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By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog ST. PETERSBURG — If Gov. Rick Scott has his way, Floridians will be paying a little more for their government this year. Just over $4.2 billion more, to be exact. FIRST MOVE: Scott proposes $4.2 billion in increased spending in 2013. (photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr) That’s the final figure…
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By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog PUBLIC HELP: Scott says government partnerships have helped thousands of jobs across the state. ST. PETERSBURG — Jobs numbers are growing, public debt is under control and Gov. Rick Scott is making sure the government can claim the credit. Since Dec. 2010, unemployment in Florida has dropped faster than all other…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog ST. PETERSBURG — Critics are blasting Gov. Rick Scott for takingoff on yet another foreign trade mission, this time to the booming Latin American tiger of Colombia. Critics view these kinds of trips at public expense as troubling for the average taxpayer, not just for the temporary costs, but also because of…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog TAMPA— It seems that after 17 months in office, Gov. Rick Scott is ready to change his mind as to what constitutes immigration reform. Surrounded by reporters after addressing the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials inOrlando on June 22, Scottexpressed a much more pragmatic approach to dealing with immigration than was heard in…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog TAMPA— Sixty percent of Florida voters support Gov. Rick Scott‘s efforts to remove non- U.S. citizens from county voter registration rolls, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll. The release of the poll on Wednesday coincides with the myriad of lawsuits filed against and on behalf of the governor’s campaign to enact…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog Florida Gov. Rick Scott responds to questions about his voter reforms being blocked by the federal government during an interview Tuesday with Christine Romans, host of CNN’s “Starting Point.” TAMPA— In the past two days, Gov. Rick Scott has been busy on the national airwaves defending his attempts to legitimize voter…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog TALLAHASSEE– Florida Gov. Rick Scott took to CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Friday morning, seizing the opportunity to tout the latest job numbers in the state. He received praise from interviewer Joe Kernen on taxes and regulations, and even criticized President Barack Obama’s narrow focus on student loan interest rates. “People want a job, and that’s…
By Yaël Ossowski | Florida Watchdog TAMPA — Florida Gov. Rick Scott was dealt a blow Thursday morning when a federal judge declared unconstitutional mandatory drug screening for state employees. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro in the Southern District of Florida, issues a permanent injunction on the drug tests, which were required by an executive order in March 2011. “The executive order does…