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

Scott PowersApril 6, 2017

Many of the members of the House Judiciary Committee were reduced to fighting off sobs Thursday after hearing a half-dozen survivors’ stories from Florida’s horrific Dozier School for Boys reform school, which one survivor, Robert Straley, dubbed “a beautiful hell” for the picturesque grounds maintained for misleading appearances. One after another described the trips to the […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Florida’s sheriffs are mad at federal authorities for calling them out for not taking what the sheriffs believe are illegal actions. The Florida Sheriff’s Association is charging that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is asking them to illegally detain prisoners. And when the sheriffs refuse, they risk being being spotlighted for failing to detain criminal aliens, […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

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You get a former prosecutor, a retired judge and a defense attorney together to talk about legal issues underpinning Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue death penalty prosecutions, and you might expect lively disagreement. But a brawl? A debate in Orlando Wednesday between former 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Ashton and […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is breaking from the gate with $765,000 raised for his Democratic gubernatorial campaign in the first few weeks. Gillum’s campaign is reporting Wednesday morning that he has raised that much and has $635,000 on hand at the time of his first-quarter 2017 campaign finance report, through the end of March. Gillum […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Orlando Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King introduced himself to Florida Tuesday evening as the “progressive entrepreneur” promising to bring bring a head for hard work, return on investment and financial stewardship but also a heart to Tallahassee. King, a 38-year-old Winter Park businessman with no experience in politics, kicked off his campaign for the state’s […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Lottery tickets, and places that sell them, could come with a warning: “Gambling can be addictive,” under a bill approved Tuesday afternoon by the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries. Senate Bill 1370 may go where some Florida lawmakers are uncomfortable to follow, declaring the state’s lottery games to be a form of gambling. As a […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is seeking to extend Medicare low-income prescription drug subsidies to resident of Puerto Rico, with a bill he filed today. Nelson’s office estimated that the bill could help an estimated 400,000 low-income seniors in Puerto Rico afford the cost of prescription drugs. While low-income seniors living in the continental […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Vacation rental home marketing giant Arbnb has signed agreements with the state’s two most populous counties, Miami-Dade and Broward, in its efforts to coordinate tax collection from participating property owners, the company announced Tuesday. The agreements mean that Arbnb will collect tourist taxes from the vacation rental homes it is booking and turn those over […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Repeatedly saying that his concern is with her blanket statement to decline death penalty prosecutions, state Rep. Bob Cortes renewed his call Tuesday for the resignation or suspension of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Cortes is emerging as one of Ayala’s sternest critics after the state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit announced last month […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

In a case of two young children who endured torture, sexual abuse, violence, murder and attempted murder by an adoptive family while the Florida Department of Children and Families did nothing, a House committee Tuesday voted to support a $5 million settlement. The money would go to Victor Docter Barahona, now 16, who survived the physical and […]

Scott Powers
Stock image via Adobe.

‘A beautiful hell:’ Dozier survivors draw tears, approval for apology, memorials from house committee

Florida sheriffs accuse federal authorities of demanding illegal detentions

Legal debate over Aramis Ayala’s decision turns into hockey game

Andrew Gillum raises $765K in first report for governor’s race

Chris King vows to bring ‘progressive entrepreneur’ spirit to Governor’s office

Bill requiring gambling warnings on lottery tickets gets panel approval

Bill Nelson seeks to extend prescription drug subsidies to Puerto Rico seniors

Airbnb signs up Miami-Dade, Broward for vacation rental tax collection

Bob Cortes, others renew call for Aramis Ayala’s removal

‘Single worst case:’ Bill compensating Barahona twins’ survivors gets committee approval