Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 26, 2018

A set of three new proposed bills in the Florida House announced Monday seek to make significant changes in the state’s gun laws. Among the proposals: Raise the minimum age for buying a gun in Florida to 21, expand the three-day waiting period to cover the purchase of all firearms, ban “bump stocks,” and create […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2018

Bill Nelson is responding to criticism offered by Rick Scott that the Democrat has done “nothing” when it comes to gun safety. “I have voted for and sponsored every major piece of legislation, including the comprehensive background checks, as well as getting the assault rifles off the streets,” Nelson told reporters Sunday following a church service […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 25, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott is asking for an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into the law enforcement response — namely the Broward County Sheriff’s office — into the last week’s Parkland school shooting. Calls for an FDLE inquiry is in response to a push from state lawmakers for Scott to remove Broward County […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2018

The Broward County Sheriff says a letter from a state lawmaker calling for his resignation after a mass school shooting is “riddled with factual errors, unsupported gossip and falsehoods.” Sheriff Scott Israel issued his response in a letter to Gov. Rick Scott that the sheriff’s office released to the news media late Saturday. Israel’s letter […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2018

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Republican Bill Hager, the chairman of the appropriations committee in the Florida House which will be asked to budget as much as $500 million to bolster the state’s school safety programs, gun laws and mental-health initiatives, is calling on Gov. Rick Scott to remove Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. Israel is under intense scrutiny after Coral Springs […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 24, 2018

Just days ago, 17 people, mostly teenagers, were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. There were warning signs, and one of them was an online posting under the shooter’s name that dictated “I’m going to be a professional school shooter” on a YouTube video. These types of threats can be a critical indicator that […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 24, 2018

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With less than two weeks before the end of the 2018 Legislative Session, the pot of money lawmakers must work with in order to craft a state budget is shrinking rapidly. At work are two factors: one is a revised estimate for state tax and revenue collections, the second is the estimated cost of the […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 24, 2018

As House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s priority education bill is pushed through the Senate committee process, some watching this week were perplexed by the vote of one sometimes perplexing Republican lawmaker. Sen. Tom Lee, who has helped carry Corcoran’s policy in a sometimes-hostile Senate, voted with Democrats to gut language from the omnibus bill that would […]

Scott PowersFebruary 23, 2018

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said the guns and schools proposal announced Friday by Republican Gov. Rick Scott has some things he supports but called Scott’s plan inadequate and said that the governor was not listening to what Floridians really want following the latest mass shooting: universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2018

The Florida Education Association hasn’t often championed Gov. Rick Scott‘s education proposals, but it is applauding his $500 million plan to address school safety that he announced Friday in Tallahassee. The suite of proposals most notably does not include arming schoolteachers, an idea that President Donald Trump and other Florida Republican lawmakers have proposed in […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

New bills propose gun controls, school law enforcement frameworks, Sunshine exemptions

Bill Nelson dismisses Rick Scott charge he’s done ‘nothing’ on gun safety

Rick Scott calls for FDLE Parkland investigation, resists removing Broward Sheriff

Scott Israel: Lawmaker’s letter ‘riddled’ with errors

State lawmaker Bill Hager calls on Rick Scott to remove Broward Sheriff in wake of Parkland failures

Amy Mercer: It is not illegal to threaten a school shooting in Florida

As lawmakers tiptoe to budget negotiating starting line, state revenue estimate is cut by $167 million

Takeaways from Tallahassee — A puzzling vote

Bill Nelson: Rick Scott doesn’t hear what Floridians demand on guns

Florida’s largest teacher union backs Rick Scott school safety plan