Staff Reports, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsFebruary 23, 2018

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Gov. Rick Scott on Friday announced a “major action plan to keep Florida students safe following (the) tragic Parkland shooting,” according to a statement from his office. That includes $500 million for school safety and mental health initiatives. Here are his remarks as prepared for delivery: Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 23, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday ordered flags at half-staff to honor Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Stanton. Stanton, a nearly 11-year veteran of the department, died while on duty Feb. 17. “His patrol car was struck by a tractor-trailer on I-95,” according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. “The tractor-trailer suffered a tire blow-out, causing […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 22, 2018

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Sharon Smoley, Florida Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications, is taking on a new challenge. Beginning March 12, she becomes Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy with the Orlando Economic Partnership. In that role, she’ll be working on local, state and federal issues affecting the Central Florida business community. Smoley will remain with […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2018

George Clooney and his wife said on Tuesday they are donating $500,000 to the “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington and will walk with students in support of gun control following last week’s shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead. ”Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2018

Baxter Troutman will not seek U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney‘s seat in the 2018 election. The news comes after Rooney said Monday he would not run for Congress. Almost immediately, speculation swirled as to whether another candidate would jump into the race. The unexpected move opens up Florida’s 17th Congressional District this election year, a traditionally red district […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 20, 2018

Gun control debate seems likely to last longer this time The debate over gun control traditionally comes and goes following a tragedy. Last week’s murder of 14 high school students and three school employees in Parkland has elevated the rhetoric again, but this reaction has a feel that it will not go away as quickly […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 19, 2018

The Florida Democratic Party is requesting copies of any communications between Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and the gun lobby. The specific scope of the request, according to a FDP media release is for “any emails, text messages, faxes, and letters, between Putnam or his staff and the National Rifle Association, the National Rifle Association Institute for […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 17, 2018

Joining the other three major private electric utilities in Florida, Gulf Power Co. plans to pass along about $103 million in federal tax savings to customers. Gulf, which serves 460,000 customers in the Panhandle, filed documents this week at the Florida Public Service Commission that detail plans to reduce customers’ bills because of the federal […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 16, 2018

United with victims, divided on solutions After the unspeakable tragedy that occurred Wednesday in Parkland, nothing else comes close to the significance of the event. It is not appropriate — not yet anyway — to talk about bills, sponsors, co-sponsors, filibusters, border walls, shutdowns and DREAMers. The latter is particularly poignant because many of the victims at […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 16, 2018

A group of high schoolers has walked out of classes to protest gun violence after a mass shooting killed 17 people at a neighboring school. The South Broward High School students began their protest along U.S. 1 in Hollywood as school started on Friday morning. Students told news outlets they were protesting gun violence, the […]

Staff Reports

Rick Scott calls for $500M in response to school shooting

Flags at half staff for Brevard Deputy Kevin Stanton

Personnel note: Sharon Smoley to join Orlando Economic Partnership

George and Amal Clooney donate $500K to march against guns

Baxter Troutman not running for Congress to replace Tom Rooney

Delegation for 2.20.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Florida Democrats request emails between ‘NRA sellout’ Adam Putnam and gun lobby

Gulf Power to pass tax savings to customers

The Delegation for 2.16.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Florida students quit class to protest shootings