Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Danny McAuliffeMay 24, 2018

A vacancy on the nine-member governing board of the Florida Department of Citrus has been filled. Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday afternoon the appointment of Pat Schirard to the Florida Citrus Commission. Schirard, 57, of Vero Beach, is the president of GEM Indian River Select, a premium juice company that prides itself on solely using Florida citrus […]

Michael MolineMay 21, 2018

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Attorneys for a Broward County nursing home didn’t show up for a hearing into its contempt motion against the Agency for Health Care Administration over alleged public records violations. Scheduling error, said Geoffrey Smith, of the Smith & Associates law firm in Tallahassee, because of a “misunderstanding related to the scheduling of hearings in several […]

Scott PowersMay 18, 2018

Speaking at the 9th Annual Puerto Rico Summit in Orlando Friday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson ripped the federal response to Puerto Rico’s devastation by hurricanes last fall. Nelson called for statehood for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló also ripped Washington, but his ire was focused on […]

Michael MolineMay 18, 2018

The Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund has reserves enough to easily cover its Hurricane Irma liabilities — as much as $300 million in excess of its $17 billion statutory liability limit. But what happens if a major storm — or a swarm of them — wipes out the fund’s assets? It might have to demand emergency […]

Staff ReportsMay 16, 2018

Florida wants to spend $616 million in post-Irma federal emergency money to repair damaged homes, build new affordable housing, and to help businesses that suffered damage in the storm. The money would come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through a disaster-recovery community block grant. Gov. Rick Scott submitted his plan for […]

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2018

Real estate billionaire Jeffrey Soffer has closed on a deal to buy South Florida’s former Mardi Gras Casino and Race Track. The closing was disclosed in a final order filed Monday and released Tuesday by the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). But the department, which regulates gambling in the state, withheld a final […]

Danny McAuliffeMay 1, 2018

A bit more money is on the way for Florida citrus growers affected by Hurricane Irma. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced on Monday that his agency will provide a $340 million block grant to the state to cater to Irma-affected farmers during the 2018-2020 crop year — that’s in addition to the […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2018

The U.S. Department of Education will move forward with grants to schools in Florida and other states that took in children evacuees from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and then struggled with unexpected costs, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy‘s office announced Tuesday. Under legislation Congress pushed through and approved in February, with Murphy’s backing, the department will […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2018

A new report from the National Employment Law Project Action Fund charges that Florida’s workers got shortchanged by state and federal efforts to provide disaster unemployment assistance following Hurricane Irma last fall. The report alleges Floridians, under Gov. Rick Scott‘s guidance, received far less from the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program than under any Florida governor […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2018

Democrats are sharpening their attacks on Rick Scott just as Florida’s Republican Governor bides his time with a no-comment period until the big announcement Monday when he’s expected to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate. On Thursday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched a new website “SelfServingScott.com” anticipating Scott’s candidacy. The site lays out […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma

Rick Scott appoints new member to Florida Citrus Commission

Nursing home attorneys no-show at contempt hearing

Bill Nelson, Philip Levine rip federal response to Puerto Rico

Florida CAT Fund healthy, but council contemplates doomsday scenario

Rick Scott earmarks federal Hurricane Irma block grant for housing, infrastructure

Jeffrey Soffer closes deal to buy South Florida’s Mardi Gras Casino

Feds announce $340M grant for Florida citrus

Feds to provide grants to schools enrolling hurricane evacuees

Report: Florida shortchanged on Hurricane Irma unemployment assistance

Democrats aim new website at Rick Scott