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Associated PressFebruary 28, 2016

Florida legislators are moving quickly to bridge their differences on a roughly $80 billion state budget. Legislators met in the Capitol over the weekend to work out spending on key areas such as education, transportation and health care. Legislative leaders Friday reached a broad budget deal regarding tax cuts and overall spending. Now budget committees […]

Bill RuftyFebruary 28, 2016

Twenty-three years ago a young House member introduced a bill to replace the statue of Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol with one of Gen. James A. Van Fleet. It passed the House, but the Senate sponsor got cold feet after receiving phone calls from several Confederate memorial groups. That […]

Associated PressFebruary 27, 2016

The head of Florida’s economic development agency is warning that the state could lose out on 50,000 jobs because of the Legislature. Bill Johnson, the president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, made that prediction in an email he sent Saturday to business partners statewide. Legislative leaders late Friday announced they were rejecting Gov. Rick Scott‘s […]

Ryan RayFebruary 27, 2016

After the initial meeting of 2016 legislative budget conference Friday evening, senior budget writers – in particular House Budget Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran – told reporters the Legislature had so far more or less ignored two of Gov. Rick Scott‘s key priorities Corcoran said their current proposal contains “zero” towards a $250 million dedicated Florida Enterprise Fund for […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 26, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in three Florida counties and called on President Barack Obama to fully fund repairs needed to operate the Herbert Hoover Dike. Scott, a Naples Republican, declared a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties on Friday. The decision came after record rainfall drenched […]

Associated PressFebruary 25, 2016

Florida legislators may try once again give additional protections to customers of Citizens Property Insurance. A Senate panel on Thursday approved a bill that would put a limit on how many times a year a homeowner could be asked to leave the state-created insurance carrier. The bill sponsored by Sen. Anitere Flores would also make […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2016

A day after Gov. Rick Scott became the subject of speculation that he could be considered in the mix as of potential running mates for GOP presidential front runner Donald Trump, he attempted to dial down those rumors by saying that he hadn’t thought at all about the possibility. “I focus on this job. I’ve […]

Diane RobertsFebruary 24, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE — This is what the Florida Constitution says, right up top, Article I, Section 1: All political power is inherent in the people. I’m guessing most Florida legislators have never read it. Either that or they don’t give a good goddamn. For the second year in a row, they are misappropriating — stealing, […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 24, 2016

The Senate Wednesday passed a bill aiming to improve the Florida Early Steps program, a priority of Republican Senate President Andy Gardiner. SB 7058 brings eligibility guidelines for the Early Steps program in line with federal requirements and defines the program’s goals, which include providing timely screenings of infants and toddlers for developmental disabilities. The bill also requires […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2016

A bill that bans the state of Florida from doing business with any company that boycotts the nation of Israel has passed through both houses of the Legislature, and will soon go to Governor Rick Scott’s desk. The legislation is a shot at at the growing international movement to boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) the Israeli […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Florida lawmakers moving quickly to wrap up budget talks

Polk County’s 4-star hero could replace Confederate general in U.S. Capitol

Jobs chief: Florida could lose out on thousands of jobs

Rick Scott’s office claps back at budget chiefs after priorities snubbed

Rick Scott declares state of emergency in Lee, Martin, St. Lucie counties

Legislators may try once again give additional protections to Citizens Property Insurance consumers

Rick Scott says he’s not thinking of becoming Donald Trump’s VP

Diane Roberts: Legislators are stealing the money meant to protect the environment

Developmental disabilities screening program passes Senate

Florida Legislature bans state from doing business with any company that boycotts Israel