgoing Insurance Commissioner on Wednesday wrote separate but identical letters to Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. He said he would delay his departure to “45 days after my successor […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2016

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The Florida Supreme Court has suspended a Miami-Dade County judge after allegations she was “impaired” at work. The court on Tuesday unanimously ordered Judge Jacqueline Schwartz suspended from office immediately until a formal finding. “The parties shall file simultaneous responses as to why Judge Schwartz should not be suspended without pay pending disposition of this proceeding,” the court wrote. […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2016

A north Florida racetrack seeking slot machines is delving into legislative history to bolster its case. Gretna Racing’s lawyer on Tuesday submitted documents from the 2009 session to sway the Florida Supreme Court to expand slots play throughout the state. A ruling for the track could result in what critics fear will be the single biggest gambling expansion in the […]

Jim Rosica
Memorial Day weekend could prove deadly if advice is not heeded to prevent drownings.

Free dental care event brings out thousands in Jax

State ending prisoner-assistance program in Broward

Jeff Atwater considering three for OIR top job

POLITICO granted tax credits to expand in California

On Gwen Graham announcement, who scooped whom?

Gwen Graham announces possible run for Governor

Chip Merlin calls Kevin McCarty’s departure delay a ‘massive blessing’

In letter, Kevin McCarty says he’s willing to extend departure date

Miami-Dade judge suspended over “impairment” allegations

Racetrack seeking slots files legislative documents to boost case