Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutMay 2, 2017

After keeping the money locked up for nearly a year, Florida legislators have finally agreed on a plan to hand out millions of dollars given the state for damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Senate on Monday voted unanimously for a bill that would guarantee […]

Staff ReportsApril 24, 2017

A Northwest Florida Republican plans to amend the Senate’s version of a bill to send millions of dollars to the Panhandle communities impacted by the 2010 BP oil spill to allow money to be spent on economic incentives. The Panama City News Herald reported this weekend that Sen. George Gainer said he plans to file […]

Scott PowersMarch 24, 2017

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has pulled together a bipartisan group of Florida congressmen to sign a letter urging the administration of President Donald Trump to not permit off-shore oil near Florida’s Gulf Coast. In a letter sent Friday to U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Nelson and 16 members of Florida’s congressional delegation urged the […]

Staff ReportsMarch 16, 2017

A House panel has approved legislation to make sure settlement money from the 2010 BP oil spill stays in the Florida Panhandle. The House Select Committee on Triumph Gulf Coast passed a proposed committee bill that, among other things, requires 75 percent of all payments that Florida receives from the settlement agreement between the five […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 25, 2017

One region, one voice. One united goal. When millions of gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico in the country’s worst environmental disaster, Northwest Florida was devastated. It was an overwhelming punch to the gut for the people and economy of our region. Now, seven years later, that heartbreak can be replaced by […]

Phil AmmannDecember 19, 2016

Among this current climate of hyper-partisanship, it is increasingly rare to find members of one party saying kind words about someone on the other. But that was the case this week when Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson gave a “shoutout” to Republican state Sen. Jack Latvala for his efforts in making sure 2010 BP oil […]

Associated PressDecember 21, 2015

More than five years after the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded off the Louisiana coast, killing 11 workers and sending more than 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, a portion of the billions of dollars in settlement money with oil giant BP and others is slowly starting to reach 23 […]

Ryan RayAugust 24, 2015

Former Senate President Don Gaetz — fresh from bad publicity for his role in the 2011 redistricting fiasco, when he was chairman of his chamber’s map-making committee — accentuated the positive Sunday in an email to his constituents in his sprawling Senate District 1, which runs from Walton to Jackson counties in the western Panhandle. Legislators […]

Shannon NickinsonJuly 21, 2015

It’s time to look at the BP glass as half full. The federal judge who was to mete out financial punishment to the British oil giant for its part in the Deepwater Horizon disaster in April 2010 has made his ruling. Now it’s up to us to make what we will of it. Generally, the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2015

Although lawmakers are never pleased when their projects are vetoed out of the state budget, Don Gaetz says the way Gov. Rick Scott handled those vetoes last month still rankles him. “I’ve always had vetoes of projects that I was interested in,” the Niceville senator said of bills axed by Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie […]

Tag: Deepwater Horizon

After delay Florida will finally hand out oil spill money

AFP-FL urges Senate to keep incentives out of Triumph Gulf Coast bill

Bill Nelson, bipartisan Florida Congress members urge drilling ban in Gulf

House committee OK’s proposal to keep BP oil funds in Northwest Florida

Bryan Parker: By working together, Northwest Florida has chance for brighter future

Bill Nelson gives shoutout to Jack Latvala for stance on BP oil spill money

Florida counties have different plans for oil spill funds

Don Gaetz says BP recovery bill a coup for Northwest Florida

Shannon Nickinson: Find that silver lining in BP settlement

Don Gaetz still vexed by some Rick Scott vetoes