Florida

Washington, D.C., March 3, 2010 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a prominent Miami-based business leader and his wife with fraud for conducting a $135 million Ponzi scheme with real estate investments from hundreds of elderly Cuban-American investors living in South Florida.    » read more »

One of only 16 finalists invited to present its application in Washington, D.C.

March 4, 2010 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced that Florida has been named a finalist in phase 1 of the $4.35-billion federal Race to the Top education reform competition. Florida was one of only 16 finalists chosen from a pool of 41 applicants to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Race to the Top winners will receive funding to implement comprehensive education reform plans designed to accelerate student learning and improve the quality of education.    » read more »

Ford Motor Company and Progress Energy are expanding their plug-in vehicle research partnership to include the utility company’s Florida operations

ORLANDO, Fla., March 2, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is expanding the range of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research program as one of its regional utility partners, Progress Energy, expands its role by adding a Ford Escape PHEV to its Florida operations. Ford and Progress Energy made the announcement today at the University of Central Florida’s Solar Smart Grid in Orlando.    » read more »

January 27, 2010 -- MIAMI—Jeffrey H. Sloman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Miami Office; and Daniel W. Auer, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation Division, announced today that attorney Scott Rothstein, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., entered a plea of guilty to a five-count information. Defendant Rothstein is scheduled for sentencing before the Honorable James I. Cohn on May 6, 2010. He faces a total maximum statutory term of 100 years in prison.    » read more »

Focuses on strengthening economy and tax relief, preparing future workforce and protecting vulnerable Floridians

January 29, 2010 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today outlined his proposed $69.2-billion budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2010-11. The measures unveiled today conclude a weeklong series of announcements highlighting the Governor’s economic, education and environmental proposals. Governor Crist’s budget recommendations emphasize his continued commitment to creating jobs and economic opportunities, developing the talent of Florida’s students and workforce, protecting Florida’s families, and being stewards of the state’s natural resources.    » read more »

University of Tampa Bob Martinez Sports Center, Tampa, Florida

January 28, 2010 -- THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very, very much. Thank you all very much. It's amazing the crowds I draw. (Laughter.) It's great to be with you all today. And I really hope you all got to hear the President's speech last night. (Applause.) Wasn't it good? I think the President laid out with clarity and power what we've done, what we're going to do, and how we're committed to getting it done. (Applause.)

He laid out a clear and ambitious plan -- a plan that flows from our core principles, the principles we ran on, our core mission that we said we were going to attend to when we took office a year ago. And that was very simple: to restore the middle class in America. (Applause.)    » read more »

High-Speed Rail: Tampa

January 28, 2010 -- Grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will go toward the creation of a new high-speed rail corridor that connects Tampa Bay, Orlando, Miami and other communities in central and south Florida.

This region has experienced signicant population growth in recent decades, as well as increases in the volume of visitors, leading to strains on area roadways and airports. Currently, the region is almost entirely reliant on automobiles for transportation between these metro areas, which together have a population of over 10 million people and account for two of the nation’s 20 largest metro areas.

Awardees: Florida Department of Transportation

Total Approximate Funding (entire corridor): $1,250,000,000    » read more »

Recommends increased K-12 per-student funding, higher teacher bonuses and flexibility in reducing class size

January 25, 2010 -- ST. PETERSBURG – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today highlighted his 2010-11 proposed budget for Pre K-12 education, recommending record level funding of $22.7 billion to continue learning gains achieved by Florida’s students during recent years.

This includes state, federal and local funding, as well as an increase of more than $535.5 million over the current fiscal year. The Governor announced his budget plan at his alma mater Bay Vista Elementary School in St. Petersburg.    » read more »

January 19, 2010 -- TALLAHASSEE – After a cold start to January in Florida, Florida Governor Charlie Crist wants to remind eligible residents of the help available to them through the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides emergency financial assistance to low-income families to help heat their homes.    » read more »

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) announced a major federal investment in the hard-hit South Florida housing market. Over $160,000,000 in new grants will now be available to help purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes in our community.

“This is a tangible, serious investment on a massive scale,” Klein said. “These finds are dedicated to buying up foreclosed properties in South Florida and redeveloping them in order to turn our housing market around. In our area, real estate is such an essential part of our economy, this investment will have a positive impact far beyond the housing market.”    » read more »

January 15, 2010 -- “As we celebrate Dr. King’s life today, I encourage all Floridians to celebrate his legacy by remembering his message of equality and reflect on his inspiring words. Dr. King’s vision for America was one of unity, without division by race or religion, class or gender. He paved the way for the progress that we have made today.

“Remembered as a civil rights champion, King’s speeches, including the memorable “I Have A Dream,” continue to inspire Americans of every race and promote respect and compassion for all mankind. Dr. King had the foresight to envision a day when our nation would rise above the divisiveness of racism and embrace tolerance and acceptance.    » read more »

January 15, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – With an untold number of injured children in Haiti and hospitals there damaged or destroyed, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson wants Florida’s children’s hospitals poised to receive the youngest of the earthquake victims.

In a letter today to the heads of 13 children’s hospitals in his home state, Nelson wrote to ask “for your support as we come together as a community to help the children of Haiti suffering from this unprecedented disaster.”

With Haiti already asking for assistance in evacuating a small number of patients from damaged hospitals to facilities in Miami, Nelson says he wants to make sure the children of this disaster get the medical attention they need.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., Jan. 11, 2010 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two Sarasota, Fla.-based investment advisers with securities fraud for misleading investors about the financial condition of three hedge funds they managed, and misrepresenting that they controlled the funds' investment and trading activities when in fact they were being handled by Arthur G. Nadel.

The SEC alleges that Neil V. Moody and his son, Christopher D. Moody, distributed offering materials, account statements, and newsletters to investors that misrepresented the hedge funds' historical investment returns and overstated their asset values by as much as $160 million.    » read more »

SunRail, Tri-Rail and high speed rail to create economic growth

December 16, 2009 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today signed House Bill 1B, historic legislation passed during the recent special session. The bill establishes a comprehensive framework for Florida’s current and future passenger rail system, which today includes SunRail, Tri-Rail and plans for high speed rail.

The Governor congratulated Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul, along with the entire Florida Legislature, for recognizing the importance of the jobs and economic development that will result from passenger rail throughout the Sunshine State.    » read more »

Medicare Fraud Strike Force Expands Operations into Brooklyn, New York; Tampa, Florida; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Strike Force Operations Lead to 30 Indictments

December 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—Thirty people have been charged in three cities for their alleged roles in schemes to submit more than $61 million in false Medicare claims as part of the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division announced today.    » read more »