Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 16, 2017

Freshman Republican Rep. Randy Fine warned Gov. Rick Scott not to badmouth him in his district in a sternly written letter sent Wednesday. The letter comes after Fine and eight other Republicans on the House Careers and Competition Committee voted for a bill that would dismantle Enterprise Florida, the state’s economic development arm, and Visit […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 15, 2017

Despite heavy opposition from much of the hospital and hospice industry, a bill that would repeal Florida’s Certificate of Need (CON) program advanced in a House subcommittee on Wednesday. Currently, health care providers require a certificate of need prior before building or converting hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. The proposal (HB 7) sponsored by Sarasota […]

Michael MolineFebruary 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursement payments to profitable hospitals that stint on charity care may run into trouble in the Senate. During hearings Wednesday before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, members including Chairwoman Anitere Flores raised objections. “The governor’s office has made some assumptions, based on the fact that some […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 15, 2017

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Former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz and former Senate Democratic Leader Chris Smith are among those tapped by current Senate President Joe Negron to sit on the state’s Constitution Revision Commission. Negron, a Stuart Republican, announced his list Wednesday in a press release. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican in the Senate 2006-16, and Smith, a Fort Lauderdale […]

Erin ClarkFebruary 15, 2017

Florida’s new open enrollment policies are still leaving students behind. Florida has one of the most robust school choice programs nationwide, with 45 percent of pre-K-12 students in the state having exercised some type of choice option in the 2015-16 school year. A new law seems poised to amplify that even more. HB 7029, signed […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Addressing what he called the “obvious elephant in the room,” Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson criticized Florida House members who backed an effort to end economic incentive programs, calling the move political. “I want to be blunt for a few minutes,” said Wilson. “This is not a Legislature trying to seek how to diversify the […]

Associated PressFebruary 14, 2017

A judicial official sided with Georgia in a decades-long dispute over water rights with Florida on Tuesday, recommending that the U.S. Supreme Court refuse Florida’s high-stakes request to cap water use by its neighboring state. The dispute focuses on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, covering nearly 20,000 square miles in western Georgia, eastern Alabama and the […]

Scott PowersFebruary 14, 2017

Two South Florida lawmakers are hoping to get Florida to make some amends for one of the darkest moments of the racist Jim Crow days, with bills seeking exoneration for the so called “Groveland Four,” young black men and teenagers killed or imprisoned over false 1949 rape charges. State Rep. Bobby DuBose and state Sen. […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 14, 2017

Global public strategy firm Mercury is adding noted Republican political adviser Brian Swensen to its Florida public affairs team as a senior vice president. Swensen comes to the firm following his role as deputy campaign manager for the successful re-election of Sen. Marco Rubio, the latest in a series of key political victories in Florida […]

Darryl PaulsonFebruary 14, 2017

No one disputes that opiate addiction is a national problem. Statistics show that over 52,000 Americans died because of drug abuse, or about 142 people a day. One-third of those deaths are from opioids prescribed by doctors. Although a national problem, Florida led the nation in opioid abuse until recently. Individuals from all over the […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Randy Fine letter warns Rick Scott to stop badmouthing his incentives vote

Bill to repeal Certificate of Need program advances in Florida House

Senate may balk at Rick Scott’s plan to hit hospitals over charity care

Don Gaetz, Chris Smith among Joe Negron’s constitutional review panel picks

Hurdles to school choice remain despite Florida’s open enrollment law

Mark Wilson calls House push to eliminate Enterprise Florida ‘a political conversation about ideology’

Official sides with Georgia over Florida in water lawsuit

‘Groveland Four’s’ haunting 1949 injustice addressed in resolutions

Personnel note: Public strategy firm Mercury hires Brian Swensen as senior VP

Florida’s drug laws are giving me a pain in the ass

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.