Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2017

“Confederate monument in Tampa will stay put” was the headline by a published on CNN’s website on Wednesday, shortly after the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-3 to keep a statue of a Confederate soldier in front of the annex of the county courthouse located in downtown Tampa. “Officials in Tampa decide not to move Civil […]

Associated PressJune 22, 2017

Five people were arrested after a clash about streets named after Confederate generals spilled over into a Hollywood, Florida city council meeting. News outlets report the protesters were charged with disrupting the Hollywood commission meeting Wednesday night. The disagreement involves three streets – Lee Street, named after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee; Hood Street, named […]

Jim RosicaJune 22, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday granted Gov. Rick Scott‘s request for 14 extra days to respond to a lawsuit claiming he doesn’t have authority to appoint three new justices on the last day of his term. Scott general counsel Daniel Nordby filed the request Wednesday, asking to move the deadline to July 19. “Multiple extensions […]

Staff ReportsJune 22, 2017

The Agency for Health Care Administration said Thursday it will post material for the next bidding for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program “on or around July 14.” That’s when the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for the re-procurement will go live on the Florida Department of Management Services’ Vendor Bid System website. Companies who […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2017

Anticipating President Donald Trump federal policies to the contrary, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum rolled out a policy statement Thursday that pledges to guarantee Florida women access to contraception. Gillum, mayor of Tallahassee, said in a statement Thursday he would push for statewide legislation that would require health insurance policies that cover prescriptions to include […]

Associated PressJune 21, 2017

Iowa independents who helped Donald Trump win the presidency see last year’s tough-talking candidate as a thin-skinned chief executive and wish he’d show more grace. Unaffiliated voters make up the largest percentage of the electorate in the Midwest state that backed Trump in 2016, after lifting Democrat Barack Obama to the White House in party […]

Mitch PerryJune 21, 2017

Equality Florida is accusing Gov. Rick Scott of breaking a promise made last year to the organization that he would issue an executive order protecting LGBTQ state employees from discrimination in hiring and contracting. Now the Florida Democratic Party is piling on. On June 28, 2016, just 16 days after the deadly attack on Orlando’s Pulse nightclub […]

Staff ReportsJune 21, 2017

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Hard Rock International, controlled by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Wednesday announced three new top executives. Jon Lucas will be the company’s new chief operating officer and “will oversee key company departments, in addition to brand operations,” according to a press release. He will report directly to Chairman and CEO Jim Allen. He was previously executive vice president of hotel […]

Gary FineoutJune 21, 2017

Homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were torn down by the state of Florida are taking Gov. Rick Scott to court. A group of homeowners and their attorneys asked the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday to undo Scott’s veto of more than $37 million. The Republican-controlled Legislature agreed to pay homeowners in both Broward and Lee […]

Associated PressJune 21, 2017

Sometimes all you can do is surrender to Twitter. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio probably started out his day Tuesday thinking about paid family leave, child care tax credits and other deep issues. But when Twitter went wild over an awkward photo of him leaning in for a hug with Ivanka Trump when she arrived for […]

Headlines
Mako, a SeaWorld Orlando coaster. Image via SeaWorld.

Bob Buckhorn: It was Hillsborough, not Tampa, which voted to keep Confederate monument

Protests over Confederate street names prompt city council melee, arrests

Rick Scott gets more time to respond to judicial appointments lawsuit

State announces Medicaid managed care bid date

Andrew Gillum releases women’s contraception coverage plan

Donald Trump returning to Iowa, where he may find remorseful independent voters

Fla. Dems, Equality Florida say Rick Scott ‘broke promise’ to protect LGBTQ employees

Hard Rock names four new top executives

Florida residents who lost citrus trees challenge Gov. Scott

Capitol Hill buzz: Marco Rubio joke-investigates Ivanka Trump hug