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

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

A bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott Friday would loosen regulations on more than 100 Florida cosmetic manufacturers. CS/HB 211 removes the requirements for companies to register cosmetic products they manufacture or repackage. The bill conforms by removing registration and renewal requirements for cosmetic products, including the requirements to give registration applications, product […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Proponents of a workers’ compensation fix would want the matter debated during next week’s special session of the Legislature. The National Federation of Independent Business was the first to issue a public call to that end. Florida director Bill Herrle released a letter to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders, arguing, “Florida’s economic growth cannot […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday approved another 33 bills from the 2017 Legislative Session, according to an email from his office. The official list with descriptions follows: CS/CS/HB 39 Autism Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers – This bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to enhance Autism Spectrum Disorder training for law enforcement […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

The House released a summary Friday of the economic incentives package unveiled by Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders. First on the list — and written in red, boldfaced letters — is what the $85 million program will not be: “a part of Enterprise Florida.” What the program will do: pay for public infrastructure and […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

The Florida Education Association isn’t satisfied with Gov. Rick Scott’s and legislative leaders’ plan to pump another $100 per pupil into public education. The union also wants Scott to veto HB 7069, the Legislature’s big education package. “The gaping flaws in HB 7069 haven’t changed with this suggested increase in funding,” FEA President Joanne McCall […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Florida Democrats are hitting Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leadership over a budget deal announced Friday. In a statement, Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said the budget deal fails the state’s working families, while funneling money to Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. “Not only does this budget deal funnel millions to private for-profit charter […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

State regulators have approved two private insurers to assume more than 19,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. during August. National Specialty Insurance Co., based in Fort Worth, Texas, will take over as many as 4,520 personal coastal residential policies. Southern Oak Insurance Co., of Jacksonville, will assume as many as 5,000 personal lines and […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

Greenberg Traurig now is the largest law firm in the United States, based on the number of U.S. lawyers, according to the Law360 400 list, compiled by the legal news service of the same name. The firm, which has gone international, was founded in Miami in 1967 by lawyers Mel Greenberg, Larry Hoffman and Robert Traurig. It’s […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

Laura Cassels, a veteran journalist and public relations professional, will become the managing editor at Tallahassee-based Rowland Publishing, publisher of Tallahassee, Emerald Coast and 850 magazines. Cassels joins the company on June 12. As managing editor, she will oversee “editorial processes, edit copy and produce stories” for the magazines and the two dozen other publications that […]

Staff ReportsJune 1, 2017

It’s hurricane season. Brace for rip-offs. Following Hurricane Matthew last year, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office drew more than 3,100 complaints of price gouging, resulting in 21 investigations and four lawsuits. As the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season opened Thursday, Bondi referred Floridians to her 2017 Hurricane Preparedness Guide. It’s a primer, containing easy-to-use checklists and […]

Staff Reports
According to reviews, F1: The Movie is living up to the hype. Image via AppleTV+/Associated Press.

Rick Scott signs bill loosening regulations on Florida cosmetic manufacturers

Small business wants special session to take up workers’ compensation reform

Rick Scott signs 33 bills into law

Richard Corcoran stresses that incentives package won’t benefit Enterprise Florida

Another $215 million for schools doesn’t go far enough, FEA complains

Florida Democrats accuses Rick Scott of ‘backroom politics at its worst’ over special session

Private insurers OK’d to take over 19,000 Citizens Insurance policies

Greenberg Traurig moves to No. 1 in Law360 ranking

Personnel note: Laura Cassels joins Rowland Publishing

Hurricane season is prime time for scams, price gouging, Pam Bondi warns