Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping education bill (HB 7069) that, among other things, sends more public money to privately-run charter schools. The legislation, a top priority for House Speaker Richard Corcoran, also requires recess in elementary schools, makes changes to the state’s standardized testing system, and includes millions of dollars for teacher bonuses. The […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2017

Rick Scott signed SB 800, the Senate companion to House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz’s HB 1191, putting medication synchronization into law. What’s that, you ask? Many patients, especially those with chronic conditions who may have been prescribed medications from different specialized physicians, currently face various refill dates and multiple trips to the pharmacy each to maintain their prescribed […]

Staff ReportsJune 15, 2017

The Florida House is touting the signing of a wide-sweeping education bill with a new video. The nearly 3-minute web video, released ahead of a bill signing event at Morning Star Catholic School in Orlando, features news clips showing parents talking about their children and reporters highlighting the 2015 “Failure Factories” series by the Tampa […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2017

President Donald Trump barely carried Duval County in 2016. Yet, for Jacksonville power brokers, the Trump era has meant access to the White House. The most recent manifestation of that was just this week, as a JAX Chamber delegation was received by one of the more important people in Trump’s orbit: Omarosa Manigault. Manigault has a […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2017

Although modest in scope, Tampa Bay area lawmakers and business officials are happy that Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation (SB 1672) they believe is the first step toward creating a regional network to push for transit. The bill changes the actual title of TBARTA. It will now be the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (it used […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a wide-sweeping higher education bill, saying the legislation “impedes the ability of state colleges to meet the needs of the communities and families they serve.” The bill (SB 374) was a top priority for Senate President Joe Negron, who has made improving the State University System a cornerstone of his term […]

Staff ReportsJune 14, 2017

Companies will now be required to promptly notify the Department of Environmental Protection of a pollution incident under a bill signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The so-called spill bill (SB 1018) requires companies to submit a notice of a reportable pollution release to the Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours of the release. That […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 14, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 477 on Wednesday, a bill that would subject opioid dealers whose toxic product killed the end user to murder charges. HB 477 targets fentanyl and similar drugs by adding them to the Schedule 1 classification, along with heroin, MDMA, LSD, and cannabis. The potential death penalty for traffickers already existed for cocaine, opium, […]

Jim RosicaJune 14, 2017

A new state senator who is also a prominent trial attorney is telling Gov. Rick Scott to veto a contentious education policy bill, saying it’s a brew of “bad policy” and “a textbook example of a failure in government transparency.” Sen. Gary Farmer, a Parkland Democrat, wrote a 2-page letter to Scott Tuesday on HB […]

Guest AuthorJune 14, 2017

Editor’s note: The op-ed below originally appeared on the award-winning blog, The Florida Squeeze. However, its editors took the op-ed down because it said it failed to meet that site’s editorial standards. “Although the tone of the piece was intended to be facetious and is based on what many believe to be reality, we were […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Image via LinkedIn.

Capitol Reax: Rick Scott signs HB 7069

Rick Scott signs Janet Cruz-sponsored bill letting patients make fewer drug store trips

In new video ahead of HB 7069 signing, Florida House declares ‘hope has arrived’

For Jacksonville, Donald Trump means White House access

With law now in place, Tampa Bay region moves closer to regional transit

Rick Scott vetoes higher education bill, priority for Joe Negron

Rick Scott signs pollution notification bill into law

Murder charges for fatal fentanyl dealers: now Florida law

Gary Farmer to Rick Scott: Veto ‘dreadful’ HB 7069

The op-ed Leslie Wimes apparently doesn’t want you to read