Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 30, 2017

We reported weeks back on concerns with Whitefish Holdings assuming the massive task of reconstructing Puerto Rico’s storm-ravaged power grid. Florida Politics reportage raised serious questions about the “wisdom of the decision by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) — following the guidance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) — to trust the two-employee […]

Scott PowersOctober 27, 2017

State Sen. Victor Torres is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide more housing relief programs in Florida for Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Island Hurricane Maria refugees to afford housing in Florida. Torres’s request follows a similar call earlier this week from the Central Florida Heart of Florida United Way, seeking federal assistance […]

Jim RosicaOctober 24, 2017

Incoming Senate President Bill Galvano on Tuesday questioned whether Gov. Rick Scott overstepped his constitutional bounds in opening “disaster relief centers” for Puerto Rican residents displaced by Hurricane Maria. “I think the governor is acting in good faith,” said Galvano, who was designated the 2018-20 Senate President to succeed current president Joe Negron. “But that’s […]

Associated PressOctober 22, 2017

The five living former presidents put aside politics and appeared together for the first time since 2013 at a concert on Saturday to raise money for victims of devastating hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Democrats Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Republicans George H.W. and George […]

Scott PowersOctober 21, 2017

Rene Plasencia sees it in the faces of countless Puerto Rican Hurricane Maria refugees when he or someone else says, “we’re here to help you.” A mixture of anguish, relief, pain, joy, fear, confidence, hopelessness, hope — all the emotions of losing everything and traveling to a strange, new place with almost nothing, and then […]

Associated PressOctober 20, 2017

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Electrical linemen descend from helicopters, balancing on steel girders 90 feet high on transmission towers in the mountains of central Puerto Rico, far from any road. At the same time, crews fan out across the battered island, erecting light poles and power lines in a block by block slog. A month after Hurricane Maria rolled […]

Scott PowersOctober 16, 2017

State Rep. Bob Cortes went to Puerto Rico Monday to oversee a disaster relief effort arranged by Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran and coordinated by him and other members of the Seminole County Legislative Caucus. Cortes, a Republican from Altamonte Springs, is overseeing delivery of about four tons of supplies headed for the hard-hit eastern part […]

Scott PowersOctober 13, 2017

Florida’s Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Friday sent a letter similar to one sent by his Democratic colleague urging more federal help for Puerto Rico, still darkened by the ravishes of Hurricane Maria more than three weeks ago. Rubio asked U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Eric Hargan to “provide a […]

Scott PowersOctober 13, 2017

Bill Nelson is imploring the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to step up their efforts in Puerto Rico, “before more people die and this becomes a full-blown crisis.” In a letter to acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan, Florida’s senior U.S. Senator responds to news reports in The New York Times and warns that the continued […]

Staff ReportsOctober 13, 2017

Saint Leo University says it will provide free room and board and a discounted tuition rate of $8,500 to students from Puerto Rico, which was hit hard by Hurricane Maria. “At Saint Leo, we live by six core values, one of which is community,” said Dr. William J. Lennox Jr., the university’s president. “We are happy to […]

Tag: Puerto Rico

JEA still restoring Puerto Rico power, despite Whitefish contract cancellation

Victor Torres seeking FEMA help for housing for Puerto Rico evacuees

Bill Galvano questions relief centers for displaced Puerto Ricans

Former presidents call for unity at hurricane aid concert

Anguish, relief, fear, hope: Relief efforts serving thousands of Puerto Rico storm refugees

What Puerto Rico is doing to get the power back after the storm

Bob Cortes heads for Puerto Rico on relief mission organized through speaker’s office

Marco Rubio joins Bill Nelson’s call for urgent attention for public health crisis in Puerto Rico

Bill Nelson urges feds to do more for Puerto Rico ‘before more people die’

Pasco’s Saint Leo U. helps students from Puerto Rico