Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

A top plaintiffs’ insurance lawyer is lauding Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty‘s offer to extend his departure, which was originally set for May 2. McCarty “staying on until a replacement is named is a massive blessing,” said Chip Merlin of the Merlin Law Group in Tampa. Merlin has built a business out of suing insurance companies that “deny, delay or underpay property […]

Jim RosicaApril 20, 2016

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Kevin McCarty is telling his bosses: You need more time? You got it. The state’s outgoing Insurance Commissioner on Wednesday wrote separate but identical letters to Gov. Rick Scott, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. He said he would delay his departure to “45 days after my successor […]

Peter SchorschApril 19, 2016

About a month ago, when FloridaPolitics.com offered “The Good, the Bad and the Interesting” of the applicants for the next Insurance Commissioner, we highlighted the legal requirements for the job. They’re high … on purpose. HB 3, passed in Special Session E in 2002, implemented a 1998 constitutional amendment that merged the jobs of Comptroller […]

Mitch PerryApril 18, 2016

Arguments were held in the Supreme Court Monday in United States v. Texas, the intensely fought legal battle regarding President Obama’s executive actions on immigration that he made in November of 2014. Obama’s proposal would create a new program to allow the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to obtain temporary work authorization to remain […]

Associated PressApril 18, 2016

Florida’s fight to keep intact a ban on gay marriage is going to wind up costing taxpayers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has ordered the state to pay the fees of attorneys who filed federal lawsuits challenging the state’s voter-approved ban. Hinkle said in an order dated Friday the attorneys were eligible for payment because […]

Jim RosicaApril 18, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet now have 67 names to pick from for state Insurance Commissioner. They decided to take more applications for the job after the March 29 Cabinet meeting, setting an April 15 application deadline. Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater had each favored two different candidates: Retired executive Jeffrey Bragg and state Rep. Bill […]

Martin DyckmanApril 15, 2016

If only the Florida Constitution included a provision like this: (1) Members of the Legislature who vote for measures subsequently held unconstitutional shall be liable jointly and severally for all attorney fees and costs as established by the court. (2) Failure to pay such liabilities within 60 days of final judgment shall constitute disqualification for […]

Martin DyckmanApril 14, 2016

If only the Florida Constitution included a provision like this: (1) Members of the Legislature who vote for measures subsequently held unconstitutional shall be liable jointly and severally for all attorney fees and costs as established by the court. (2) Failure to pay such liabilities within 60 days of final judgment shall constitute disqualification for […]

Jim RosicaApril 8, 2016

Longtime Florida journalist and attorney Neil Skene said he has accepted an offer to work for Illinois Children and Family Services Director George Sheldon. Sheldon, a Democrat who unsuccessfully challenged Attorney General Pam Bondi last election, was secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families from 2008-2011. He did not return a call seeking comment. The move […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2016

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli has thrown his support behind Carlos Lopez-Cantera in the U.S. Senate race. Lopez-Cantera’s campaign announced Tuesday that the Merritt Island Republican was endorsing the lieutenant governor in his bid to replace Marco Rubio in the U.S. Senate. “My choice in this important race is not based on politics, but on a […]

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

Chip Merlin calls Kevin McCarty’s departure delay a ‘massive blessing’

In letter, Kevin McCarty says he’s willing to extend departure date

The million-dollar Insurance Commissioner question

Kathy Castor praises Obama immigration actions as case goes to Supreme Court

Florida’s fight to keep gay marriage ban could be costly

67 apply to become state’s next Insurance Commissioner

Martin Dyckman: Courts failed organizations that won redistricting fight

Martin Dyckman: Courts failed organizations that won redistricting fight

Former Times bureau chief to work for George Sheldon at Illinois’ DCF

Steve Crisafulli endorses Carlos Lopez-Cantera in U.S. Senate race