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

Scott PowersNovember 6, 2017

Freshman U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney has been named vice chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee less than a year into his tenure in Congress. Rooney, a Republican from Naples, is a former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (The Vatican). He began serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee at the start of this […]

Scott PowersNovember 6, 2017

A bill committing Florida to spending $100 million a year on land acquisition and preservation through the Florida Forever Trust Fund got support at its first Legislative step Monday morning, with approval by the Florida Senate Environment Preservation and Conservation Committee. Senate Bill 370, introduced by Committee Chairman Rob Bradley, an Orange Park Republican, flew […]

Scott PowersNovember 6, 2017

The American Action Network is launching a $1 million campaign with a digital ad Monday to promote the Republican tax reform package in swing congressional districts nationally, including two in Florida. The 30-second ad “Search” targets voters in Florida’s Congressional District 18, where Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast faces a stout reelection challenge, and in […]

Scott PowersNovember 3, 2017

A new non-partisan debate commission is being formed for Orange County and another for Florida to partner in and promote candidate debates ranging from county commission races to statewide races, with planning participation at this point from a wide-range of high-profile Central Florida politicos. Formed by former Orange County Commission candidate Gregory Eisenberg and his […]

Scott PowersNovember 3, 2017

Democrats are now lining up to run in Florida House District 44, a district that, for more than a decade, begged for Democratic candidates. Real estate agent and former urban planner Matt Matin of Winter Garden filed in late October to run there, and businessman Eddy Dominguez of Dr. Phillips said Thursday he has sent […]

Scott PowersNovember 2, 2017

Vice President Mike Pence and Gov. Rick Scott found widespread support among a dozen or so business owners gathered in an Orlando factory Thursday for the kinds of tax cuts President Donald Trump is pushing in Washington. Members of the business roundtable assembled to meet with Pence at the Correct Craft factory that makes Nautique […]

Scott PowersNovember 2, 2017

As the first Democrat up at the Associated Press’s annual political media day Thursday in Tallahassee gubernatorial candidate Chris King quickly turned on the Republicans who preceded him, seeking to position himself as the Democrat who’ll take the economic debate to Republicans. “I see a very different Florida than what the governor and commissioner have […]

Scott PowersNovember 1, 2017

Confusion and concern are mounting as Central Florida governments working with Puerto Rican and Virgin Island evacuees await direction from state and federal officials, leaders of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties warned Wednesday. In a letter Wednesday to Florida Division of Emergency Management Interim Director Wesley Maul and copied to FEMA Administrator William Long and […]

Scott PowersNovember 1, 2017

Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson Wednesday trashed President Donald Trump‘s nomination of Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine as the next NASA administrator. Nelson, the ranking member on the Senate Commerce Committee and a former space shuttle astronaut himself, called Bridenstine divisively partisan and extreme, and scientifically unqualified to be leader of America’s space agency. […]

Scott PowersNovember 1, 2017

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Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine‘s showy entry Wednesday morning into the Florida governor’s race showed the Democrat is ready to take on the legacies of Republicans Gov. Rick Scott and President Donald Trump yet he rarely strayed from the policies and promises of the first three Democratic candidates running, Gwen Graham, Andrew Gillum, or Chris […]

Scott Powers
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Francis Rooney named vice-chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee

Bill requiring $100M a year in Florida Forever passes Senate panel

Group launches another ad buy targeting tax cut bill in CD18, CD26

Debate commissions forming in Florida, Orange County

With Matt Matin entry, three Democrats now vying for HD 44

Mike Pence, Rick Scott find support for tax cuts

Chris King presses economic differences with Republicans

Orange, Osceola, Seminole leaders urge Florida, FEMA to plan better for Puerto Rican refugees

Bill Nelson trashes Jim Bridenstine’s nomination as NASA administrator

Philip Levine makes it four Democrats in governor’s race, echoing other three