Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonFebruary 17, 2017

I was watching the fascinating video from the Florida House of Representatives in its escalating war with Gov. Rick Scott over state subsidies for private businesses and tourism when an image caught my eye as it streaked by quickly. It was the logo for Enterprise Florida, the public-private partnership that is supposed to create jobs. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2017

Rebuilding America Now, Governor Rick Scott’s Super PAC that was established to elect Donald Trump, is being scrutinized by the Federal Elections Commission for inadequate reporting in the third quarter of last year. On January 11, the FEC sent a Request for Additional Information (RFAI) regarding two items for that October quarterly report. One of the items noted […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2017

A bill that would remove Florida from the federal refugee resettlement advanced in the Florida House after a party-line vote Thursday. The legislation sponsored by Deltona Republican David Santiago would direct the state’s refugee coordinator to provide notice to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement by June 30 that it intends to withdraw from the federal program by […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2017

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum drove east on I-10 for a hastily arranged a Jacksonville roundtable event on Wednesday. But, as an organizer said, it’s “not that he’s running for anything.” Of course not. And Gillum echoed that point. “I ain’t here to make news today,” Gillum said, about “what comes next.” Of course not. Why […]

Associated PressFebruary 16, 2017

Florida had another record-setting year for tourism despite natural disasters, a virus outbreak and a tragic attack on an Orlando nightclub. Gov. Rick Scott will announce Thursday at the Brevard Zoo that nearly 113 million tourists visited the state last year. This is the sixth year in a row that the numbers have climbed. Nearly […]

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 […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Subliminal message no help in Enterprise Florida fight

Pro-Trump super PAC chaired by Rick Scott dealing with FEC on reporting issues

House advances bill pulling Florida out of refugee assistance program

‘Not that he’s running for anything’: Andrew Gillum visits Jacksonville

Sunshine State has another banner year for tourism

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