Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMay 9, 2016

Wilton Manors Democrat Ken Keechl may stand to gain from a negative “Donald Trump effect” against a Republican incumbent in deep-blue Broward, but apparently he isn’t taking any chances. Keechl is challenging third-term Pompano Beach state Rep. George Moraitis in moderate, coastal House District 93. Keechl took in $21,198 during the April reporting period while Moraitis raised just $3,700, […]

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2016

How many times can Department of Corrections officials tick off Greg Evers before they’re really in for it? The Republican state Senator from North Florida has been on a one-man crusade against the department. Evers chairs the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, which has held hearings about the agency’s ability and integrity. Evers, a farmer from Baker, has even made some unannounced […]

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2016

Almost all of Broward County’s legislative delegation is telling Gov. Rick Scott: Keep the Bridge open. In a new letter, 17 of the county’s members in the House and Senate — 16 of them Democrats — are the latest lawmakers to protest the Department of Corrections’ planned shutdown of a prisoner re-entry program. “The impact of this […]

Jim RosicaMay 3, 2016

At least three inmates have filed suit in Tallahassee over the Department of Corrections‘ shutdown of a south Florida prisoner re-entry program. Michael Brammer, John McDougle and Douglas Rahn sued in Leon County Circuit Court late Monday, records show. They seek a court order preventing the state from closing Broward Bridge, a residential program offering transitional […]

Jim RosicaMay 2, 2016

State Sen. Darren Soto is adding his name to the growing list of state lawmakers objecting to the closing of a prisoner re-entry program in Broward County. Soto, an Orlando Democrat, wrote Friday to Corrections Secretary Julie Jones to say he was “troubled by this decision” because he is a “strong proponent of these types of facilities and programs.” […]

Staff ReportsMay 2, 2016

Bridges of America “and allies” are planning a press conference in Tallahassee on Monday morning. The Orlando-based nonprofit is continuing to call attention to the state’s shutdown of its Broward County prisoner re-entry program. A bipartisan group of state lawmakers has written letters of concern to Corrections Secretary Julie Jones. They’re asking her to reconsider the […]

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2016

Among the four top statewide officials, no one walked away a winner from last week’s battle over the next insurance commissioner. Neither Gov. Rick Scott nor CFO Jeff Atwater got the candidate he wanted, with both settling on the third name Atwater threw out at Friday’s emergency Cabinet meeting, David Altmaier. And that was by a design that Atwater himself, […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2016

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A top House Republican now is questioning the shutdown of a South Florida prisoner re-entry program. Dana Young, leader of the Florida House of Representatives’ controlling Republican caucus, wrote a letter to Corrections Secretary Julie Jones on Wednesday. The letter, released to reporters on Thursday, comes on the tail of the department’s decision to discontinue a Broward County […]

Staff ReportsApril 27, 2016

The state’s Department of Corrections has slapped a ‘top secret’ label on its plan to help ex-cons in Broward County. The department on Monday turned down a request by POLITICO Florida to release a “transition plan,” now that the state has ended its partnership with the Orlando-based Bridges of America nonprofit. Bridges of America had a contract to […]

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2016

The state’s prisons agency and a prisoner rehab program now are sparring in press releases. The Florida Department of Corrections last week said it was ending its partnership with the Orlando-based Bridges of America nonprofit. Bridges of America had a contract to run a transitional and substance abuse program in Broward County. The arrangement ends May 16, and the department told the […]

Tag: Broward County

Ken Keechl blows out George Moraitis in April HD 93 fundraising

Peter Schorsch: Irritated senator, no love for Guv, panther numbers

Broward delegation protests prisoner program closure

Inmates now suing over state shutdown of prisoner re-entry program

Darren Soto “troubled” by Broward program shutdown

Bridges of America to hold news conference

Peter Schorsch: Testy process, minimum wage debate, geese tips

Dana Young dubious about prisoner program shutdown

State refuses to divulge new plan to help ex-prisoners

Bridges of America fighting to stay open in Broward