Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 10, 2017

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. FIRST IN SUNBURN – SCOTT SHALLEY TO BE NAMED NEW PRESIDENT/CEO OF FLORIDA RETAIL FEDERATION – Look for the Florida Retail Federation to announce the hire of Scott Shalley to replace Randy Miller, who […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2017

A federal appeals court refused Thursday to reinstate President Donald Trump‘s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, dealing another legal setback to the new administration’s immigration policy. In a unanimous decision, the panel of three judges from the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block a lower-court ruling that […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2017

Sanford House Republican Jason Brodeur announced Thursday he filed a bill related to autonomous vehicles. HB 275 would streamline the process for rue self-driving vehicles on public roads in Florida. “With more than 90 percent of crashes in 2015 being the result of human error, autonomous vehicles have the potential to eliminate this error and transform the way […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2017

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After the Florida Legislature denied Governor Rick Scott’s $250 million in incentive funding for Enterprise Florida, Scott called for a financial review and audit for the agency, which House Speaker Richard Corcoran has declared he wants to kill during this year’s legislative session. On Thursday, officials with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) […]

Scott PowersFebruary 9, 2017

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio continued his sharp attacks on Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday calling any potential grand deals “immoral” and “fantasy” while positioning himself to be in staunch opposition to any agreements President Donald Trump may want with Russia. On Thursday, speaking at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing entitled, “The United States, The Russian Federation and the […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s assertion that the media often fails to cover terrorist attacks is false, but he’s hardly alone in making the claim. The statement is just the latest by Trump to echo a website known for trafficking in dubious allegations of plots and cover-ups. “You’ve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over […]

Scott PowersFebruary 9, 2017

Saying that U.S. Rep. Tom Price‘s views on Medicare vouchers and eligibility would be bad for senior citizens, Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson vowed Thursday to vote against affirming his nomination to be Donald Trump‘s secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Nelson charged that Price’s support for a Medicare voucher system […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 9, 2017

Florida’s effort to create statewide anti-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity received a substantial boost. On Thursday, Tallahassee tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Rick Kearney gave $100,000 to Florida Competes, the coalition of businesses working to pass the Florida Competitive Workforce Act. Kearney’s check is the largest single donation to Florida Competes so […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

Sen. Randolph Bracy could be eyeing higher office. The Florida Times-Union reported Thursday that Bracy is considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2018. If he decides to jump into the race, Bracy would face sitting U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in a Democratic primary. “I’m considering it; I’ll leave it there,” he told the paper. […]

Associated PressFebruary 9, 2017

President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that comments by his Supreme Court nominee criticizing his own attacks on the judiciary were “misrepresented,” even as Republican and Democratic lawmakers vouched for the veracity of the remarks. Trump responded after private rebukes from Judge Neil Gorsuch, who said in meetings with lawmakers on Wednesday that the president’s comments […]

Headlines
Kathleen King and Joe Gruters. Image via Max Goodman.

Sunburn for 2.10.17 – New Fla. Retail Fed. prez; Bill Nelson primaried? Jeff Atwater’s win; Rick Kearney antes up

In unanimous ruling, U.S. appeals court refuses to reinstate Trump travel ban

Jason Brodeur introduces autonomous vehicle legislation in Florida House

Joint auditing committee review hears mixed review of Enterprise Florida’s success rate over the past decade

Marco Rubio re-sharpens condemnation of Putin and any U.S.-Russia deals

Donald Trump’s assertions echo site filled with tales of dark plots

Bill Nelson blasts Tom Price’s Medicare record

Tallahassee entrepreneur Rick Kearney boosts Florida Competes campaign with $100K

Report: Randolph Bracy considering 2018 U.S. Senate bid

Donald Trump nominee decried criticism of judges, senators agree