Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 30, 2017

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip and Gov. Rick Scott told a roundtable of Orange County public health officials in Orlando Tuesday that Zika preparedness is up and incidents and rain down this year, but the risk of another major disease outbreak remains significant and no one should abandon precautions. Florida has seen 50 confirmed case […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 30, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott hammered state lawmakers over reduced funding for two of his top priorities, but once again declined to say whether he’ll veto the budget when it gets to his desk in the coming days. “I’ve been in business all my life and I love to see people succeed, to take risks, and when […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 30, 2017

The First Amendment Foundation is weighing in on a wide-sweeping education bill, asking Gov. Rick Scott to veto the measure when it gets to his desk. In a letter to Scott on Tuesday, Barbara Petersen, the president of the First Amendment Foundation, said the organization’s concerns “relate only to the lack of transparency in the […]

Joe HendersonMay 30, 2017

There are important things going on in the state today; I probably should pay more attention to them. Will Gov. Rick Scott wield his veto pen? The nation’s policy on Cuba is attracting attention; 55 U.S. senators signed a letter urging travel restrictions on visits to that island nation be lifted. That stuff, and more, […]

Brendan FarringtonMay 29, 2017

Lucy McBath is afraid many more people will die if Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill making it harder to prosecute when people claim they commit violence in self-defense. She already lost her son, an unarmed black teenager, when a white man angry over loud music and claiming self-defense fired 10 times at an […]

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog organization, served up its annual list of “Budget Turkeys,” naming almost $178 million in line-item projects part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. For the Tampa Bay region, Florida TaxWatch targeted more than $33 million in local projects as individual line […]

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Thanksgiving is six months away, but Friday is “turkey” day for Gov. Rick Scott. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, released its annual “Budget Turkey List,” of almost $178 million in line-item projects that are part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. Budget Turkeys are individual […]

Scott PowersMay 26, 2017

State Rep. Rene Plasencia, a former public school teacher, was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as one of the state’s board members on the Southern Regional Education Board, a 16-state compact. “I am a firm believer we need to start reducing some of the high-stakes testing that we offer,” Plasencia told POLITICO Florida. “I want […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

Winston Churchill once said: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Democrats are starting to formulate a strategy for Bill Nelson’s upcoming Senate re-election effort — more likely than not facing Gov. Rick Scott. Not one to waste a good opportunity, Nelson’s nascent campaign could receive a significant boost by way of a veto of the sweeping education […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 25, 2017

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 457 into law, a measure that boosts penalties for terrorism charges. Among those charges: paramilitary training from foreign terrorist organizations; lending material support to those organizations; joining those organizations; and agri-terrorism. The bill creates a more expansive definition of “terrorism” and “terrorist activities” in the wake of the Pulse massacre in June. […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Image via AP.

Celeste Philip: current indicators improved, but Zika threat remains serious

Rick Scott still mum on 2017-18 budget veto plans

First Amendment Foundation calls on Rick Scott to veto education bill

Joe Henderson: Frank Deford’s passing deserves a moment of pause and reflection

Florida could pave new changes in ‘stand your ground’ laws

Tampa Bay region marked for $33M in Florida TaxWatch ‘turkeys’

Rick Scott gets $178M serving of Florida TaxWatch ‘budget turkeys’

Rene Plasencia appointed to Southern Regional Education Board

Democrats have opportunity-in-crisis with Rick Scott education bill veto possibility

Rick Scott signs counterterrorism bill into law