Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 1, 2016

The popular ride-booking app Uber is teaming up with Volunteer Florida to help provide gently-used professional attire for unemployed or underemployed Floridians looking for a leg up when it comes to job interviews. The groups announced the new initiative – dubbed “#SuitsForSession” – in partnership with Dress For Success Tallahassee, Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend Inc., the Florida Department […]

Ryan RayFebruary 27, 2016

The Government Operations/General Government budget conference held its second meeting Saturday, as the sub-chairmen for each chamber – Rep. Jeanette Nunez and Sen. Alan Hays – continued to wrangle spreadsheets as they inched closer to squaring the $10 million in differences between their respective proposals. This time it was the House’s turn to respond to a Senate offer from […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 16, 2016

The Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved a proposal (SB 1442) that bans the practice of balance billing. The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia, is backed by CFO Jeff Atwater, who has said he wants consumers to pay no more than that what they would pay had they been in-network. Audrey Brown, president […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2016

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Only two of the 25 applicants aiming to replace outgoing Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty answered “yes” to the state’s two pre-screening qualifying questions as of Monday. Kirk Schmidt, of Jefferson City, Missouri, is president and CFO of an insurance company after having been chief financial examiner for the Missouri Department of Insurance, he said in his […]

Associated PressJanuary 20, 2016

Citrus, rape kits, credit card skimmers, synthetic drugs, life insurance, water, medical bills, racketeering and Iran. That is the short version of the legislative priorities for Florida’s three independently elected Cabinet members. While they can’t sponsor or vote on bills or sign them into law, the Cabinet members hold important leadership roles in state government […]

Ryan RayJanuary 20, 2016

The office of CFO Jeff Atwater has elevated Joel Brown to the role of Press Secretary. The Republican staffer and campaign aide comes to the job via the Tampa Bay area, where he was a regional director of Atwater’s operations there. Previously Brown had served as campaign coordinator and district assistant to longtime Pinellas U.S. Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, and […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

Florida political consultant Rick Wilson is leaving the Carlos Lopez-Cantera Senate campaign, but he’ll still be working on getting CLC elected this fall. The veteran GOP strategist is transitioning from serving as an adviser to Lopez-Cantera in his bid for the U.S. Senate to working at Reform Washington, a super PAC backing the Lieutenant Governor’s candidacy. “We are […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 13, 2016

The defining debate of the 2016 Legislative session? Tax cuts. That was Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s prediction Wednesday during Florida TaxWatch’s inaugural State of the Taxpayer Dinner. The event featured several state lawmakers, including Putnam and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. “If you think about the foundation of this organization and what this state has […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 11, 2016

Ending “balance billing,” overhauling the state’s insurance laws, and preserving a practice called “prior authorization” are among the goals of the Florida Association of Health Plans for this legislative session. The organization, which represents every health insurer in the state other than Florida Blue, released its priority list on Monday. “FAHP consistently supports legislative proposals that […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 7, 2016

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater says he’s “championing” bills this legislative session in three policy areas: Life insurance, divestment from Iran and medical billing. Atwater, first elected in 2010, laid out his priorities in an email sent Wednesday. Life insurance: Atwater wants to “ensure that insurance companies will utilize current technology and public information that will assist […]

Tag: Jeff Atwater

Uber, Volunteer Florida team up to provide #SuitsForSession for needy

Government operations budgets inch toward reconciliation

Capitol Reax: Balanced billing, incentives

Only 2 applicants clear Insurance Commissioner pre-screening

Rape kits, gas pump skimmers, Iran among Cabinet priorities

Joel Brown steps in as CFO Jeff Atwater’s new press secretary

Rick Wilson transitions to Carlos Lopez Cantera’s super PAC

Cabinet members praise ‘taxpayer friendly’ policies during Florida TaxWatch State of the Taxpayer dinner

Health-plan group releases priorities for 2016 Legislative Session

Jeff Atwater lays out legislative wish list