Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschDecember 17, 2015

As much as we would like to think otherwise, in politics, not everyone can be a winner. To put it another way, as Judge Smails did in the eminently quotable Caddyshack: “The world needs ditch-diggers, too.” Few will disagree that 2015 was a particularly fertile political year, one that produced a bumper crop of political disappointments – that’s what we get […]

Peter SchorschNovember 2, 2015

Governor Rick Scott huddled with embattled insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty last Tuesday after a meeting of the Florida Cabinet, however the scheduled meeting did not appear on the governor’s official schedule. The off-the-grid meeting is only serving to fuel speculation that McCarty will soon leave the Office of Insurance Regulation, despite his public statements to the contrary. […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 10, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott, in a precedent-setting move, became the first sitting governor in history successfully sued for violating Florida’s public records laws. In Bill Day’s latest, Floridians are now on the hook for at least $700,000. Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews first filed a lawsuit against Scott in 2012 over violating a contract for the purchase […]

Gary FineoutAugust 31, 2015

The Florida prosecutor who investigated numerous state politicians and conducted a high-profile probe into rape allegations against Jameis Winston is ending his lengthy career. State Attorney Willie Meggs said Monday he won’t seek re-election next year when his current term expires. The 72-year-old Meggs has been the lead prosecutor for six north Florida counties since […]

Peter SchorschJuly 23, 2015

Attorney General Pam Bondi has decided not to bring forward any additional applicants for the position of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, meaning that Interim Secretary Jon Steverson will be the only candidate to be interviewed by the Cabinet at their next meeting. Steverson and FDLE head Rick Swearingen were the first state officials affected by […]

Guest AuthorJune 25, 2015

Now the Special Session is finally over and the Legislature finally finished the budget they worked on long into the night. They handed it to the governor so he could have his way with it and put his pen to paper, signing it into law with one hand and slashing it with his veto pen […]

Associated PressJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott and members of the Cabinet are approving a settlement in a lawsuit filed over the firing of Florida’s top cop. Scott and the three elected officials on the Cabinet formally approved an agreement Tuesday to end the lawsuit filed by a St. Petersburg lawyer and media organizations. There was no debate before […]

Ryan RayJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott denied giving consideration to his friends — or retaliating against his enemies — as he threw out more than $460 million allocated by lawmakers in this year’s budget. “Absolutely not,” Scott told reporters Tuesday morning after the day’s Cabinet meeting concluded. But a close look at what was axed and what was […]

Associated PressJune 15, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet are settling a lawsuit filed by media organizations and others over the firing of former Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief Gerald Bailey. The lawsuit contended that Scott and Cabinet members sidestepped the state’s Sunshine Law in the way they handled Bailey’s dismissal last year. The groups that sued […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 29, 2015

Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson has reapplied for his job, agency staff confirmed Friday night. Before being named Secretary by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this year, Steverson served as the executive director of the Northwest Florida Management District. Steverson previously worked for DEP 2011-2012 as special counsel and acting deputy secretary for water […]

Tag: gerald bailey

The 5 most disappointing Florida politicians of 2015

Rick Scott meets off-the-grid with insurance regulator Kevin McCarty

Bill Day’s latest: Rick Scott’s lawsuits put Floridians on the hook

Long-time prosecutor Willie Meggs, who investigated Jameis Winston, is retiring

Jon Stevenson to be only DEP candidate interviewed at next cabinet meeting

Gary Stein: What have tax cuts really accomplished?

Gov. Rick Scott votes to end lawsuit over firing of top cop

Rick Scott’s veto list puts friends, foes in sharp relief

Settlement reached in lawsuit over firing of Florida top cop

Environmental Protection Secretary Jon Steverson reapplies for post, staff says