Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 22, 2018

Contending that there are statutory problems with the federally authorized bonds All Aboard Florida intends to use to finance its Orlando Brightline train expansion, U.S. Reps. Brian Mast, Bill Posey, Ron DeSantis and Matt Gaetz are urging the federal government to suspend the authorization. At issue is $1.15 billion worth of private activity bonds that […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2018

Following Senate President Joe Negron‘s announcement he will resign effective in November, Republican state Rep. Gayle Harrell announced she is filing to run for his seat this year, as did Democrat Dr. Rob Levy. Negron’s resignation means Senate District 25 can have a regular 2018 primary and general election cycle, though it will be only for […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2018

Democratic former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy is joining Democratic congressional candidate Lauren Baer Monday, likely for the announcement of his endorsement of her for the Florida’s 18th Congressional District seat he once held. An endorsement would be a push against fellow Democratic candidate Pam Keith, Murphy’s former opponent in a previous race, who’s been running […]

Scott PowersApril 26, 2018

Armed with newly-raised congressional skepticism about the legitimacy of a financing method used by the company, state Sen. Debbie Mayfield on Wednesday urged Gov. Rick Scott to pull Florida from the financing deal backing Brightline’s proposed private passenger railroad along the east coast. Scott’s office replied that it would review it. At issue is $1.75 billion […]

Scott PowersMarch 2, 2018

With the derailment of bills seeking state regulation of the private Brightline passenger train system, state Sen. Debbie Mayfield has gotten language inserted into the Senate budget plan that would authorize a safety study of the train. The budget proposal includes new language that would authorize a transportation research center at the University of South […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Martin and Indian River Counties, together with the Citizens Against Rail Expansion in Florida organization, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against U.S. Department of Transportation officials for approving the Brightline private passenger train. The suit, which also included the Indian River County Emergency Services District, charges that the federal department, Secretary Elaine Chao, the Federal […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 23, 2018

Brightline, the high-speed passenger train now running between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, could have to spend about $349 million on safety improvements. That’s after lawmakers and others, upset over the railway’s dangers, leveraged recent train-related deaths to push for more safety measures. Republicans Sen. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne and Rep. Erin Grall of Vero Beach […]

Scott PowersJanuary 3, 2018

Now that Congress has approved the tax reform bill and President Donald Trump has signed it into law, American Action Network is returning to ads supporting Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and others who voted for the GOP tax bill last month. AAN is out with a new round of television and digital ads providing […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

All Aboard Florida received its final federal approval Friday to build and operate a private, high-speed passenger train system connecting Orlando and South Florida, U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Mario Diaz-Balart announced. The announcement was quickly followed announcements from All Aboard Florida and the Federal Railroad Administration. The administration’s Record of Decision, released Friday after […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

A bill that would set tougher rules and safety requirements on the All Aboard Florida Brightline passenger rail train being developed along the East Coast got approval from the Florida Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday. Yet members of that committee sounded as if they’ll be ready to derail the bill later, if they eventually conclude it’s […]

Tag: Treasure Coast

Brian Mast, Bill Posey, others urge feds to suspend bonds for Brightline

Gayle Harrell, Rob Levy in for Joe Negron’s state Senate seat

Patrick Murphy joining Lauren Baer in CD 18 announcement

Debbie Mayfield urges Rick Scott to ‘protect’ state from Brightline bond questions

With train bills dead, safety study language appears in Senate budget offer

Brightline opponents sue federal officials for approving train

Brightline could face nearly $350M safety improvement tab

American Action Network unveils new ads thanking Brian Mast for tax reform support

Feds approve All Aboard Florida route linking Orlando, South Florida

Bill to tighten All Aboard Florida rules gets approval – but so does train