Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 16, 2016

President Barack Obama arrived in Orlando Thursday afternoon to pay his respects and offer any comfort he might to survivors and families of those killed in Sunday’s Pulse nightclub massacre. The president arrived at 12:45 p.m. and headed out by motorcade to Orlando’s Amway Center arena, and then to Orlando Regional Medical Center, for private […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday state agencies were setting aside millions of dollars for the Orlando area in the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub there. Also Wednesday, his office revealed Scott and President Obama finally had a one-on-one phone conversation in advance of the president’s scheduled Thursday visit to the area. […]

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2016

State citrus commissioners have OK’d a pared-down preliminary budget for the Department of Citrus. The good news: It includes money for the free orange and grapefruit juice travelers can get at the state’s official welcome centers on Interstates 10, 75 and 95 and U.S. 231. The bad news: The preliminary budget includes salary reductions of $1.4 million. The department […]

Staff ReportsJune 14, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott’s office on Tuesday issued updates on various state agencies’ continuing response to the Orlando shooting. The governor is in Orlando. Here is his office’s press release: Florida Division of Emergency Management The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee remains at a level 1 since the activation at 11 a.m. EST Sunday. The […]

Jim RosicaJune 13, 2016

Despite a Florida Supreme Court decision to the contrary, a judicial candidate still wants to get on the ballot. Lakeland attorney Steve Pincket lodged a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against Gov. Rick Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner, also the state’s chief elections officer. A declaratory judgment determines whether someone has a legal right to […]

Jim RosicaJune 9, 2016

The state’s business lobbying groups called for legislative action Thursday after a Florida Supreme Court decision earlier that day on the worker’s compensation law. The court’s 5-2 ruling for injured St. Petersburg firefighter Bradley Westphal strikes down a provision in the law limiting the time that injured workers can get temporary disability benefits. (Story here.) Three justices, […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday ordered flags at half-staff for U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jeff Kuss. Kuss was a pilot in the Blue Angels, the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squad. He died last week when his jet crashed during a training flight in Smyrna, Tennessee, according to The Associated Press. The governor ordered the U.S. and […]

Jim RosicaJune 3, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott won’t be able to appoint a new judge for the Palm Beach County court, the Florida Supreme Court decided Friday. The unanimous decision means Palm Beach voters get to pick a replacement for outgoing County Judge Laura Johnson. She resigned to run for a circuit judgeship. But the court did side with Scott on three […]

Sergio BustosJune 3, 2016

Several Republican U.S. Senate candidates squared off Thursday night in South Florida in hopes of catching fire in a nationally watched race in which none has risen above the pack. Each talked more about his experience rather than attacking the others. Yet they did share the same wish — seeing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2016

A state appeals court has upheld the retroactive use of a contentious evidence standard approved by lawmakers in 2013. The 4th District Court of Appeal this week affirmed a trial court ruling against plaintiff Simona Bunin. She’s one of the inventors behind a line of spray-bottle flavored olive oils. Bunin, based in South Florida, also holds a patent […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott

Barack Obama meeting with Pulse families in Orlando

Rick Scott says money set aside for Orlando efforts

Citrus Department passes reduced budget

Rick Scott issues state agency updates on Orlando shooting

Judicial candidate still fighting to get on ballot

Business lobby upset over worker’s comp decision

Flags will fly at half-staff for pilot Jeff Kuss

Court blocks Rick Scott from picking judge

GOP Senate candidates square off at South Florida forum

Appellate court approves of controversial evidence standard