Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJanuary 5, 2018

Philip Levine is gassing up a bus again for another tour of Florida, this time as an official candidate for governor. Levine, the Democratic former mayor of Miami Beach, announced Friday that he plans to take a bus campaign tour that will start in Orlando next Tuesday morning and end in Key Largo on the […]

Scott PowersJanuary 4, 2018

Having largely tackled many of the education and jobs challenges arising from the mass migration of Puerto Ricans seeking a place to live in Florida after Hurricane Maria largely shut down their lives on the island, state and local officials gathered in Orlando told Gov. Rick Scott that housing remains a major problem. Scott met […]

Scott PowersJanuary 3, 2018

Evacuees seeking a place to live in Florida after Hurricane Maria wrecked their homes in Puerto Rico will get another two months of a program that allows them to use federal vouchers to live in hotels or motels. FEMA has extended the Transitional Shelter Assistance Program, set to expire Jan. 13, to March 20, U.S. […]

Scott PowersDecember 27, 2017

Construction has begun of three Wekiva Parkway bridges over the Wekiva River, drawing on complex engineering and construction that were critical in winning over approval from much of the environmental and conservation community for the overall 25-mile tolled expressway, the Florida Department of Transportation announced. The bridges, carrying the expressway and two non-tolled, one-lane service […]

Scott PowersDecember 22, 2017

Brightline has secured federal approval for $1.15 billion in private activity bonds to finance its private, high-speed passenger train planned to link its South Florida passenger train railway with Orlando, the company announced Friday. The company, formerly known as All Aboard Florida, has received U.S. Department of Transportation approval for the tax-exempt bonds to double-track […]

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 […]

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Donald Trump. Image via AP.

Philip Levine planning another bus tour of Florida

Rick Scott’s Puerto Rico roundtable reaches same concern as others: housing

Transitional shelter voucher program extended for Puerto Rico evacuees

Wekiva Parkway wildlife bridges over Wekiva River begun

Brightline gets $1.1B financing approval for Orlando train

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