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

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

The Legislature’s chief economist has told lawmakers that next year’s relatively tiny budget surplus will be erased because of costs from Hurricane Irma. Amy Baker, director of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, presented a working version of the state’s long-range financial outlook to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday. She explained that extra costs to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags at half-staff to honor Hardee County Sheriff’s Deputy Julie Ann Bridges and Florida Department of Corrections Sgt. Joseph Ossman. The two were killed Sunday in a two-car head-on collision. Bridges was on her way home after helping at a local hurricane shelter, reports said. Ossman was headed to work at a state prison. The […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

After eight South Florida nursing home residents died when Hurricane Irma knocked out their power, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday directed the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to block the facility from receiving Medicaid payments. Hollywood Police Chief Tom Sanchez said investigators believe the deaths at Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills were heat-related, adding […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday rejected a request from Florida Democratic Party chair Stephen Bittel, asking the governor to postpone the Sept. 26 special election for Senate District 40. Scott’s position suggests he may not heed a similar request from a coalition of progressive groups that asked him “to postpone municipal and statehouse elections scheduled in the coming […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2017

The group that calls itself the conservative alternative to AARP is calling on the federal government to investigate the deaths of eight South Florida nursing home residents who died after Hurricane Irma knocked out their power. Dan Weber, founder and CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens, sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 13, 2017

Rain from Hurricane Irma has engorged the Santa Fe River, imperiling an Interstate 75 bridge that traverses the waterway, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said. The bridge is at mile marker 408 on the northern edge of Alachua County. The river “is expected to crest at historic and unprecedented levels, presenting a potential threat to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 12, 2017

Justin Sayfie announced Tuesday he had cancelled his upcoming Sept. 14-15 “Sayfie Review Summit” because of Hurricane Irma. “It was a difficult decision to make but our state’s focus in the coming days should be on disaster response, recovery and relief,” Sayfie wrote in an email. “There will always be time to talk about the […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 12, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott can’t stop, won’t stop as the state mops up from Hurricane Irma. Scott, who’s in Jacksonville this Tuesday morning, was all about preparedness as the storm approached. Now he’s focused on recovery, his daily schedule shows, with a media interview thrown in: “7:20 a.m. — Call With Florida Power And Light President […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2017

With tropical storm-force winds less than 24 hours away, Hurricane Irma also is expected to bring storm surge of 6-12 feet to the state’s southern coasts, Gov. Rick Scott said Friday night. “Our state has never seen anything like this before,” he said. The governor spoke at an evening news briefing from the state’s Emergency Operations Center […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 7, 2017

Mike Haridopolos didn’t let something like a plywood shortage stop him from protecting his Melbourne home with Hurricane Irma on the way. The former Senate President (2010-12) instead put his old campaign signs to use, using them to cover a large window on the front of his house, on the Banana River about a mile from […]

Jim Rosica

State surplus money ‘gone’ because of Irma

Flags at half-staff for law enforcement deaths before Irma

Rick Scott takes action against nursing home where eight died

Rick Scott: SD 40 election will be held as planned

Seniors group calls on feds to investigate nursing home deaths

55 feet high and rising? I-75 bridge could be in trouble

Justin Sayfie cancels Sayfie Review Summit

Rick Scott focused on Irma recovery

Rick Scott: Irma’s ‘storm surge could kill you’

Signs, signs, everywhere signs—including Mike Haridopolos’ house