Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonMay 5, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday that he’s working on a base, or continuation budget, for the upcoming year. “I’m looking at Special Session, I’m looking at a base budget, I’m working on our own base budget because I want to make sure our state continues to operate after June 30.” Florida law requires the governor […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 5, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott wants a Medicaid block grant. That was the governor’s message in a gaggle with reporters on Tuesday to discuss his meeting with Sylvia Burwell, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday. The governor said he hopes the federal government will reconsider its decision on Low Income Pool funding […]

James CallMay 5, 2015

Lawmakers left the statehouse last week amid a stream of insults and without a budget in place for the fiscal year that begins in July. Most observers seemed to think time away from Tallahassee would lower the temperature in the room and allow budget work to begin but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Senate […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 5, 2015

Despite a looming lawsuit — and the meltdown of this year’s Legislative Session — Florida’s top health care official said the state is talking again with its federal counterparts. Liz Dudek, secretary for the Agency for Health Care Administration, told reporters Tuesday that her agency had a “brief conversation” this week with federal officials. Dudek […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 4, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed 16 state agency executives by late Monday, all of whom weren’t confirmed by the Senate this spring. Scott reappointed Jon Steverson as interim executive director of the Department of Environmental Protection Secretary and appointed Rick Swearingen as an interim executive director of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Those agencies report to […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2015

Plant City Republican Josh Burgin, who been on the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) since February 2012, said Monday that he will leave the agency on July 1 to pursue a degree at the Harvard School of Government. “Three years ago, you gave me a specific charge to ‘protect the taxpayer,'” Burgin wrote last […]

Associated PressMay 2, 2015

Some of Florida’s agriculture experts say normalizing relations with Cuba could threaten the state’s citrus and vegetable crops. The Lakeland Ledger reported on Saturday that Florida growers fear lax inspections at U.S. Department of Agriculture border checkpoints will allow the importation of pests and fungal disease that would harm Florida crops. Members of the Florida […]

Phil AmmannMay 1, 2015

Editorial cartoonist Bill Day sharpens his pencil to mark the “official” sine die of Florida’s 2015 Legislative Session. While Friday would usually be filled with post-hanky drop celebrations throughout the Florida Capitol and along Adams Street, there is no joy tonight in Mudville (otherwise known as Tallahassee). On Tuesday, the House abruptly adjourned its session, hightailing […]

Bruce RitchieMay 1, 2015

Another legislative session dubbed the “year of water” failed to deliver in 2015 as the House went home early over a health care spending dispute with the Senate. HB 7003, a water bill that was a legislative priority of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, passed the House by a 106-9 vote on the second day of […]

Phil AmmannMay 1, 2015

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott named two Tampa legal experts to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court, which serves Hillsborough County. Judge Christopher Nash, 43, of Tampa, currently serves as Hillsborough County Judge in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. He previously practiced with Leavengood, Nash, Dauval & Boyle from 2004-2013. Before that, he worked with Akerman Senterfitt […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Image via X (Duke Energy).

Rick Scott working on new 2015-16 spending plan, base budget

Rick Scott to Legislature: Get a block grant

Sen. Tom Lee calls out Rep. Ritch Workman for comments involving his family

On-again, off-again LIP talks with feds back on again, Liz Dudek says

Andy Gardiner defends appointment record; Rick Scott reappoints 2

Josh Burgin leaves HART board to attend Harvard

Florida growers worry about Cuban imports

Bill Day’s latest: Gone fishin’

“Year of water” failed along with most environmental bills

Gov. Scott names Tampa’s Christopher Nash and Mark Kiser to Circuit Court