Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanJanuary 20, 2015

Barely a month after Reubin Askew became governor in 1971, inmates at Florida’s largest prison began a series of sit-down and hunger strikes. Their keepers used excessive force – birdshot, bullets and beatings – to restore control. Askew took immediate ownership of the situation. He sent two aides to Raiford to investigate and overruled the […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 20, 2015

Barely a month after Reubin Askew became governor in 1971, inmates at Florida’s largest prison began a series of sit-down and hunger strikes. Their keepers used excessive force – birdshot, bullets and beatings – to restore control. Askew took immediate ownership of the situation. He sent two aides to Raiford to investigate and overruled the […]

Dan GelberJanuary 20, 2015

os-fdle-gerald-bailey-out-rick-scott-20141217-1024x1024.jpg

Baileygate took a foul turn Sunday from bad political optics to something much more ominous. And the Florida Cabinet and Legislature need to respond accordingly. Longtime cop and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey was fired by Gov. Rick Scott staffers last month. Initially it was reported that during his reelection campaign, Scott political campaign staffers had […]

Dan GelberJanuary 19, 2015

Baileygate took a foul turn Sunday from bad political optics to something much more ominous. And the Florida Cabinet and Legislature need to respond accordingly. Longtime cop and FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey was fired by Gov. Rick Scott staffers last month. Initially it was reported that during his reelection campaign, Scott political campaign staffers had […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 19, 2015

Our worst worries about Florida Gov. Rick Scott were well-founded. The bombshell of BS he unintentionally dropped in a press conference early last week has exploded in his face, revealing just what a bloody mess his governorship really is. By repeatedly pressuring highly esteemed, veteran Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2015

Days after the members of the Florida Cabinet — Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam — voted to appoint longtime Florida Department of Law Enforcement veteran Richard Swearingen to replace Gerald Bailey as commissioner, questions remain about why Gov. Rick Scott forced Bailey to resign last month. The controversy […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2015

A new scandal exploded across Tallahassee on Tuesday afternoon after Gov. Rick Scott admitted that Gerald Bailey did not voluntarily resign as commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, but was forced out against his will. Under Florida law, the governor cannot fire the head of FDLE without the support of at least one other member […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 15, 2015

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is reportedly on the chopping block as the Rick Scott administration continues to attempt to put its new team on the field as it enters a second term. McCarty’s alleged transgression? Actually having the audacity to protect Florida’s insurance-buying public by not rubberstamping every self-serving scheme insurance lobbyists try to […]

Daniel TilsonJanuary 13, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s mishandling of Florida’s deadly prison system dysfunction continues. The latest example came early this week, when Gov. Scott announced appointment by the Cabinet of Florida (him, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam) of Rick Swearington as new Commissioner of Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). […]

Associated PressJanuary 13, 2015

Florida’s main law enforcement agency is getting a new leader, but questions remain about why Gov. Rick Scott abruptly shook up the agency. Scott and the Florida Cabinet voted on Tuesday to appoint Richard Swearingen as the new commissioner for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Swearingen is a longtime veteran of the agency. Former […]

Tag: gerald bailey
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Martin Dyckman: Aloof Scott lets prison crisis fester, worsen

Martin Dyckman: Aloof Scott lets prison crisis fester, worsen

Dan Gelber: Baileygate takes an ominous turn

Dan Gelber: Baileygate takes an ominous turn

Daniel Tilson: Independent counsel needs to probe Scott administration

In Tampa, Democrats call for an investigation into the firing of Gerald Bailey

Peter Schorsch: What’s the Scott administration going to do about Bailey’s firing?

Does the Scott administration really have Kevin McCarty on the chopping block?

Daniel Tilson: Fixing Florida's prison system once and for all

Gov. Scott won’t explain shakeup at state police agency