Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 24, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has a message for President Barack Obama: Come home. More specifically: Come to Florida. In a statement Thursday, Scott urged Obama to end his tour of Latin American and return to the United States. The Naples Republican invited Obama to the Sunshine State to “address the concerns of American tourists considering travel […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 24, 2016

A contentious dental bill received a tepid OK from Gov. Rick Scott this week. Scott said Wednesday he signed a bill (HB 819) that removes dental services from the list of minimum benefits under the state’s Medicaid managed care plans. It also calls on the Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability to study […]

Ryan RayMarch 24, 2016

A day after signing nine bills into law on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott gave final approval to 33 bills passed during the 2016 Legislative Session late Thursday morning. The raft of newly enacted legislation includes HB 93 by Democratic Rep. Shevrin Jones, which requires Florida law enforcement agencies to “establish policies and procedures regarding the use” of police body cameras. […]

Phil AmmannMarch 23, 2016

Prescription drug abuse has affected the lives of teens and young adults in drastic ways. Kids are abusing and even becoming addicted to pills often found in the medicine cabinets at their own homes. Across the country, we are at risk of losing thousands of kids and young adults to drug overdoses from medically prescribed […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2016

The future of Florida’s aviation fuel taxation regime is set for a major overhaul on July 1, if Gov. Rick Scott signs an omnibus tax bill into law as expected. For the state’s largest air carriers, that’s a good thing indeed. The bill removes exemptions to the state’s jet fuel tax, which currently apply to once-upstart carriers like Southwest […]

Staff ReportsMarch 23, 2016

Local law enforcement agencies will have to turn over rape kits to the state for testing within 30 days under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Rick Scott. “This legislation will provide thousands of women with a renewed sense of safety and closure as they heal from the horrific crime of rape,” the governor said in a […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott continued a flurry of post-Legislative Session activity Wednesday morning, signing nine bills passed during the 2016 lawmaking period into state law. The highest-profile bills meeting the governor’s approval include a requirement that Florida law enforcement test all rape kits within 120 days of their submission, the creation of a needle exchange pilot program in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2016

The stack bills on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk just keeps getting higher. The Florida Legislature sent 20 bills — including ones to repeal the state’s ban on cohabitation, legislation to allow All Aboard Florida riders to drink beer on trains and a bill to create the Florida Holocaust Memorial — to Scott on Tuesday. The […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered flags be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the March 22 attack in Brussels. On Tuesday, Scott directed that flags at all local and state buildings, installations and grounds throughout Florida be flown at half-staff until sunset on March 28. The order goes into effect immediately. In his […]

Diane RobertsMarch 22, 2016

So the other jackboot has dropped: Rick Scott endorsed his Soul Brother but only after that big Florida Primary win. Scott signaled his man-crush back in January, writing breathlessly for USA TODAY that Herr Drumpf reminds him of, well, him: rich, an “outsider,” a business hombre incensed over “endless and tedious regulation and taxation.” You know, […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Rick Scott invites Barack Obama to Florida to address the concerns of Americans in wake of Brussels attack

Rick Scott signs controversial dental carve-out bill

Rick Scott signs raft of 33 bills into law

Marcia Lee Taylor: Legislature passes bill to combat drug overdoses

Jet fuel tax changes set to become law July 1, barring unlikely veto

Rick Scott approves bill requiring quick testing of rape kits

Rick Scott signs 9 bills into law

Cohabitation repeal, All Aboard Florida beer bill among the 20 latest bills sent to Rick Scott

Rick Scott orders flags be flown at half-staff to honor victims of Brussels attacks

Diane Roberts: Florida GOP voters don’t want to think, they just want to believe