Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 26, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott didn’t telegraph his interest in who should be the state’s top financial regulator at a Tuesday campaign stop in Jacksonville for his U.S. Senate campaign. Earlier, an aide to the Governor at a Cabinet Aides meeting said he would announce his preference later in the day. When asked whether Republican state Rep. Jay […]

Jim RosicaJune 8, 2018

In a brief conference call Friday, the Governor and Cabinet agreed to accept applications to become the next commissioner of the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) from next Monday through June 22. Depending on who applies, Scott and Cabinet members — CFO Jimmy Patronis, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Attorney General Pam Bondi — will conduct […]

Jim RosicaJune 1, 2018

Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Drew Breakspear has resigned, another political casualty of the Rick Scott administration. CFO Jimmy Patronis formally announced the departure, first reported by POLITICO Florida’s Matt Dixon last night, on Friday. “I appreciate Commissioner Breakspear’s years of service to the state,” Patronis said in a statement. “During his time as commissioner, he had […]

Peter SchorschMay 30, 2018

A sexual harassment investigation is what spurred Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to tell Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) Commissioner Drew Breakspear that he “no longer ha(s) confidence” in Breakspear’s ability to lead the office, sources tell Florida Politics. Public records released Tuesday show that OFR Deputy Commissioner Pamela Epting received a copy of results of an investigation that could not substantiate sexual […]

Staff ReportsMay 3, 2018

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis is telling the state’s top financial regulator he “no longer ha(s) confidence” in Drew Breakspear‘s ability to lead the Office of Financial Regulation. Patronis, a Panama City Republican running for re-election this year, sent a letter to Breakspear on Thursday. “Over the last 10 months, I have developed concerns over the lack of cooperation, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 11, 2017

State regulators have rejected a California bank’s proposal to operate in Florida as a financial middleman for medical marijuana-related transactions. The Office of Financial Regulation turned down a request from PayQwick for a declaratory statement so it could operate here. Christian Bax, director of the Department of Health’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, gave a presentation Wednesday […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 3, 2015

The state’s Office of Financial Regulation went live Thursday with a new check cashing database aimed at fighting fraud. Check cashing businesses now will have to enter a range of information on any check of $1,000 or more, or on anyone cashing more than $1,000 in checks per day, OFR spokeswoman Jamie Mongiovi said. Identifying information, for instance, […]

Phil AmmannJuly 1, 2015

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Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation has a new communications team. Commissioner Drew Breakspear on Wednesday unveiled the reorganized Office of Communications. The new team — called the Office of Communications and Governmental Relations — will now include both official legislative and cabinet affairs for the Sunshine State. To lead the new department, Breakspear selected Jamie […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 23, 2015

Florida physicians have friends in the Senate. The Senate Health Policy Committee took up and passed out a priority bill for the Florida Medical Association over the strong objections of Associated Industries of Florida as well as the Florida Association of Health Plans. But the majority of those who attended the committee meeting on Monday […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 23, 2015

Florida physicians have friends in the Senate. The Senate Health Policy Committee took up and passed out a priority bill for the Florida Medical Association over the strong objections of Associated Industries of Florida as well as the Florida Association of Health Plans. But the majority of those who attended the committee meeting on Monday […]

Tag: Office of Financial Regulation
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Rick Scott won’t say whether he likes Jay Fant as OFR head

Rick Scott, Cabinet set tight timetable to fill OFR spot

Drew Breakspear out as state’s chief financial regulator

Jimmy Patronis’ ire at Drew Breakspear stems from sexual harassment case

Jimmy Patronis: ‘No confidence’ in state’s chief financial regulator

Regulators shoot down medical marijuana payment proposal

State launches check-cashing database to combat fraud

Office of Financial Regulation unveils reorganized communications team

Senate is “right place” for Florida Medical Association’s top priority

Senate is "right place" for Florida Medical Association's top priority