Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 23, 2015

As far as state workers are concerned, if Florida Gov. Rick Scott is Santa, then Connecticut state officials are Grinches. For the third year in a row, the Republican Scott has given state employees the day off on Christmas Eve. Employees who perform essential functions, including law enforcement, still have to be on duty. But for others, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has tapped Dr. Fernando Valverde for the Board of Governors of the State University System, the Governor’s Office has said in a news release. In 2010, Valverde was a member on Scott’s Health and Human Services Transition Team, tasked with brainstorming ideas for reform at the state’s Department of Health. Valverde, 56, of Miami, has […]

Jim RosicaDecember 18, 2015

Florida House of Representatives Speaker Steve Crisafulli on Friday said lawmakers may well give Gov. Rick Scott his requested $1 billion tax cut in next year’s state budget. Don’t expect that as the gift that keeps on giving, though. “The reality of a billion dollars (in tax cuts) recurring is not off the table so much […]

Brendan FarringtonDecember 18, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that Florida has added more than 1 million private sector jobs since he took office in 2011. That means another 700,000 jobs need to be created in the next two years to fulfill a 2010 campaign promise. The million jobs mark also doesn’t take into account that Florida has 27,300 […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2015

An array of business lobbies has banded together to support one of Gov. Rick Scott‘s tax cut proposals that would reduce the tax businesses pay on their rents. The new campaign, Cut My Rent 1 Percent, is backed by Florida Realtors, National Federation of Independent Business, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated Industries of Florida, and the […]

Guest AuthorDecember 13, 2015

Last week found Jesse Panuccio resigning as director of the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). Ya-a-a-wn, says the reader. Z-z-z-z, goes the reader. Pay attention! Pay attention! Here’s why: Newspapers and blogs have pronounced him a “trusted” adviser of Gov. Rick Scott. Upon his appointment as DEO leader in 2011, Scott was fulsome in […]

Jim RosicaDecember 10, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner says he expects a productive 2016 Legislative Session without the turmoil that fractured last session. Gardiner, a Republican, spoke to FloridaPolitics.com Thursday in a pre-session interview. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli is scheduled to hold a similar question-and-answer session with news media next Friday. But the issue that caused the last Session to […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has told reporters he’ll “respect the decision” of the Legislature about the deal he struck with the Seminole Tribe of Florida renewing exclusive rights to offer blackjack at its casinos in return for $3 billion over seven years. Scott briefly answered questions after this week’s Cabinet meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

Embattled Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty won the “Insurance Man of the Year” award from the Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies, his office announced Monday. The award was presented Friday at the association’s annual holiday event. As commissioner, McCarty runs Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation. McCarty was chosen “in recognition of his many years of service and contributions to […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2015

The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors has voted to recommend against the state adopting a contentious change in evidence law that’s favored by Republican Gov. Rick Scott and conservative lawmakers. The board, which met in Naples Friday, voted 33-9 to recommend that the state Supreme Court “not adopt the Daubert standard,” according to a Bar spokeswoman on Monday. The move […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott

Christmas Eve struggle is real for some state workers

Fernando Valverde picked for State University System’s Board of Governors

Steve Crisafulli says Rick Scott may get his $1 billion in tax cuts

Rick Scott: Florida added 1 million jobs since he took office

In Florida, the rent (tax) is too damn high, groups say

Chris Timmons: JP done at DEO

Andy Gardiner hopes to avoid health care funding dramas of last Session

Is Rick Scott already getting cold feet on Seminole blackjack deal?

Kevin McCarty named “Insurance Man of the Year”

Florida Bar votes against controversial evidence standard