Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Their work in Puerto Rico gone, their home still without power, their family now living in a motel in Orlando, and their future still uncertain, Emanuel Ortiz and Crystal Rodriguez now hear their bank threatening to foreclose on their home in Bayamón because they haven’t been able to make a house payment since Hurricane Maria wiped […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine is seeking to spread a little Christmas cheer among displaced Puerto Ricans in Orlando and Miami this weekend, with holiday lunches planned in both cities for families who left the island because of Hurricane Maria devastation. Levine’s campaign said they are expecting about 150 people at “First in Florida” Christmas […]

Scott PowersDecember 18, 2017

All Aboard Florida canceled an emergency meeting of the Florida Development Finance Corporation set for Monday to consider backing $1.1 billion in private activity bonds for the private, high-speed passenger Brightline railroad’s South Florida to Orlando phase of construction. The company said it requested the cancellation due to the House and Senate agreeing to a tax […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

All Aboard Florida received its final federal approval Friday to build and operate a private, high-speed passenger train system connecting Orlando and South Florida, U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Mario Diaz-Balart announced. The announcement was quickly followed announcements from All Aboard Florida and the Federal Railroad Administration. The administration’s Record of Decision, released Friday after […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

Indian River and Martin counties and Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida are seeking to delay and move Florida Development Finance Corporation consideration of financing for the All Aboard Florida train, charging that the meeting could violate Florida’s open meeting laws. The two counties and CARE-Florida are opponents of All Aboard Florida’s plans to develop […]

Scott PowersDecember 12, 2017

The ongoing conflict between Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala and Gov. Rick Scott over her death penalty policies took another turn as Ayala cut a murder deal with a suspect that avoids a death penalty then answered the governor’s questions by asking her own questions. Scott and Ayala, state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit, […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration upped the pressure on Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala with a letter Monday demanding answers on why she apparently missed a deadline for filing notice of a death penalty case and accusing her of possible “willful disregard” of the law. The letter from Scott’s general counsel Daniel Nordby might be setting […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2017

Gwen Graham is moving to Orlando. At least her gubernatorial campaign is doing so. The campaign confirmed Thursday that it’s moving its headquarters from Tallahassee, her home for decades, to settle into the City Beautiful, taking advantage of its centralized location to better accommodate campaigning and putting focus on the I-4 corridor battle. The campaign […]

Scott PowersNovember 27, 2017

The city of Orlando is considering a resolution that would have the City Council and Mayor Buddy Dyer formally declare their policy that police and other city officials not get involved in immigration matters, including a policy against questioning people whether their status is legal or not. The resolution would state what already is the […]

Scott PowersNovember 20, 2017

A national coalition of Puerto Rican groups with heavy representation in Central Florida urged in Orlando Monday for Congress to offer full relief funding for the hurricane-ravaged island and for Florida and federal relief for evacuee housing in the Sunshine State. Joined at Acacia’s El Centro Borinqueño by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, and Orlando Democrat, […]

Tag: Orlando

Groups calling attention to foreclosures following Puerto Ricans fleeing to Florida

Philip Levine hosting Christmas lunches for displaced Puerto Ricans

Brightline cancels finance meeting

Feds approve All Aboard Florida route linking Orlando, South Florida

Opponents of All Aboard Florida charge finance meeting may violate Sunshine Laws

After cutting murder plea deal, Aramis Ayala demands answers from Rick Scott

Governor’s office accuses Aramis Ayala of negligence, possible ‘willful disregard’

Gwen Graham moving campaign HQ to Orlando

Orlando contemplating immigrant ‘trust’ resolution

Puerto Rican coalition calls for full recovery funding and debt relief