Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 13, 2018

In a brief exchange with an volunteer for an anti-cracking group, Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam declared his opposition to fracking over the weekend. “We don’t need to be fracking in Florida. Our geology, our limestone, we do not need to be fracking in Florida for oil and gas. It is just […]

Jim RosicaJune 13, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose department handles concealed weapon licenses, didn’t directly answer questions about why he didn’t sooner divulge problems with applicants’ background checks. Putnam, also a Republican candidate for governor, spoke with reporters Wednesday after a Florida Cabinet meeting. The Tampa Bay Times reported last Friday that Putnam’s Division of Licensing stopped using a […]

Danny McAuliffeJune 13, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott made his way through his first Cabinet meeting as a candidate for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, and while the meeting focused exclusively on state matters, the questions that followed from reporters unsurprisingly centered on federal issues. Scott is leading his Democratic opponent, incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, in a few early […]

Michael MolineJune 13, 2018

Hurricane Irma-related lawsuits surged at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. early this year, representing a nearly 50 percent increase in the company’s litigation load compared to the same period in 2017. More than 90 percent of those lawsuits originated in South Florida. The state’s insurer of last resort fielded 4,287 legal claims in January through April, […]

Staff ReportsJune 13, 2018

Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding has joined the Florida Greyhound Association‘s (FGA) legal team. The addition of Harding, a high court appointee of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, was announced Wednesday by association general counsel Jeff Kottkamp. Harding served on the Florida Supreme Court 1991-2002; Kottkamp was Florida’s lieutenant governor from 2007-11 under Gov. Charlie […]

Scott PowersJune 13, 2018

A dark-money committee that has been attacking Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis for months with radio and cable commercials is now going after him on broadcast TV, with a $200,000 buy on Orlando broadcast TV stations. The National Liberty Federation, a 501(4) organization based in Palm Beach Gardens, began running commercials on broadcast TV Tuesday in […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2018

The Ford Pinto, a tragicomic compact car that came out of Detroit in the 1970s, was known for a design flaw: its rear-mounted gas tank made the car prone to explosion when rear-ended. Despite these issues, the car was still the most popular American compact even in 1978. A new ad from the Senate campaign of […]

Scott PowersJune 13, 2018

The New Florida Majority, the progressive organization focused on racial justice that co-sponsored Monday’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate, has endorsed Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for governor. The 501[c][4] organization‘s board unanimously ratified a committee decision to endorse Gillum Tuesday, a few hours after he, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, […]

Michael MolineJune 13, 2018

Criminal-investigation-of-the-Rehabilitation-Center-at-Hollywood-Hills.jpg

The state can’t charge the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills anywhere close to $30,000 to produce the records of deaths occurring statewide during and immediately following Hurricane Irma, a judge said Tuesday. The Department of Health wanted the Broward County nursing home, where 12 people died because of sweltering conditions when the power failed, to […]

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

The campaign cash keeps rolling in for CFO Jimmy Patronis. The Panama City Republican brought in $463,251 last month, including $217,601 for his campaign account and $245,650 for political committee Treasure Florida. That haul boosts his overall tally to $3.6 million with $3.17 million in the bank at the beginning of June. Topping the committee […]

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This exhibit celebrates late-blooming artistry, proving it’s never too late for bold creativity.

Adam Putnam declares opposition to fracking in Florida

Adam Putnam sidesteps timing question about background check investigation

Rick Scott talks pot, Donald Trump

Hurricane Irma produced a litigation wave at Citizens Insurance, committee told

Personnel note: Major B. Harding joins greyhound group’s legal team

Dark-money committee attacking Ron DeSantis on Orlando TV

New Rick Scott ad compares Bill Nelson to Ford Pinto

New Florida Majority endorses Andrew Gillum in governor’s race

Judge: Nursing home to pay ‘reasonable fee’ for records

Jimmy Patronis expands cash lead in CFO race