Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 6, 2016

A coalition of consumer and physician groups is calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate two big insurance mergers. In a letter dated May 5, the coalition asked Bondi’s office to “vigorously investigate” the proposed mergers of Aetna and Humana, and Anthem and Cigna. The letter was signed by the Florida Consumer Action Network, […]

Ryan RayMay 6, 2016

A plan for the state of Florida to buy $6.6 million in new state land easements took another step toward approval this week. Aides to Gov. Rick Scott and Cabinet officers heard plans to buy two huge swaths of land in Osceola County, south of St. Cloud, for conservation purposes. Such land is set aside to help […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2016

Frustrated by the lack of urgency among Florida lawmakers when it comes to climate change and the increase of sea-level rise, South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard says he’d like to create a 60-foot-tall “Tower of Shame” listing those who have failed to act on the issue. “We should inscribe the name of every federal and state-level elected official […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2016

The news yesterday that the Tampa Bay Times bought and absorbed the assets of the crosstown rival Tampa Tribune marks the end of rumors which I can recount starting back in 2008. That’s when stories surfaced that the paper would fold after the 2009 Super Bowl. That didn’t come to pass. Then the rumor was the […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2016

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Tuesday is World Asthma Day, a day to raise awareness about the impact of asthma on the daily lives people, including over 23 million in the U.S. who suffer from the ailment. Seizing on the moment to make a political statement marking the occasion is the group AmericansUnitedForChange.org, who released a digital ad directed toward Florida Attorney General […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2016

Insurance-related concerns reacted with cautious optimism to Friday’s naming of David Altmaier as Florida’s new Insurance Commissioner. “The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida is committed to working with the new commissioner to increase the health and stability of the property and casualty insurance market in Florida,’’ Executive Director Michael Carlson said in a statement. The […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2016

A 34-year-old former high school math teacher was named Friday to be the next Florida Insurance Commissioner. David Altmaier, currently a deputy commissioner at the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR), starts on Monday. Altmaier, who will be paid $165,000 a year, began at OIR as an insurance examiner in 2008. The selection caps off weeks of […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet are supposed to meet Friday to pick the state’s new Insurance Commissioner. But except for Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, none of them will actually be there. The rest, including Scott, will be phoning it in. Friday’s get-together (or lack thereof) is a last-minute emergency meeting, called by the […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2016

Florida legislators may have publicly backed a presidential candidate, but new research finds that several lawmakers failed to vote in the state’s primary election. Noah Pransky of WTSP reports that a number of lawmakers — just like in 2012 – simply did not take part in Florida’s March 15 presidential preference primary, including four from […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2016

In Tampa Thursday, Governor Rick Scott ceremonially signed SB 636, a bill introduced by Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto that requires testing of rape kits within 120 days of submission to a state crime lab, and requires that agencies submit kits for testing inside of 30 days after the beginning of the investigation In a statement, Scott said that the bill will […]

Tag: Pam bondi
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Coalition calls on Pam Bondi to ‘vigorously investigate’ health insurance mergers

Cabinet aides tee up land deal for Tuesday vote

South Miami mayor wants to build ‘Tower of Shame’ for those failing to act on climate change

Mitch Perry Report for 5.4.16 — Trib out

On World Asthma Day, a new digital ad goes after Pam Bondi and other AGs opposing clean power plan

Insurance interests “look forward” to new commissioner

David Altmaier named Insurance Commissioner

Jeff Atwater may be alone in Cabinet meeting

Florida lawmakers support presidential candidates, but forgot to vote in primary

Rick Scott ceremonially signs rape kit testing bill