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

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham marked the start of “Pride Month” Thursday by declaring her reaffirmation of support for gay rights and statewide protections. Graham expressly announced she would push hard for the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act,” which would extend nondiscrimination practices to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer Floridians. The bill has been introduced […]

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

In an ironic economic twist painful to some, Florida’s agencies charged with helping unemployed people find jobs are facing budget cutbacks because of the state’s declining unemployment rate — and some now are forced to lay off a few of their own workers. CareerSource Florida‘s 24 regional CareerSource agencies are facing budget cuts, some deep, […]

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

Orlando’s reform-pledging yet controversial State Attorney Aramis Ayala defended her anti-death penalty position as “evidence based” and charged that the Florida Legislature’s $1.3 million cut to her budget will hamper anti-human trafficking and domestic violence prosecutions. In a feature published Thursday morning by Orlando-Rising.com, a sister website to FloridaPolitics.com, the rookie state attorney representing Florida’s […]

Scott PowersJune 1, 2017

Florida Democrats slammed the anticipated announcement by President Donald Trump that he would pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord, while several Florida Republicans urged Trump to keep America in the agreement. Members of Congress and other political leaders were reacting late Tuesday and Wednesday to reports that Trump intends to withdraw […]

Scott PowersMay 31, 2017

Two Polk County airports, in Lake Wales and Winter Haven, have won federal grants for improvements, the office U.S. Sen. Darren Soto announced Wednesday. The Federal Aviation Authority awarded grants of of $82,851 apiece to the Lake Wales Municipal Airport and the Winter Haven’s Gilbert Airport. The Lake Wales Municipal Airport grant will pay for rehabilitation of […]

Scott PowersMay 31, 2017

Winter Park’s U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who was born in Vietnam and escaped with her family in a boat lift when she was six months old, returned to Vietnam Wednesday and joined U.S. Sen. John McCain and other members of Congress for a tour of the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” Vietnam War prison. Murphy, a freshman […]

Scott PowersMay 31, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has picked up endorsements from former House Speaker Jon Mills and two longtime environmental leaders, Nathaniel Reed, and Manley Fuller, all declaring confidence in her environmental protection policies. Graham has made environmental issues forefront in her campaign so far, picking up on a priority practiced by her father, former Gov. Bob […]

Scott PowersMay 30, 2017

“Hey guys, if everyone would assemble themselves beside the tombstones and the coffin,” declared progressive organizer Melanie Gold, and with that the weekly protest rally outside Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s Orlando office commenced Tuesday, urging him to oppose the American Health Care Act Gold and others have been organizing such protests every Tuesday lunch […]

Scott PowersMay 30, 2017

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip and Gov. Rick Scott told a roundtable of Orange County public health officials in Orlando Tuesday that Zika preparedness is up and incidents and rain down this year, but the risk of another major disease outbreak remains significant and no one should abandon precautions. Florida has seen 50 confirmed case […]

Scott PowersMay 30, 2017

Winter Garden-based Knox Medical is set to open Orlando’s first medical marijuana dispensary Friday in a location near Florida Hospital’s downtown campus. Knox is one of nine companies statewide licensed to produce and sell medicines derived from cannabis. Knox has been in operation for several months, relying primarily on delivery service, and earlier this month […]

Scott Powers
Image via Facebook (TCEC).

Gwen Graham declares support for Competitive Workplace Act

CareerSource centers dealing with their own layoffs as economy rises

Aramis Ayala defends death penalty position, asserts budget cut will hit key programs

Florida Democrats express outrage, Republicans concern, over possible exit from Paris climate accord

Lake Wales, Winter Haven airports win federal grants

Stephanie Murphy joins John McCain for Vietnam war-era prison tour

Gwen Graham touts endorsements from Jon Mills, environmental leaders

Rally seeks to keep heat on Marco Rubio to oppose health care bill

Celeste Philip: current indicators improved, but Zika threat remains serious

Knox to open Orlando’s first medical marijuana dispensary Friday