Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 16, 2017

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Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Monday announced that the Department of Financial Services’ long-time legislative affairs director, Elizabeth Boyd, has been promoted to Deputy Chief Financial Officer. In this new role, Elizabeth will oversee the Department’s legislative affairs, research and planning, cabinet and communications offices, as well as the Division of Consumer Services and […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 26, 2017

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis on Tuesday announced Scott Fennell as Deputy Chief Financial Officer over operations. Fennell will oversee the state’s accounting and auditing responsibilities, as well as the Department of Financial Services‘ $299 million-dollar budget, according to a press release. He most recently served as chief operating officer of Enterprise Florida, the […]

Jim RosicaJuly 11, 2017

A lawsuit over how the state funds its clerks of court still is trudging along in Tallahassee, court dockets show. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers set a case management conference for Sept. 7, after lawyers for plaintiff Howard Forman alerted the court of possible “additional or substituted parties.” Forman, a Democrat and former state senator, was […]

Jim RosicaJune 30, 2017

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Former state Rep. and Public Service Commissioner Jimmy Patronis was sworn in Friday morning as the state’s fourth Chief Financial Officer. Patronis took the oath of office in the Governor’s office, given by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, and standing next to wife Katie and sons Theo and Johnny. “Thank you for allowing me to partake […]

Staff ReportsMay 31, 2017

The Division of Workers’ Compensation’s efforts to extract itself from contract disputes between insurance companies and medical providers have drawn administrative challenges, scheduled for hearings next month. Under regulations proposed by the division’s parent Department of Financial Services, officials would limit their involvement to reviewing “reimbursement schedules, practice parameters, and protocols of treatment.” Furthermore, they […]

Michael MolineFebruary 10, 2017

Jeff Atwater announced Friday that, following the conclusion of the 2017 legislative session, he would leave office to become vice president for strategic initiatives and chief financial officer at Florida Atlantic University. The move will allow Gov. Rick Scott and Atwater’s remaining Cabinet colleagues to name someone to fill the remainder of his second term […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 9, 2017

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has scored a preliminary win in his fight against the federal government over U.S. savings bonds he holds as unclaimed property. The U.S. Treasury has agreed to redeem “just over 1,000 bonds, worth a little more than half a million dollars, excluding accrued interest,” Atwater spokeswoman Ashley Carr said Thursday. The total value of […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2017

When you try to manage a multi-billion-dollar state budget with three-decade-old software, problems are bound to happen. An audit has found security flaws in the Department of Financial Services‘ antiquated FLAIR accounting system, according to a report released Friday. (FLAIR stands for “Florida Accounting Information Resource Subsystem.”) The department is run by Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. […]

Jim RosicaNovember 14, 2016

Jeff Atwater wants the federal government to show him the money: More than $1 billion worth. Florida’s chief financial officer now is suing the feds for that amount, saying it has refused to make good on matured U.S. savings bonds he holds as unclaimed property. The suit was filed last week in the U.S. Court of Federal […]

Jim RosicaOctober 31, 2016

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater says he’ll hand-deliver a check worth more than $1 million in unclaimed insurance benefits to Fort Lauderdale’s Holy Cross Hospital this week. The media event is yet another victory lap for the CFO, who championed a measure that became law this year, requiring insurance companies to track down beneficiaries. It was later […]

Personnel note: Elizabeth Boyd named state’s Deputy CFO

Personnel note: Scott Fennell named Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Court clerks funding case continues in capital

Jimmy Patronis is sworn in as Chief Financial Officer

Workers’ comp reimbursement regulation headed for administrative challenges

Jeff Atwater leaving office early to take job at Florida Atlantic University

Jeff Atwater wins first round of $1 billion bonds fight with feds

Audit uncovers flaws in state’s accounting system

Jeff Atwater files blockbuster billion-dollar lawsuit against feds

Jeff Atwater to deliver unclaimed money to South Florida hospital