Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMarch 2, 2018

With competitive Democratic primaries, the tail end of the Legislative Session, and local City Hall intrigue, there is a lot to unpack. However, we have not arrived at the point in the narrative with a great deal of resolution. At least not yet. In a literary sense, this is known as foreshadowing. Money has not […]

Ana CeballosMarch 1, 2018

In a rare political move, Gov. Rick Scott and the father of a 14-year-old Parkland shooting victim jointly addressed the House and Senate floors on Thursday and asked legislators to set aside differences and ensure schools are safe sans armed teachers. “I want to make sure there is law enforcement in our schools,” Scott told […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 28, 2018

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri wants to clear the air. Yes, he testified in Tallahassee before the House Appropriations Committee in support of the Marshal plan, a controversial proposal that calls for arming teachers in schools (if approved by district superintendents or school boards). However, the Gualtieri admitted Tuesday that he doesn’t advocate arming schoolteachers, but […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 28, 2018

In Tampa Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott continued a statewide tour touting his proposed $500 million to make Florida’s public schools safer in the aftermath of the massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School two weeks ago. The Governor’s plan includes putting law enforcement officers in every Florida public school, assembling a “threat-assessment team” that would embed a member […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 28, 2018

It’s crunch time in Gov. Rick Scott‘s final Legislative Session, and in the wake of the mass murder in Parkland, a $500 million “school safety” plan is his last big pitch. The plan has three components: “Gun laws, school safety, and mental health.” The plan offers some moves toward gun control: restrictions of purchases by those […]

Scott PowersFebruary 28, 2018

With fresh media reports that Russians hacked into and potentially compromised election systems in Florida and six other states in 2016, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham called Wednesday for Gov. Rick Scott to take immediate action to protect Florida’s election infrastructure. “Dangerous Russian interference in the 2016 election is not only confirmed, but it happened […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 28, 2018

Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley is undertaking something seen too rarely in the Legislative process: He is actually trying to clean up and improve Florida’s health care financing policy. Bradley, an Orange Park Republican, intends to do this by finally eliminating “auto-payments,” a payment scheme that Gov. Rick Scott described in 2015 as arbitrary, inconsistent and bearing no relationship […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Attorney General candidate Jay Fant wants a second investigation, including convening a grand jury, into the local response to the Parkland school massacre. Even though Gov. Rick Scott has already tasked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into local law enforcement’s response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Jacksonville Republican lawmaker is […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham sent out an email Tuesday attacking Republican foe Ron DeSantis for his silence in the post-Parkland policy debate. While DeSantis was the target, Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who is also running as a GOP candidate for governor, weren’t spared in the “Sound of Silence Alert.” “Governor […]

Scott PowersFebruary 27, 2018

Miami health care magnate and longtime Republican supporter Miguel “Mike” Fernandez and more than 100 other business leaders and other prominent figures have signed and published online a letter declaring the “sanctuary cities ban” effort in the Florida Legislature to be a “misguided and potentially dangerous path.” The letter is addressed to Gov. Rick Scott, […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Jacksonville Bold for 3.2.18 — March Madness

In impromptu Capitol visit, Rick Scott reiterates: don’t arm teachers

Bob Gualtieri wants guns on school campuses — but not for teachers

In Tampa, Rick Scott remains noncommittal on signing law to arm teachers

Rick Scott pitches gun control, school hardening proposals in Jacksonville market

Gwen Graham calls on Rick Scott to address reports of Russian interference

Rob Bradley’s fairness doctrine

Jay Fant wants second investigation of Broward Sheriff’s Department over Parkland shooting

Email insights: Gwen Graham slams Ron DeSantis for ‘sounds of silence’

Mike Fernandez leads letter signed by scores of business leaders opposing sanctuary cities bill