May 2017 - Page 9 of 65 - Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Thanksgiving is six months away, but Friday is “turkey” day for Gov. Rick Scott. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, released its annual “Budget Turkey List,” of almost $178 million in line-item projects that are part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. Budget Turkeys are individual […]

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Political hacking wasn’t limited to just the Democratic National Committee in 2016; Florida was also part of the act. Last year, a Republican political operative and part-time blogger from Florida asked for and received an extensive list of stolen data from Guccifer 2.0, the infamous hacker known for leaking documents from the DNC computer network. […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

After Florida Politics’ most recent report about the mostly behind-the-scenes scrum within the Florida House GOP freshman class to determine which of its members will one day be Speaker, the conclusion was that for either Jamie Grant or Frank White to win, one of them would have to drop out of the race quickly. Not much sooner after this was […]

Scott PowersMay 26, 2017

State Rep. Rene Plasencia, a former public school teacher, was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as one of the state’s board members on the Southern Regional Education Board, a 16-state compact. “I am a firm believer we need to start reducing some of the high-stakes testing that we offer,” Plasencia told POLITICO Florida. “I want […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

Florida TaxWatch is offering its annual serving of “budget turkeys” 11 a.m. Friday at the group’s downtown headquarters on Bronough Street. These turkeys are not Thanksgiving staples, but “individual appropriations that circumvent a thoughtful and thorough budget process,” says the group’s website. “The organization identifies budget turkeys to promote transparency in public budgeting, encourage meaningful […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2017

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office this week responded to a lawsuit claiming she forces businesses to pony up millions of dollars to unregistered charities as part of settlements in consumer protection cases. Deputy Solicitor General Jonathan L. Williams, writing on Bondi’s behalf, said in part that some of the organizations criticized by Orlando entrepreneur John […]

Staff ReportsMay 26, 2017

State-Rep.-Kionne-McGhee-e1484064806801.jpg

Florida House Democrats are beefing up their campaign arm for next year’s elections, hiring a communications chief and operatives to begin work immediately. Kionne McGhee, scheduled to become House leader following the 2018 elections, said it is “imperative” that Democrats “take back power” in the House. “I’m pleased to welcome our new staff into the fray,” McGhee […]

Associated PressMay 26, 2017

The body of a federal prosecutor has been found on a Florida beach with possible head trauma. Hollywood police spokeswoman Miranda Grossman said Thursday that the body of 37-year-old Beranton J. Whisenant Jr. was found early Wednesday by a passerby on the city’s beach. She said detectives are trying to determine if the death was […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

Winston Churchill once said: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Democrats are starting to formulate a strategy for Bill Nelson’s upcoming Senate re-election effort — more likely than not facing Gov. Rick Scott. Not one to waste a good opportunity, Nelson’s nascent campaign could receive a significant boost by way of a veto of the sweeping education […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 25, 2017

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 457 into law, a measure that boosts penalties for terrorism charges. Among those charges: paramilitary training from foreign terrorist organizations; lending material support to those organizations; joining those organizations; and agri-terrorism. The bill creates a more expansive definition of “terrorism” and “terrorist activities” in the wake of the Pulse massacre in June. […]

Month: May 2017
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

Rick Scott gets $178M serving of Florida TaxWatch ‘budget turkeys’

Florida GOP operative, blogger teamed up with Guccifer 2.0 for hacking dump

With Frank White out of Speaker’s race is Northeast Florida ready to rally to one of its own?

Rene Plasencia appointed to Southern Regional Education Board

Gobble, gobble: It’s turkey time at Florida TaxWatch

Pam Bondi says charities she helps aren’t required to register with state

Personnel note: House Democrats staff-up for 2018 campaign cycle

Federal prosecutor found dead on Florida beach

Democrats have opportunity-in-crisis with Rick Scott education bill veto possibility

Rick Scott signs counterterrorism bill into law