U.S. State Politics

Five Reasons Charlie Crist Will Not Run For Governor

Citing a slew of insider folk who compose the "Charlie Crist camp," Politico recently unleashed one of the most unintentionally satirical articles of Washington reporting this side of a Joseph Heller novel. According to "Democratic sources closely watching the race," and "operatives familiar with [ ... More >>

Allen West as Rick Scott's Lieutenant Governor? We Say Yes!

Rick Scott may have opened the door to what would be quite the dynamic duo of derpness at the top. Scott told a Tampa-area radio station that he would be cool with considering former Rep. Allen West as his next lieutenant governor. Actually, Scott basically just gave a polite answer when asked abou ... More >>

Charlie Crist Now Supports Gay Marriage

Well, that's a bit of a flip-flop. Charlie Crist, the former Republican-now-Democrat working overtime to make voters forget all about his past life, came out for marriage equality last night on his Facebook page. Right now it's political trendy for former gay marriage opponents ditch their old vie ... More >>

Roger Stone for Governor: Legalize Pot, Gay Marriage

Right Wing wild card Roger Stone may throw his hat in the ring of the 2014 Florida governor's race. The ace in his hole: marijuana. He wants to legalize it, and gay marriage. How serious is he? It's always a thin line with Stone, who so revels in outrage it's like he does things just because he ... More >>

Jim Greer: Racism and Dead Bodies Ahead

Is Charlie Crist Florida's Next Governor?

Rick Scott Denies Request to Extend Early Voting by One Day

During the 2008 elections, early voting lines went long. So then-Gov. Charlie Christ extended early voting, allowing more people the chance to vote. That was pretty much when the Republicans started to hate him because a lot of them blamed Obama winning Florida on that move. Because everyone being a ... More >>

Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Endorses Obama

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, a group dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, have released their list of candidates they're endorsing. Among them, President Barack Obama, West Palm Beach Attorney and police officer Dave K ... More >>

Charlie Crist Will Switch to Democrat, According To Rumors

See also: Dear Dems, Please Do Not Run Charlie Crist for GovernorIn probably what is the least-shocking news ever, former Governor Charlie Crist might be switching over to Democrat this week. Saint Petersblog's Peter Schorsch tweeted out that a rumor is going around the Republican National ... More >>

Rick Scott's "Transparency:" Release All Email... From an Obscure, Unknown Account

Twitter recently suspended the account of Independent reporter Guy Adams, who had been writing tweets critical of Twitter partner NBC's coverage of the Olympics. The reason they gave? In one of the rants, he gave the corporate email address of an NBC executive. Twitter said they booted him for shari ... More >>

Boca Raton Teenager, ACLU of Florida Suing to Let Kids Donate More Money to Candidates

​With the way campaign-financing laws are going these days, this may not even be surprising -- the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and a 17-year-old girl from Boca Raton are challenging a state law that prohibits minors from giving as much money to state and local political candidates as ... More >>

SoFla Charter School Connections to Tallahassee

​The booming business of charter schools in South Florida is no accident. Local charter-school operators such as Mavericks in Education Florida and Charter Schools USA have ties to powerful politicians in South Florida and Tallahassee. For instance: 1. Ed Pozzuoli, former chairman of the Broward R ... More >>

Rick Scott's Trip to Israel: Most Readers Didn't Buy the "Trade Mission" Title

Avi HayunGov. Rick Scott givin' the eyes to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.​According to the results from our highly unscientific reader poll yesterday, nearly 44 percent of our readers thought Gov. Rick Scott's "Israeli trade mission" was more of a political vacation.Nearly 37 perc ... More >>

Nan Rich Now Weighs in on Super Committee Failure, Scolds Rick Scott, GOP Policies

​Now that Florida's Senate minority leader has released a statement responding to Gov. Rick Scott's comments on the Super Committee's failure to compromise on how to make $1.2 billion in spending cuts, it's getting a little ridiculous.Nan Rich, a Weston Democrat, issued a response to the governor' ... More >>

Rick Scott's Signature on University Diplomas Is Now the Subject of a Petition

I'll be on your wall for the rest of your life!​Apparently Gov. Rick Scott's positions on the state's higher-education system isn't impressing all of the students in Florida's public universities.There's now a creative, albeit small, petition with signatures from Gainesville down to Broward of peo ... More >>

Disappointment: The Rick Scott Story

​Gov. Rick Scott's reaction on Wednesday to a former staffer for Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll being charged with illegally recording a conversation: "It is a disappointment." (He said that twice.)His reaction to the part of that audio recording in which Carroll's chief of staff said the governor isn' ... More >>

Florida Democratic Party's New Fundraising Technique: Identifying the "Rickpublicans"

​Forget Kevin Bacon, the Florida Democratic Party is playing the "Six Degrees of Rick Scott."How do you play? Well, apparently by launching a website identifying the state's "Rickpublicans."Sure enough, hometown favorite Rep. Allen West landed a Bacon Rick number of one, with a direct connection t ... More >>

Rick Scott Uses an Executive Order to Complain About Florida Supreme Court Decision

memegenerator.netWhy you mad, though?​After the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Rick Scott's executive order to suspend rulemaking in the executive branch agencies was unconstitutional, he decided to issue a new executive order to complain about the decision.The court had ruled 5-2 that it's ... More >>

Rick Scott Issues Press Release Explaining New Definition of 700,000-Job Campaign Promise

​Gov. Rick Scott's office issued a news release late last week to explain the retraction of his campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs on top of the state's "normal growth" projection of 1 million jobs by 2017.It looks like he's sticking to his new story, in which he claims he never promised to c ... More >>

Mitt Romney Leads New Florida Poll; Ron Paul Most Unfavorable Candidate but Places Fourth

​With this afternoon's release of Public Policy Polling's survey of Florida Republican voters, Florida became the first Southern state polled by the firm that didn't select Texas Gov. Rick Perry as its front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination.Instead, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ... More >>

Rick Scott and Private Prisons Engaging in "Pay to Play" Politics, Teamsters Complaint Alleges

​Florida politicians received nearly $1 million in campaign contributions from two private prison corporations last election cycle -- GEO Group and Corrections Corporation of America -- and an ethics complaint filed by the Teamsters union yesterday claims $30,000 of those contributions that went t ... More >>

Rick Scott Wins "Worst Governor Ever"

worstgovernorever.comFlorida governor and two-time election winner Rick Scott.​Gov. Rick Scott has officially been crowned Worst Governor Ever.The Transport Workers Union of America found a way for people to vote for Scott again, as he beat out Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and Wis ... More >>

Dream Act Bill Filed in Florida Legislature

The Dream Act would help immigrant students.​A bill that would make college more affordable for undocumented immigrants has recently been filed in the Florida Legislature.If passed, the Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrants who attended three or more years of high school in Florida to qual ... More >>

Rick Scott Takes the Lead in Race for "Worst Governor Ever"

Rick Scott, currently the most popular candidate in at least one election.​Gov. Rick Scott's numbers are going up -- at least in the race to elect the "Worst Governor Ever."Scott was in fourth place around 11 p.m. Monday but is currently in first place as of around 8 a.m. today.The Florida governo ... More >>

Governor Rick Scott Attempts to Show Inner Charlie Crist

By Kate BradshawScott walks into a greasy spoon and orders an ice water.​Rick Scott walks into The Floridian diner on Las Olas at about noon today for a photo op lunch with South Florida lawmakers. There's an odd funk in the air, sort of a mix between french fries and kitty litter.He walks halfway ... More >>

Rick Scott on the Ballot for "Worst Governor Ever"

​Here's a new election where people may actually want to vote for Gov. Rick Scott again -- the race for the "Worst Governor Ever."As part of an online campaign by the Transport Workers Union of America, Scott joins Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, New Jersey Gov. Chris C ... More >>

A Thank-You Note From Rick Scott

No, thank you, Mr. Governor.​When one arm of the government fails to speak to another, bizarre things occur. For example, a reporter might write a lengthy critique of Florida's governor and his legislative accomplishments, including a cover illustration of him as the evil emperor from Star Wars. F ... More >>

Rick Scott Approval Rating Climbing Out of the Toilet; Voters Don't Know if He Raised Taxes

​Gov. Rick Scott received his highest approval rating and lowest disapproval since April, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.The new survey shows 35 percent of respondents approved of the way the governor is handling his job, compared to 52 percent who said they disapproved." ... More >>

Rick Scott Taking Suggestions for Jobs to Do; We Opine

​Gov. Rick Scott's office announced yesterday that he's ripping off former Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham's idea of working with Florida's commoners in their workplace.In what Scott is calling "Let's Get to Work" days, he started his first job today at a doughnut joint in Tampa, selling rings of fried d ... More >>

Rick Scott Throws an Anti-Abortion Party at the Governor's Mansion

Gov. Rick Scott: Party boy.​Add this to the list of awkward party themes: anti-abortion bills.Apparently it wasn't a costume party, but Gov. Rick Scott held a celebration at the governor's mansion this weekend in honor of the four anti-abortion bills he signed into law.Partygoers celebrated the ne ... More >>

Rick Scott Removed From Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame List; Confederate Soldiers Remain

fourfour.typepad.comI don't think that's what he meant.​Florida officials have been working on a list of people to nominate for the Florida Veterans' Hall of Fame -- a list that originally included Gov. Rick Scott and six Confederate soldiers as well as 15 others.The list of all-white, military ve ... More >>

Rick Scott's Office Unveils a Slightly Less Ridiculous Plan for Records Requests

Information? We'll bill you for it.​Since Gov. Rick Scott's office decided that the public and reporters had to pay a price for open government in early March, it's been a huge complaint.They're not backtracking on charging people, but they're having a sale on getting information, according to a m ... More >>

Rick Scott Approval Rating Analysis: "Slightly More Popular Than a Hemorrhoid"

Hemorrhoids: Almost as popular as Gov. Rick Scott.​In case you haven't noticed, Gov. Rick Scott's approval rating is getting so low that people are running out of politicians to compare him to.A few weeks ago, Public Policy Polling surveyed Florida voters about hypothetical gubernatorial matchups ... More >>

A Tour of Gov. Rick Scott's Dirtiest Deeds

Rick Scott's Quiet Campaign Against the Environment

Parks and trees? Who needs 'em!​Remember the environmental apocalypse Rick Scott was supposed to create?While campaigning for governor, Scott called the Department of Community Affairs, the state agency charged with overseeing local development projects, a "jobs killer." He said he'd heard complai ... More >>

Poll: Conservatives Are the Anti-Crist; A Ham Sandwich Could Defeat Rick Scott for Governor

topix.comHam, a viable gubernatorial candidate.​As Gov. Rick Scott's disapproval rating keeps climbing, pollsters have run out of people to compare him with -- that's why Public Policy Polling says a hypothetical gubernatorial race between Scott and a ham sandwich would be a runaway for the lunch ... More >>

Rick Scott Admits He Was in Colorado for Koch Brothers Retreat

I love Koch!​We finally have an answer as to where Gov. Rick Scott was this weekend, and it confirms our suspicion: at the billionaire Koch brothers' secret conference outside Vail, Colorado.St. Petersburg Times reporter Alex Leary got the information out of him, a day after the governor's spokesm ... More >>

Where Was Rick Scott This Weekend? Possibly Trysting With the Koch Brothers

Have you seen this man?​Eric Jotkoff, the Florida Democratic Party Communications Director, has a question: Where was Gov. Rick Scott this weekend?"Anyone else concerned that Rick Scott left the state during hurricane season during wildfire emergency and not tell anyone?" Jotkoff posted on T ... More >>

Rick Scott's Staff Running Thin -- Top Adviser Resigns, Chief of Staff Demoted

Wanna be my friend?​Only six months into office, Gov. Rick Scott is running a little low on friends for his executive team.Mary Ann Carter -- the governor's policy adviser -- handed in her resignation letter today, saying she needed to spend more time with her family.Carter's announcement comes on ... More >>

Playing Doctor: Politicking Medical Professionals Kill Anti-Concussion Bill, Leaving Kids Unprotected

Got Damage? ​ Pop quiz.You're a legislator, and you've got a chance to vote on a bill that would protect kids from deadly brain injuries at no additional cost to the state.

Gov. Rick Scott Allocates $370 Million of Stimulus "Disaster" Money Into State Budget

tolivetolaughtolove.comFlip flops: The official footwear of Gov. Rick Scott​Remember that campaign talking point Gov. Rick Scott had about President Barack Obama's stimulus package being a "disaster," when Scott said he would endlessly fight the stimulus money?Well, he managed to leave $370 millio ... More >>

Practitioners of Quack Autism Treatment in Trouble With Governor

David Geier, (not an) MD.​Two weeks ago, the Pulp published a small item about Mark and David Geier -- a father-son team of self-proclaimed autism experts who treat the condition with a powerful chemical castration agent called Lupron. They're from Maryland, but their interests run deep in Florida ... More >>

Bill Nelson Warns Rick Scott to Veto Election Bill or Face a Federal Investigation

State lawmakers want to keep people from having sex with animals. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wants to keep lawmakers from screwing voters.​Although it seems like Gov. Rick Scott will make the bold and progressive move of banning bestiality, he still plans to screw voters. The election overhaul bill, wh ... More >>

Judges Meet, Expect Florida Court Crisis To Soon Hit Broward

Outgoing Chief Judge Victor Tobin called a closed-door meeting of all 90 Broward judges this afternoon to discuss a budget shortfall that is threatening to shut down courthouses across the state. During the meeting, the idea was raised to "call the bluff" of Rick Scott and the Florida House and ... More >>

Poll: Plummeting Rick Scott Would Lose To Alex Sink Now That It Doesn't Matter

A group called Public Policy Polling (PPP) discovered the obvious: Floridians are having some dramatic buyer's remorse when it comes to electing fraudster Rick Scott as governor. A poll of 500 Floridians found that his approval rating from diehards remained about the same as a similar PPP poll ... More >>

Tea Party Lawyer Marianne Moran Campaigns for Power to Repeal Federal Laws

Moran at a Tea Party protest against Charlie Crist's U.S. Sugar "bailout."​Marianne Moran is a lawyer in West Palm Beach and a member of Tea Party in Action and Balance Our Budget Now. Through her work on the Florida Senate, she met Randy Barnett, a Georgetown law professor who is credited with de ... More >>

Fantasy Voter Fraud

Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was dissed by Russell Pearce over Prop 200's dismissal.

FAIR-y Tales

Russell Pearce and other illegal-immigration populists rely on misleading, right-wing reports to scapegoat immigrants and terrify penny-pinched Americans.

Rick Scott Property Tax Calculator Ignores Small Fact: Florida Law

​GOP candidate for governor Rick Scott released this pretty snazzy new website on Friday: It's a property tax calculator that figures out a Floridian's tax if Scott gets elected versus Democratic opponent Alex Sink. There's just one problem with his site: It ignores the Florida Constitution.Scott' ... More >>

The Talk of the Green Iguana

Will American voters elect the first gay vice president in November?