Scott Powers, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 20, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson – opponents in this year’s U.S. Senate election – both went to Kissimmee Friday afternoon to talk to Puerto Rican residents about their needs. But while Nelson spent a town hall talking with Puerto Rican migrants’ struggle to find housing, Scott’s town hall mostly roamed […]

Scott PowersApril 20, 2018

Florida added 12,500 new public sector jobs in March pushing the jobs growth tally over 1.5 million during his tenure, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday in Orlando. The latest numbers from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity show the state’s unemployment rate holding at 3.9 percent, with the professional and business services sector leading the […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

A Florida Republican gubernatorial primary debate has been set for a national telecast during the Republican Party of Florida’s “Sunshine Summit” in Orlando in late June, the party announced Thursday. The debate is being co-produced by FOX News Channel and the Republican Party of Florida, with FOX News political anchor Bret Baier and The Story anchor […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his administration’s recommendations of 427 communities across Florida designated as “Low Tax Opportunity Zones,” aiming to use federal tax advantages to encourage business development. The zones target low-income census tracts in all 67 counties, making businesses and developers working there eligible for deferred capital gains taxes under the newly-approved federal Tax Cut […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s second television commercial of his U.S. Senate campaign is a Spanish pitch touting jobs and tax cuts and heading for Spanish TV. The ad, “Tanto,” [“So Much”] will be airing on Spanish-language networks and stations in Miami, Tampa, and Orlando. It’s part of a $3 million buy that also includes the […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Brightline’s use of federal tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds, to build the privately owned and operated higher-speed passenger railroad that would connect Orlando to South Florida, was sharply criticized Thursday during a congressional hearing. Brightline, also known as All Aboard Florida, is planning to use $1.5 billion worth of the federally authorized bonds to pay for […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Republican House District 28 candidate David Smith has picked up the endorsements of neighboring Republican state Reps. Bob Cortes and Scott Plakon, Smith’s campaign announced Thursday morning. Smith, of Winter Springs, is a retired colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps who now is a business consultant. “Colonel David Smith has a thirty-year career of service […]

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Democratic congressional candidate state Rep. David Richardson has received the endorsement of Orlando’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto in the Florida’s 27th Congressional District race. The endorsement is the first by a sitting member of Florida’s Congressional delegation in the wildly contentious contest as Richardson, five other Democrats, eight Republicans, and an independent seek to […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2018

In a Democratic gubernatorial debate Wednesday that illuminated only a handful of policy differences while all four candidates sought to define their brand themes, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham found herself often playing defense, repeatedly disputing remarks from Winter Park businessman Chris King and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. At one point Graham, the presumed co-front […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2018

A new report from the National Employment Law Project Action Fund charges that Florida’s workers got shortchanged by state and federal efforts to provide disaster unemployment assistance following Hurricane Irma last fall. The report alleges Floridians, under Gov. Rick Scott‘s guidance, received far less from the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program than under any Florida governor […]

Scott Powers
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Rick Scott, Bill Nelson head to Kissimmee to talk Puerto Rico

Job growth tops 1.5 million in his tenure, Rick Scott says

Republican governor candidates debate set

Rick Scott announces 427 areas designated ‘Low Tax Opportunity Zones’ under new law

Rick Scott Spanish ad touts jobs, tax cuts

Brightline’s financing challenged in congressional hearing

David Smith picks up endorsements of Bob Cortes, Scott Plakon in HD 28 race

David Richardson picks up Darren Soto’s endorsement in CD 27 race

Democratic debate puts Gwen Graham on defense

Report: Florida shortchanged on Hurricane Irma unemployment assistance