Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2017

In a statement proclaiming Monday as “Pulse Remembrance Day,” Gov. Rick Scott described the Pulse nightclub shooting that killed 49 people a year ago as “an attack on Orlando, our state, the Hispanic community and on the LGBTQ community.” Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, the leading advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights in Florida, is “glad” Scott […]

Joe ReedyJune 12, 2017

The Florida Legislature’s passage of a bill to enact the state’s constitutional amendment expanding the use of medical marijuana has ended one chapter in the battle over setting up regulations for the nascent industry. But pro-pot supporters say it doesn’t go far enough. Once Gov. Rick Scott signs the bill, the principal backer of getting […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 10, 2017

Florida became the first state with a law that spells out that prosecutors, and not defendants, have the burden of proof in pretrial “stand your ground” hearings when Republican Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday. The measure was among 16 bills that Scott signed, including a bill that gives students and school employees a […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court has remanded another murder case death penalty from Orlando, that of Bessman Okafor, and Gov. Rick Scott quickly reassigned it away from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. The move came with swift intervention from state Rep. Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, who asked the governor to keep the case from going […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 8, 2017

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Florida is taking extra steps to boost security at Jewish day schools across the state. Lawmakers tucked $654,000 into the fiscal 2017-18 budget, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott law week, for security funding for Jewish day schools throughout Florida. The request for funding came after a string of bomb threats against Jewish institutions […]

Staff ReportsJune 7, 2017

Two senators have asked Senate President Joe Negron to support expanding the call for a special session to override two line-item vetoes. Sens. Denise Grimsley and Kelli Stargel sent a letter to Negron on Wednesday asking for his “assistant and support in expanding the call for Special Session 2017-A to include the veto override of […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2017

While expressing curiosity at a forum held in Washington Wednesday over whether Gov. Rick Scott might attend next Monday’s Pulse memorial services, Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith slammed the governor, saying “he has done nothing” for the gay community since the June 12, 2016, massacre at Orlando’s popular gay nightclub. Smith was speaking at a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 7, 2017

Medical marijuana has officially been added to the agenda for this week’s special session. Gov. Rick Scott issued a proclamation Tuesday afternoon expanding the three-day special session to include medical marijuana implementing legislation. The announcement came shortly after Scott met with House Majority Leader Ray Rodrigues, who carried the implementing legislation during the regular session. […]

Joe HendersonJune 7, 2017

As the special session of the Legislature was set to begin Wednesday, everyone heard of how the compromise deal that appeared to be the framework for a budget agreement was close to collapse. Humm. It brought Senate President Joe Negron into sharp focus, since he seems to be the one leading the charge to turn the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 7, 2017

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As state lawmakers head back to Tallahassee for a special session this week, the Florida College System is are asking Gov. Rick Scott to reconsider millions upon millions of cuts to their base budgets. Thomas LoBasso, the president of Daytona State College and the chairman of the Council of Presidents, sent a letter to Scott […]

Tag: Rick Scott

On Pulse anniversary, Equality Florida calls Rick Scott to ban LGBTQ discrimination statewide

John Morgan plans lawsuit to allow for smoking of medical pot

Florida law shifts burden of proof in ‘stand your ground’

Supreme Court sends Bessman Okafor sentence back, Rick Scott reassigns it from Aramis Ayala

State budget includes $654K to enhance security at Jewish day schools

Denise Grimsley, Kelli Stargel ask Joe Negron to support veto overrides of 2 budget line items

Carlos Smith: Since Pulse, Rick Scott has done nothing for LGBTQ community

Rick Scott expands special session call to include medical marijuana

Joe Henderson: When a quid pro quo turns into quid pro no, all bets are off

Florida colleges to Rick Scott: ‘Urge legislative leaders to restore our cuts’