Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

Donald Trump, who continues to dominate in all statewide polls in Florida, said Tuesday that he’s adding four more staff people to his growing campaign team in the Sunshine State. Jennifer R. Locetta will be deputy state director, Ken Mayo has been named director of field operations, John Ross Pughe is joining as the southeast regional field director, and Craig […]

Guest AuthorNovember 24, 2015

Oh, geez. The governor of Florida has permanently foreclosed the possibility that people will ever take him as anything other than a fool. Here are the facts: Gov. Rick Scott says it would be dangerous for Florida to accept 425 (though that is, in fact, unknown but Scott clings to it) Syrian refugees because of […]

Mitch PerryNovember 24, 2015

If you’re a reporter, you didn’t have to be in Jacksonville Monday to learn the details of Gov. Rick Scott‘s $79 billion budget. That’s because the governor’s press office helpfully sent out email after email to highlight aspects of the vast budget throughout the day, where the highlights include $1 billion in tax cuts and cutting […]

Guest AuthorNovember 23, 2015

Oh, geez. The governor of Florida has permanently foreclosed the possibility that people will ever take him as anything other than a fool. Here are the facts: Gov. Rick Scott says it would be dangerous for Florida to accept 425 (though that is, in fact, unknown but Scott clings to it) Syrian refugees because of […]

Jim RosicaNovember 23, 2015

The five nurseries in Florida approved to grow and distribute medical marijuana were announced Monday by the Department of Health, putting an end to a months-long wait by parents and their sick children who need the drug to control severe seizures. The approved nurseries by region are: Hackney Nursery Co. (Northwest) Chestnut Hill Tree Farm (Northeast) Knox Nursery (Central) Alpha […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2015

The name of the south Jacksonville sign shop where Florida Governor Rick Scott unveiled his “Florida First” budget on Monday, Harbinger Signs (a business in Jacksonville for 53 years now), had a Thomas Pynchon quality. Expected going in, as a “harbinger” of the Monday event: an announcement that Florida would have a record $29.8 billion of general […]

Staff ReportsNovember 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott plans to release his recommended state budget Monday in Jacksonville. Scott’s office said he will debut his “Florida First” budget for 2016-17 at 10 a.m., at Harbinger Sign on Shad Road. The Florida Channel will carry the announcement live. Earlier this month, Cynthia Kelly, Scott’s budget director, wrote a memo in which she […]

Ryan RayNovember 20, 2015

A pair of Republican lawmakers will seek approval for a new cabinet-level commissioner of education during the 2016 Legislative Session, reversing the office’s demotion to an appointed position in 2003. The proposals — SB 942 by Sen. Rene Garcia of Miami and HB 767 by Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach — would require a constitutional amendment to reinstate the education commissioner as one […]

Associated PressNovember 20, 2015

Florida’s unemployment rate is still continuing to dip slightly. The October unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, compared with 5.2 percent in the previous month. According to figures released Friday by the Department of Economic Opportunity, the state added 35,200 jobs last month. The jobless rate remains higher than the national rate of 5 percent with […]

Jim RosicaNovember 19, 2015

A prominent gambling-law expert is suggesting that the state has other pressure points to apply to the Seminole Tribe of Florida in an ongoing fight over offering blackjack at its casinos, including going after it with organized crime laws. Prof. I. Nelson Rose of California’s Whittier Law School said he first offered that advice to the Senate […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Image via AP.

Donald Trump announces 4 new hires in Florida

Chris Timmons: Refugee issue brings out Rick Scott’s inner xenophobe

Mitch Perry Report for 11.24.15 — Did Rick Scott release something Monday?

Chris Timmons: Refugee issue brings out Rick Scott’s inner xenophobe

Plagued by delays, Fla. Health Department awards licenses to grow medical pot

Rick Scott unveils “Florida First” budget at Jax sign shop

Rick Scott to release state budget in JAX

GOP lawmakers want elected education commissioner back on Florida Cabinet

Florida jobless rate continues to dip slightly

Gambling expert says Seminoles may run afoul of organized crime laws