SCOTT NAMES SELLERS, SCHUTZ TO TOP JOBS
Heading into his second term, Gov. Rick Scott on Monday named Melissa Sellers as his chief of staff and Jackie Schutz as his communications director. Sellers, who will replace Chief of Staff Adam Hollingsworth, most recently managed Scott’s re-election campaign. She previously worked as Scott’s communications director, after also holding that position for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Schutz, meanwhile, has worked in Scott’s office since 2011, serving as a spokeswoman and traveling press secretary. Most recently, she was deputy communications director for the Scott campaign. The appointments take effect Dec. 1. “Melissa did an outstanding job leading my re-election efforts and running communications during my first term, and I have full confidence that she will do an excellent job as my chief of staff,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “Jackie has been on my communications team since my first year in office and has helped convey my vision of Florida being the best place for families.” Scott also thanked Hollingsworth, who has been chief of staff since 2012. “Adam has been laser-focused on helping make Florida the best place for future generations,” Scott said.
CRISAFULLI OFFICIALLY GETS GOP NOMINATION
House Republicans on Monday formally nominated Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, to lead the chamber for the next two years. The procedural vote, which came during a caucus meeting in the House chamber, lined up Crisafulli to be named speaker when the full House meets Tuesday for an organization session. In his remarks to the caucus, Crisafulli suggested solid Republican wins in the November elections gave the party a mandate in the 2015 legislative session. The GOP held onto the governor’s mansion, the Cabinet and the Senate while picking up six seats in the House to clinch a two-thirds supermajority. “Floridians have entrusted us to govern in a conservative manner consistent with our core beliefs and principles,” Crisafulli said. “We should never lose sight of that obligation.” Crisafulli was not originally slated to be the House speaker, but was designated as the next leader after former Rep. Chris Dorworth lost his 2012 bid for re-election.
LOBBYING FIRMS RACK UP MONEY IN 3RD QUARTER
Eleven firms collected $500,000 or more in fees for legislative lobbying during the year’s third quarter, with four of the firms bringing in at least $1 million, according to newly filed reports. Another 17 firms collected between $250,000 and $499,999 from July 1 to Sept. 30. Lobbying firms are required by state law to report their compensation on a quarterly basis, though the reports do not reflect exact amounts. The firms reporting at least $1 million in fees were Ballard Partners, Capital City Consulting, Ronald L. Book PA and Southern Strategy Group.
MONEY APPROVED FOR NINE GULF RESTORATION PROJECTS
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is managing funds from settlements involving the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill, announced Monday that nine environmental restoration projects in Florida will collectively receive $34.3 million. The largest award, $11 million, will go to the restoration of the Bayou Chico Watershed in southern Escambia County, which is a 10.36-square-mile drainage area that empties into Pensacola Bay. The awards also will provide $3 million to remove invasive species and increase freshwater flows from priority coastal dune lakes across the Panhandle. Another $4.22 million will go to the Boggy Bayou area of northwestern Choctawhatchee Bay. The money comes from a pair of 2013 settlements totaling $2.544 billion with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve certain criminal charges against Transocean and BP as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill. Both settlements are being administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Transocean funds will be paid over a two-year period. BP is to pay the money over a five-year period. Funds from both settlements will be used for natural-resource restoration projects in the five gulf states, including Florida. Louisiana will get half, with Florida and the other three states splitting the rest.
source: The News Service of Florida