Hillsborough County Administrator Mike Merrill said that while storm surge was the biggest concern of government officials in the Tampa Bay area as Hurricane Irma approached on Sunday, it is now flooding that may be the primary concern.
A former Senate President, Secretary of State, and state Supreme Court Justice have applied to Senate President Joe Negron for a seat on the panel that reviews the state’s constitution every 20 years. At last tally, 39 people had applied for one of Negron’s nine picks to the Constitution Revision Commission, according to a list provided by his office. They include: — Former Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who was term limited out of office this year. Gaetz also…
Jeb Bush said during Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate that Donald Trump wanted casino gambling in Florida. Donald Trump said “I did not.” “I promise, if I wanted it, I would have gotten it,” Trump told Bush during the exchange. Bush replied, “No way, man.” But the fact is, Trump wanted it and didn’t get it under the Bush administration, despite donating money to the state Republican Party and Bush. “The bottom line is Donald Trump was interested in casino…
Responding to an investigative report that revealed that the Hillsborough County Firefighters Union’s members exceeded the budget for union leave over he past five years, County Administrator Mike Merrill told county commissioners this morning that there are no irregularities in the county’s contract with the union. 10 News reporter Mike Deeson recently reported that the $668,000 budgeted for union leave over the past five years actually cost taxpayers almost $850,000. He has also reported that union members were allowed under their contract…
Steve Bousquet reports about a nasty catfight developing between Reps. Janet Long and Ellyn Bogdanoff: Rep. Janet Long, D-Seminole, filed a complaint with the speaker’s office Tuesday accusing Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, of making “threats of harm and retaliation” against her that violate House rules by impugning the reputation of the House. Bogdanoff, reached before the complaint was filed, acknowledged she had lost her cool with Long, but denied saying anything threatening. “I didn’t say anything to her that…
State Sen. Paula Dockery’s gubernatorial bid picked up an endorsement from a longtime ally in the chamber: Sen. Dennis Jones, R-Seminole. The Lakeland Republican is running an uphill primary battle against Attorney General Bill McCollum, who has locked up tons of big endorsements from party elites. “It has been my honor to serve with Senator Paula Dockery since 1996. During that time, I have been so impressed with her knowledge of the issues, willingness to listen and her honesty,” Jones…
From the Jacksonville Observer: The Florida Senate could be poised for a major power shift, with a bloc of moderate Republicans likely weakened by departures and intra-party rivalries. The changes are already underway, lawmakers and lobbyists say. Republican Sen. Joe Negron’s victory this week in a special election to replace outgoing Sen. Ken Pruitt, R-Port St. Lucie, is expected to tilt the seat slightly more to the right. And another special election this fall to replace the late Sen. Jim…
