Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 28, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott made a pitch for his hospital transparency legislation, this time laying out his plan to a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C. Scott, a former hospital executive, spoke at the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday. The Naples Republican used his appearance as a chance to outline a proposal that, he contends, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 28, 2016

Perennial gadfly and Capitol fixture Brian Pitts is suing Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for “preliminary and perpetual relief” from what he calls an “invalid” state budget for this year. Pitts, a trustee of his St. Petersburg-based Justice-2-Jesus church group, filed a 30-page complaint in Leon Circuit Civil Court last week, according to court […]

Scott PowersJanuary 23, 2016

The Republican Party of Florida began the 2016 election year with offers of truces this weekend from Gov. Rick Scott and incoming Florida Senate leaders, though the party still will have less of the state’s Republican campaign money and political messaging under its control. With unity being a critical theme in a presidential election year commonly […]

Scott PowersJanuary 21, 2016

A new program to help students with intellectual disabilities such as autism get into college or other postsecondary schools will be coordinated through a new center to be developed at the University of Central Florida. The center startup money for such college programs and a scholarship program for such students was authorized by Senate Bill 672, a special […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 21, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed several pieces of legislation deemed a priority for Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli. One measure (SB 672) expand the personal learning scholarship account program and the Florida postsecondary comprehensive transition program for students with intellectual disabilities. It also renames the scholarship program to the Gardiner […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-21-at-5.29.32-PM-1024x1024.png

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday continued to sound lukewarm on the prospects of his renegotiated deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida that would let them keep blackjack at their casinos. Scott took questions after an afternoon bill-signing ceremony with House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner. “Well, I did my job. We […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

As expected, Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed into law three bills that were priorities of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner. Scott approved SB 552, which “implements policies to protect and restore water and natural resources statewide, with a focus on meeting water quality and supply needs.” Crisafulli wanted the measure passed […]

Associated PressJanuary 20, 2016

Leaders of Florida’s Republican-controlled state Senate have decided they won’t fight a judge’s ruling that could signal the end of GOP domination in the Legislature. Senate leaders announced Wednesday that they will accept a new map for Florida’s 40 state senate districts approved last month by a circuit judge. Judge George Reynolds, in a widely […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

This past May, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation to require Florida to adopt online voter registration by October 2017, though he said he did it with “some hesitation.” Democrats were unhappy the state couldn’t enact the new system in time for this fall’s general election, but if it were up to Secretary of State Ken Detzner […]

Associated PressJanuary 15, 2016

In what Senate President Andy Gardiner called the last of a “trifecta” of first-week bills, a measure to help people with disabilities get jobs is heading to Gov. Rick Scott. The Florida Senate unanimously approved the bill (HB 7003) on Friday. Gardiner, an Orlando Republican, has a son with Down syndrome and has pushed several bills this year […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner

Rick Scott makes pitch for hospital transparency proposal at American Enterprise Institute

Brian Pitts suing Rick Scott, lawmakers over “invalid” state budget

RPOF, Blaise Ingoglia take truce offer from Rick Scott a year after split

Bill creates college-level assistance for students with intellectual disabilities

Capitol Reax: Rick Scott signs priority legislation; court clerks highlight talk funding needs; fracking bill heads to House floor

Rick Scott on Seminole Compact: “I did my job”

Rick Scott signs Legislature’s priority bills

Legal battle over state Senate districts coming to an end

Ken Detzner reports online voter registration on track to begin October 2017

Legislature passes measure to aid disabled