Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 24, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott is directing another $2.2 million to red tide mitigation efforts, his office announced Monday. The state is funding testing on technologies to reduce red tide, including ozone treatments and specialized clay. The funding will expand Mote Marine Laboratory Ozone Treatment System in Sarasota. Mote has successfully tested ozone systems in tanks at the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 18, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott is putting another $4 million toward red tide funding for local communities impacted by the outbreak. The Tuesday announcement brings the total Florida Department of Environmental Protection funding available so far to $13 million. Red tide has been spreading north along Florida’s Gulf Coast for much of the late summer. It’s plagued Pinellas […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

An egg farmer by trade, Wilton Simpson currently serves as Senate Majority Leader. The Trilby Republican’s prestige doesn’t end there, though. Simpson, 51, is slated to become Senate President in 2020, on the heels of incoming Senate President Bill Galvano. (Both presidencies, of course, hinge on GOP dominance in that chamber following the 2018 and 2020 elections.) Voted […]

Drew WilsonApril 21, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced this week that the recreational red snapper season in Gulf waters would be upped to 40 days. “Florida is a premier fishing destination and saltwater fishing in the Gulf of Mexico has a $7.6 billion economic impact in our state every year. Adding […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2018

The federal government on Friday said it was opening Florida’s Gulf Coast to “oil and gas exploration and development.” A Interior spokesman, however, soon added that the “small slice available (approximately 944,000 acres) … is more than 100 miles offshore Florida.” A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson also said the proposed area is “currently open to […]

Jim RosicaNovember 17, 2017

Chris Hart IV, who last was with Florida TaxWatch, will be the next CEO of the statewide Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association, according to a Friday press release. He starts Dec. 4. Hart “will provide strong leadership to our association,” said Marcia M. Johnson, Franklin County Clerk and Comptroller and 2017-18 Board President, in a statement. […]

Associated PressSeptember 6, 2017

Heavy rain and 185-mph winds lashed the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico’s northeast coast Wednesday as Hurricane Irma roared through Caribbean islands on its way to a possible hit on South Florida. The strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane ever measured destroyed homes and flooded streets across a chain of small islands in the northern Caribbean, passing […]

Phil AmmannJune 2, 2017

Northwest Florida counties are going to finally get a share of money given to the state for damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed a bill (HB 7007) that guarantees the distribution of $300 million to eight counties hardest hit by the […]

Gary FineoutMay 2, 2017

After keeping the money locked up for nearly a year, Florida legislators have finally agreed on a plan to hand out millions of dollars given the state for damages related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Senate on Monday voted unanimously for a bill that would guarantee […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 11, 2017

Sen. Bill Nelson vowed to fight off threats to drill in the waters off Florida’s west coast, telling Southwest Florida officials he’ll do whatever he can to protect the coastal communities. “Increasingly we have threats to drill in the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast of Florida, and it’s getting to the point that […]

Tag: gulf of mexico

Rick Scott directs $2.2 million for red tide mitigation

State red tide funding soars to $13 million

#5 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Wilton Simpson

State extends red snapper season in the Gulf

Feds announce opening of Florida to offshore oil drilling, but it’s not not as bad as you might think

Personnel note: Chris Hart IV to head Court Clerks group

Rains from monster Hurricane Irma begin hitting Puerto Rico

Rick Scott approves plan to hand out BP oil spill money

After delay Florida will finally hand out oil spill money

Bill Nelson talks offshore oil drilling ban during Southwest Florida stop