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

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is reassigning 10 border patrol agents away from the Orlando International Airport to the Mexican border for the next six months, a move that led airport officials and U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy to protest Friday that the already overwhelmed airport security will be seriously compromised. CPB informed Orlando airport […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham released her plan Friday for assisting the tens of thousands of Puerto Rican families displaced to Florida because of devastation on their island from Hurricane Maria, including proposals ranging from affordable housing investments to Medicaid expansion. Graham’s package of proposals includes a call for a statewide coordinator of assistance programs […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Brightline has secured federal approval for $1.15 billion in private activity bonds to finance its private, high-speed passenger train planned to link its South Florida passenger train railway with Orlando, the company announced Friday. The company, formerly known as All Aboard Florida, has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for the tax-exempt bonds to double-track […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Their work in Puerto Rico gone, their home still without power, their family now living in a motel in Orlando, and their future still uncertain, Emanuel Ortiz and Crystal Rodriguez now hear their bank threatening to foreclose on their home in Bayamón because they haven’t been able to make a house payment since Hurricane Maria wiped […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine is seeking to spread a little Christmas cheer among displaced Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Miami this weekend, with holiday lunches planned in both cities for families who left the island because of Hurricane Maria devastation. Levine’s campaign said they are expecting about 150 people at “First in Florida” Christmas […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Orlando U.S. Rep. Val Demings is co-leading a bipartisan plea in Congress for full funding for two airport security measures not included in President Donald Trump‘s proposed 2018 budget, declaring, “the need could not be greater.” Demings, a Democrat who is a former Orlando chief of police, and Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan of New […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s decision to move America’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has a congressional sponsor, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who’s been pushing the issue for several years. DeSantis, the Republican from Ponte Vedra Beach, introduced a bill Thursday to have Congress declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to seek to move the […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Democratic congressional candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell has picked up a couple more endorsements from sitting members of Congress, this time from notable Hispanic leaders, in her bid to be elected in Florida’s 26th Congressional District. U.S. Reps. Pete Aguilar and U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, both Democrats from California, endorsed Mucarsel-Powell, her campaign announced Thursday. Aguilar is […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Recent DEA raids on storefront shops that specialize in selling Canadian prescriptions drugs to Central Florida seniors have U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and others in Florida’s congressional delegation wondering whether there has been an unannounced change in federal policy. In the past few weeks, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided nine shops in the region […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

With state Sen. Jack Latvala‘s ignominious resignation Wednesday afternoon, state Sen. Denise Grimsley quickly announced she is donating money her political committees received from Latvala’s political committees to a domestic violence group. Grimsley’s move sets a challenge to dozens of other elected officials and political groups that have received money from Latvala’s primary financial tools of […]

Scott Powers

Orlando airport officials: announced loss of border agents ‘will seriously diminish security’

Gwen Graham’s plan for displaced Puerto Ricans: Housing, Spanish tests, Bright Futures, Medicaid

Brightline gets $1.1B financing approval for Orlando train

Groups calling attention to foreclosures following Puerto Ricans fleeing to Florida

Philip Levine hosting Christmas lunches for displaced Puerto Ricans

Val Demings leads bipartisan push for airport security funding

Ron DeSantis introduces Jerusalem bill

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell picks up more congressional endorsements in CD 26

Local DEA raids lead Bill Nelson to inquire on Canadian drug availability

Denise Grimsley donates Jack Latvala money to anti-domestic violence group