Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineJune 8, 2017

Senate President Joe Negron insisted Thursday, for the second time in as many days, that he emphatically was not party to any deal between Gov. Rick Scott and the House over public education spending and economic incentives. Any suggestion otherwise, Negron told reporters following the day’s Senate session, is a “false narrative.” There is evidence, he […]

Michael MolineJune 7, 2017

That deal everyone assumed Gov. Rick Scott struck with legislative leaders to ensure a smooth special session? It didn’t exist. At least, it didn’t include Senate President Joe Negron. Scott invited him to Friday’s press conference held to announce that he was calling a three-day special session on education, Visit Florida, and Enterprise Florida, Negron said […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2017

While expressing curiosity at a forum held in Washington Wednesday over whether Gov. Rick Scott might attend next Monday’s Pulse memorial services, Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith slammed the governor, saying “he has done nothing” for the gay community since the June 12, 2016, massacre at Orlando’s popular gay nightclub. Smith was speaking at a […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2017

Stephen Lawson has left the post of communications director for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to become Vice President of Government Relations for VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing agency. He announced the job change in an email Wednesday. Lawson has been making the rounds of Gov. Rick Scott’s administration, previously serving as communications director […]

Staff ReportsJune 7, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018, issued a brief statement Tuesday calling this week’s Special Session “a complete embarrassment to our state.” Gillum also took a swipe at a education policy bill (HB 7069) Gov. Rick Scott is considering that, among other things, could funnel more money to privately-managed charter […]

Scott PowersJune 6, 2017

The Florida Constitution Revision Commission now has a set of rules for how it might go about writing major changes to Florida’s Constitution. Those rules — addressing such matters as who will appoint committees, how proposals will move through committees, whether Florida’s Sunshine laws will cover everything — emerged from a sometimes chaotic debate in Orlando […]

Michael MolineJune 6, 2017

The governor’s constitutional authority to veto budget line items trumps a state law requiring him to bow to the Legislature when it resolves labor collective bargaining impasses, a divided 1st District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. The majority conceded that, under the state Labor Code, “any actions taken by the Legislature shall bind the parties” […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

As expected, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday named Mike Dew, the Florida Department of Transportation‘s chief of staff, as its next Secretary, effective immediately. “For six years, Mike has been an integral part of my administration in the Executive Office of the Governor, Florida Department of Corrections and most recently the Florida Department of Transportation,” Scott […]

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

Legislative leaders working behind the scenes are getting closer to putting medical cannabis implementation into the call of this week’s Special Session. For instance, one senator, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “some progress” had been made but there was “no deal” as of Monday afternoon. When this week’s Wednesday-Friday Special Session was announced last Friday, […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed a nearly $83 billion state budget Friday, and released a list of line item vetoes amounting to nearly $12 billion. The vetoes included individual projects worth $409 million — much of the rest represented Scott’s rejection of efforts to take money from dedicated trust funds. As promised during a morning news […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott

Joe Negron doubles down: He was not party to any special session deal

As Special session opens, the Florida Senate asserts its prerogatives

Carlos Smith: Since Pulse, Rick Scott has done nothing for LGBTQ community

Personnel note: Stephen Lawson moves to VISIT FLORIDA

Andrew Gillum ‘slams’ Special Session

After a seemingly rule-less meeting, constitution panel adopts rules

Split appeal court upholds Rick Scott’s 2015 veto of firefighters’ $2,000 raise

Mike Dew named secretary of Florida Department of Transportation

‘Progress’ on getting marijuana in Special Session but ‘no deal’ yet

Rick Scott signs state budget — minus nearly $12 billion in line item vetoes