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

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

The Orange County Democratic Party announced late Tuesday its executive committee has unanimously backed Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s decision to not pursue the death penalty in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit. Orange County Democratic Chairman Wes Hodge said more than 200 people attended the Monday night meeting at which the committee passed two resolutions; one […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

The move to strip cities and counties of their authority to explicitly regulate vacation rental homes got approval of another Florida Senate committee Tuesday despite impassioned pleas from several local government representatives that the bill could expand what they see as emerging community chaos. Sen. Greg Steube, sponsor of Senate Bill 188, defended the measure […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

Democratic U.S. Reps. Al Lawson and Darren Soto sent a letter to President Donald Trump Tuesday morning urging him to exempt the Social Security Administration from the federal hiring freeze. “On the campaign trail, you promised to not cut Social Security—particularly the benefits for our seniors. However, a hiring freeze does indirectly cut those benefits, […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

Bills that would expand Florida’s efforts to control Burmese pythons and other invasive species and to require companies to report toxic spills moved swiftly through a Senate committee Tuesday morning. The toxic spill bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Bill Galvano of Bradenton, is largely a response to the massive Mosaic spill last summer that […]

Scott PowersMarch 21, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala has gotten her first significant backing from within her own party, with a resolution supporting her and her actions from the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida. The group announced Tuesday it has passed a resolution expressing “its support for Aramis Ayala’s right to exercise her prosecutorial discretion when deciding whether […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes called late Monday for Gov. Rick Scott to reassign all potential death penalty cases under the jurisdiction of State Attorney Aramis Ayala and to suspend her from office. Cortes, who was among the first critics of Ayala’s “no death penalty” policy announced last week, said in a letter to Scott […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

Elected prosecutors who declare they will not pursue the death penalty – as State Attorney Aramis Ayala of Orlando did last week – are rare and far between. And she might be unique in American history for being both very public and firm on that policy. Still, Robert T. Johnson of The Bronx, New York should know […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

State Attorney Aramis Ayala has filed for a stay of Gov. Rick Scott‘s order reassigning the Markeith Loyd police slaying case to neighboring State Attorney Brad King. Scott responded Monday afternoon saying he believes he has the authority to do so through executive order. That sets up a court battle over the powers of the […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

A bill that would give credit unions the same exemption from state anti-deceptive practice laws that banks and savings and loans already enjoy passed a Florida House of Representatives committee with no debate Monday. The committee substitute for House Bill 1347, introduced by Democratic state Rep. Shevrin Jones of West Park, would exempt state or […]

Scott PowersMarch 20, 2017

More than 100 current or former judges, prosecutors, law professors and other legal scholars — including two former Florida Supreme Court chief justices — have signed a letter to Gov. Rick Scott expressing their support Orlando State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s right to decide not to pursue death penalty cases and urging the governor to back […]

Scott Powers
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Orange County Democratic Party unanimously backs Aramis Ayala

Vacation rentals de-reg bill gets nod despite pleas from cities, counties

Al Lawson, Darren Soto urge hirings not be frozen at Social Security Administration

Bills to expand python control, pollution reporting move on

Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida backs Aramis Ayala

Bob Cortes calls for Rick Scott to suspend Aramis Ayala, reassign all her capital cases

Has any elected prosecutor ever done what Aramis Ayala is doing?

Aramis Ayala files stay to keep Markeith Loyd case

Bill exempting credit unions from deceptive practices laws passes panel

More than 100 justices, judges, law professors express support for Aramis Ayala