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

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Citing the recently disclosed mammoth hack of the Equifax credit ratings company that had occurred last spring, Florida’s Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio sent a letter to the Security and Exchange Commission Wednesday urging it to require companies to make prompt disclosures of hacks that could affect consumers. Rubio said in his letter to SEC […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Saying, “they are for killing,” Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sponsored a bill Wednesday to ban so-called “bump stocks” like the ones Las Vegas police say Stephen Paddock used in his deadly slaughter Sunday night in Las Vegas. “I’m a hunter and have owned guns my whole life,” Nelson stated in a news release. “But […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, a chair of the Democratic Caucus’ National Security Task Force, called President Donald Trump’s North Korea rhetoric “reckless” Wednesday. She and other task force leaders sent him a letter urging him to knock it off. Murphy, of Winter Park, and the other two task force chairs made it clear they recognize that […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

The Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up hurricane effects and recovery efforts across the business community in Florida at its first meeting of the 2018 session, Chairman Bill Montford announced Wednesday. That is assuming the committee’s hearing is not postponed because of a hurricane. Very early projections of Tropical Depression 16 forming off […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Democratic Congressional District 18 candidate Pam Keith has received the endorsement and backing of VoteVets, a progressive-politics organization dedicated to helping elect military veterans to Congress and other levels of government, her campaign announced Wednesday. Keith, a Navy veteran and labor lawyer from Palm Beach Gardens, is now in a Democratic primary battle with Lauren Baer, […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Casting aside any criticism politicizing tragedy, Orlando state Sen. Linda Stewart, Orlando state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith and a statewide coalition demanded talks Wednesday on gun law reforms, particularly on their bills banning sales of semi-automatic weapon and high-capacity magazines in Florida. Democrats Stewart and Smith filed such bills last session, in the memory of […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

After touring Puerto Rico earlier this week, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto declared the island is in emergency need of robust emergency federal funding, not just to assure full federal relief efforts from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, but to keep the commonwealth’s government operating in a place where almost no one can work. “The stories that […]

Scott PowersOctober 3, 2017

Help for Puerto Rico and for Puerto Ricans evacuating to Florida is going to be best provided by the rapidly-rising group of private groups, churches, and companies and government coordination will have to be done by the state, leaving little direct power for Orange County and other counties, Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs and […]

Scott PowersOctober 3, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King responded to the Las Vegas massacre by lashing out at “Florida’s one-party government” for not pursuing gun law changes after the Pulse nightclub massacre, saying it is time for action. “We can pray for the victims and their families, but that alone won’t stop it from happening again,” King stated […]

Scott PowersOctober 2, 2017

Monday morning there was a line through the parking lot at the Puerto Rico Family Response Center in Orlando: Puerto Rican families waiting for it to open to offer relocation help in Florida, and LatinoLeadership Inc. President Marytza Senz, who is running the ad-hoc center, said she also took 40 calls by 7:30 a.m. That’s […]

Scott Powers
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing;s Javier Bermudez and Chad Fraser bring water to Helene victims in Bradenton. Image via Gold Coast.

Marco Rubio after Equifax hack: companies should be reporting quickly

Bill Nelson sponsors bill to ban bump stocks for assault weapons

Stephanie Murphy calls Donald Trump’s North Korea rhetoric ‘reckless,’ calls on him to stop it

Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee plans hurricane talk

Pam Keith gets backing of VoteVets in CD 18 race

Linda Stewart: ‘It’s not too early’ to talk about gun reform, ‘It’s too late’

Darren Soto: Congress must quickly approve robust relief package for Puerto Rico

Teresa Jacobs: Orange County’s role limited for Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans

After Las Vegas, Chris King condemns inaction on gun laws, calls for action

Puerto Rico exodus begun; groups struggling to help