Gov. Rick Scott and Florida lawmakers are struggling to find dollars to close a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, but a state agency is considering walking away from more than $300,000 in fines owed by almost 300 former public officials.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: December 18, 2010 4:05 AM
Some big names will be helping to usher in Rick Scott as Florida’s 45th governor. While famed Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, best known for his versions of “God Bless America” during Yankees games, will be singing, the selection of evangelical leader Chuck Colson to serve as the keynote speaker for Scott’s prayer breakfast has raised some eyebrows.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: December 8, 2010 4:05 AM
Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, named more chairmen and vice chairmen of House committees Tuesday, committees that will shape legislation and laws in Florida for the next two years.
The Florida Senate’s political right turn was marked on its opening day by the occasional red light – with a dwindling number of Republican moderates voting ‘no’ on several veto overrides sought by leaders.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 17, 2010 4:05 AM
Hours after taking the reins, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, and Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, led the Legislature during an abbreviated special session Tuesday in passing eight bills vetoed earlier in the year by outgoing Gov. Charlie Crist.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 16, 2010 4:05 AM
As the Senate readies for its special session on Tuesday, incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, named committee and subcommittee chairs.
By: Kevin Derby
| Posted: November 4, 2010 4:05 AM
With the political wind at their backs, Florida Republicans increased their majority in the state Senate, claiming 28 of its 40 seats -- a very comfortable majority for incoming Gov. Rick Scott’s legislative agenda.
Republicans and Democrats cast ballots in 10 state Senate districts across Florida Tuesday. While some incumbents faced primary challenges, all of them prevailed. And look for some different faces in the Senate -- even if they have familiar names.
Currently held by retiring Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, this Senate district contains Holmes and Washington counties, as well as parts of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Florida Right-to-Life PAC released its endorsements Thursday afternoon for the Aug. 24 primaries -- and while the pro-life political group backed some candidates, the PAC also sat out or passed on others, refusing to endorse either of the two leading Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Former House Speaker and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio was in Delray Beach on Wednesday, talking about Israel and Middle Eastern affairs to the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Florida Region Chapter.
In a Twitter posting expounded on by a spokeswoman, Senate President Jeff Atwater said Wednesday that if lawmakers return to Tallahassee this summer to do anything related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, what would make most sense would be helping people and businesses losing money because of it.
