Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Florence SnyderDecember 15, 2016

With 11 shopping days ‘til Christmas, Yahoo dropped a lump of coal into the stockings of 1 billion of its users with news that their accounts had been “breached.” That’s tech-speak for “bad guys forged your cookies” — and they are not talking about the sweets you leave next to Santa’s glass of milk. Worse, […]

Associated PressAugust 26, 2016

The legal fight over releasing the 911 calls from the Pulse nightclub shooting was sent back to state court Thursday by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Paul Byron ruled that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over the claims in the case. “This case must be remanded to the state court,” he wrote. The lawsuit […]

Jim RosicaJune 20, 2016

Update: Later Monday, the Justice Department released a full text of one of the shooter’s calls, saying it wanted to “provide the highest level of transparency possible under the circumstances.” Click here for the statement and transcript. Gov. Rick Scott Monday called on federal authorities to release more from the 911 calls made by the Orlando shooter. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 24, 2016

Make sure you understand the law. That’s the message Sen. Wilton Simpson sent to the business community Monday. In a memo to business leaders, the Trilby Republican said businesses that have contracts with local or state government “need to understand the change that was made to the public records law.” Under a new law signed […]

Gary FineoutAugust 20, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott is defending the use of taxpayer money to pay a hefty legal settlement, but there are questions about whether his administration was transparent in how it got the money. State officials last week paid $700,000 to Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews to settle seven lawsuits. The lawsuits contended that Scott, Attorney General Pam […]

Bruce RitchieApril 28, 2015

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Rep. Matt Gaetz voted for a hydraulic fracturing regulation bill on Monday, but says he will vote against a companion bill that would provide a public records law exemption. The outcome of the public records exemption bill likely depends on whether Gaetz is joined by others who supported the bill to provide for fracking regulation. HB 1205, […]

Associated PressDecember 8, 2014

A Florida judge is letting a lawyer argue that Gov. Rick Scott intentionally broke the state’s public records law with the use of a private email account. Chief Judge Charles Francis on Monday agreed to let Tallahassee lawyer Steve Andrews amend his existing public records lawsuit against the governor. Andrews can now use Scott’s release […]

Susan ClarySeptember 1, 2013

Nothing earth-shattering came from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) report released last week on the Orange County Commission’s “Textgate” scandal. It’s no surprise that Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Commissioners Scott Boyd, Fred Brummer, Jennifer Thompson and former Commissioner John Martinez broke state public records laws when they deleted texts from lobbyists […]

Christmas is a-‘comin’ and the geese are gettin’ hacked

Suit over releasing Pulse 911 calls goes back to state court

Rick Scott to feds: Release the Orlando 911 tapes

Wilton Simpson urges contractors to study updated public records law

Gov. Rick Scott defends payout in records lawsuit

Fracking public records bill hangs on whether supporters vote against exemptions

Lawyer: Gov. Scott broke law with private emails

Susan Clary: Outraged by the ‘textgate’ scandal? Then run for office.