Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Les NeuhausMarch 13, 2017

After a lengthy question and answer session, a Senate panel unanimously recommended to confirm Jeffrey Bragg as Florida’s Secretary of Elder Affairs Monday, an office that oversees a quarter of Florida’s 20 million residents. The recommendation by the Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs will next go to the full chamber for a confirmation […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2016

From algebra to Zika, 2016 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year. In (kind of) chronological order: — Kevin McCarty ousted as state Insurance Commissioner, replaced by […]

Michael MolineAugust 17, 2016

Three candidates won nomination Wednesday to sit on the Florida Public Service Commission. Their names go to Gov. Rick Scott, who will make the final selection. Conspicuously absent from the final cut was Jeffrey Bragg, previously Scott’s top pick for state insurance commissioner. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater didn’t support him for that post and the job eventually went to […]

Staff ReportsAugust 17, 2016

Three candidates won nominations Wednesday to sit on the Florida Public Service Commission. Their names go to Gov. Rick Scott, who will make the final selection. The top vote-getter during a meeting in Orlando of the PSC Nominating Council was Donald Polmann, with eight votes. The Dunedin resident is a registered professional engineer with three degrees, […]

Jim RosicaMay 5, 2016

Those vying for an open seat on the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) range from seemingly unqualified to having decades of regulatory experience. One of the contenders is Gov. Rick Scott‘s current deputy policy coordinator. Another comes recommended by a current state senator and a former University of Florida president. The state’s Office of Legislative Services on Thursday released copies […]

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2016

Their names are known but their qualifications are still in the dark. By the end of business Wednesday, the state’s Office of Legislative Services had not released copies of applications for an open seat on the Florida Public Service Commission. Applications were due by 5 p.m. Tuesday. The paperwork will go to the Public Service Commission Nominating Council, which “screen(s) […]

Peter SchorschApril 28, 2016

Monday’s Cabinet meeting was nothing like any of the other meetings. It was dramatic, intense, awkward, and anticlimactic — all at the same time. After four interviews by candidates for the post of Insurance Commissioner, Gov. Rick Scott read from a prepared statement and moved to appoint Jeffrey Bragg—a man whose legal eligibility for the job continues […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

A second Florida Cabinet meeting has ended with no agreement on a new state Insurance Commissioner. Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater again deadlocked on Tuesday, further stalling the process. In a near replay of the last meeting, an intransigent Scott again moved to hire retired insurance executive Jeffrey Bragg. An equally intransigent Atwater declined […]

Jim RosicaApril 26, 2016

And then there were four. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are scheduled to interview four candidates Tuesday for the position of state Insurance Commissioner. The Cabinet meeting kicks off at 9 a.m. in the Capitol. The interviews, which could result in someone being appointed at the meeting, are last on the agenda. Time […]

Gary FineoutApril 25, 2016

Thanks to an arcane state law, Florida could enter hurricane season with no one firmly in charge of the state agency responsible for regulating the state’s at-times fragile insurance industry. The reason? The two Republican elected officials responsible for picking a new commissioner are locked in a stalemate over who should be hired to replace […]

Tag: Jeffrey Bragg
Image via AP.

Committee recommends Jeffrey Bragg for Secretary of Elder Affairs

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories in 2016

Jeffrey Bragg fails to make final cut for PSC seat

Public Service Commission nominees down to 3, Rick Scott to decide winner

Rick Scott budget official and others vying for PSC opening

PSC commissioner applications still not public

Peter Schorsch: Rick Scott, Cabinet continue to tussle over Insurance Commissioner

Top state officials still can’t agree on new Insurance Commissioner

Could new Insurance Commissioner be hired Tuesday?

Stormy times: Florida officials squabble over insurance pick