Latest Breaking News

seafan

(9,387 posts) Thu Sep 10, 2015, 11:11 PM Sep 2015

Gov. Rick Scott's former top lawyer will run huge water agency

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TALLAHASSEE — ......

Pete Antonacci, who served as (Governor Rick) Scott's top lawyer and as an appointed state prosecutor, was hired Thursday to run the South Florida Water Management District, which is responsible for water quality and flood control for more than a third of all Florida residents from Orlando to the Keys.

Antonacci, 67, will be the only director overseeing one of the state's five regional water districts with no background in science. He starts work next month at a salary of $165,000 a year.

"It appears that Antonacci's primary qualification is his close relationship with Governor Scott," said Eric Draper of Audubon Florida. "But it doesn't change the fact that the water management district is facing a budget crisis that will undermine Everglades restoration, water supply and flood protection."

.....

Acting on Scott's behalf, Antonacci ordered Gerald Bailey, former commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, to "retire or resign" last Dec. 13 so that Scott could appoint a handpicked successor, even though the FDLE chief also reports to three Cabinet members.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/gov-rick-scotts-former-top-lawyer-will-run-huge-water-agency/2245050

We've got until 2018 to suffer this criminal governor.

Scott's staff rewrote press releases about the (Planned Parenthood) investigation and penned some statements that were attributed to AHCA executives. His office even directed the health care agency to cut a sentence in a draft press release that acknowledged the main reason the investigation fell short: Inspectors found no evidence that Florida Planned Parenthood clinics broke the law by operating a fetal tissue donation program.

After results of the investigation were made public, the emails show, Scott's staff continued its involvement by orchestrating attempts by AHCA staffers to persuade reporters to change parts of their stories.

Florida needs an amendment on the ballot that would give voters the opportunity to remove a governor or cabinet member from their position due to unsatisfactory performance/no confidence.

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Gov. Rick Scott's former top lawyer will run huge water agency (Original Post) seafan Sep 2015 OP

Between this assclown's total lack of qualifications . . . . hatrack Sep 2015 #1

Just our luck Nativechef Sep 2015 #2

Aren't Florida residents' water bills high enough already without adding yet another valerief Sep 2015 #3

He is supposed to fail. lark Sep 2015 #4

Rick Scott is a daily punch in the gut for Florida. seafan Sep 2015 #5

Your thoughts on this current team of turbinetree Sep 2015 #6

A political revolution led by Bernie Sanders is upon us. seafan Sep 2015 #8

take a look at the Everglades using google map satellite view, there are canals cut through & Sunlei Sep 2015 #7

hatrack

(59,587 posts)

1. Between this assclown's total lack of qualifications . . . .

Reply to seafan (Original post)

Thu Sep 10, 2015, 11:18 PM

Sep 2015

. . . and Gov. Skeletor's decrees regarding The Problem That Must Not Be Named, I'm sure he'll do a fine job dealing with saltwater intrusion and rising sea levels. A fine job.

Nativechef

(27 posts)

2. Just our luck

Reply to seafan (Original post)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 06:53 AM

Sep 2015

another Skeletor appointee not qualified to manage a lemonade stand.

valerief

(53,235 posts)

3. Aren't Florida residents' water bills high enough already without adding yet another

Reply to seafan (Original post)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 10:22 AM

Sep 2015

mobster to the mix? (If Antonacci is a friend of Scott's, he must be a mobster, because Scott is 100% criminal.)

lark

(23,102 posts)

4. He is supposed to fail.

Reply to seafan (Original post)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 01:59 PM

Sep 2015

I'm sure Scott wants this to fail and put in place a person that cares more about doing Scott's bidding than in actually helping the water district perform better. He'll make sure that the big sugar companies don't have to pay their share to clean up the everglades water and then use this as an excuse not to do the clean up demanded by the people of the state over a decade ago. Scott will reward him with part of the booty he gets from the sugar companies as payoff and they'll all be happy while the people on the state get screwed over again.

I really hate Scott, he's evil incarnate and never ever does the right thing.

seafan

(9,387 posts)

5. Rick Scott is a daily punch in the gut for Florida.

Reply to lark (Reply #4)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 04:04 PM

Sep 2015

Acting on Scott's behalf, Antonacci ordered Gerald Bailey, former commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, to "retire or resign" last Dec. 13 so that Scott could appoint a handpicked successor, even though the FDLE chief also reports to three Cabinet members.

Scott and the Cabinet later settled a public records lawsuit by news outlets that cost taxpayers more than $300,000 in legal fees and costs. Antonacci has declined to discuss his role in Bailey's ouster.

Between his public jobs, Antonacci worked at a prominent law firm, GrayRobinson, where he lobbied for a private prison health care company, Corizon, which has faced criticism from legislators for the cost and quality of the care it provides inmates.

.....

And the saddest and most devastating part of it:

As a well-connected Tallahassee lawyer, Antonacci represents a break from a tradition in which scientists and engineers rose through the ranks to run agencies filled with fellow scientists.

It started with Jeb Bush, and now, Rick Scott proudly carries on the tradition of destroying time-honored traditions of a scientific basis for Florida state government's environmental decisions.

These vicious ideologues are permanently changing Florida for the worse.

Ousted FDLE chief raises new allegations about meddling by Gov. Rick Scott, aides, January 17, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott's new version of FDLE ouster called 'absolutely untrue' by Gerald Bailey, February 7, 2015

Ousted FDLE chief Gerald Bailey met with federal prosecutors over firing by Gov. Rick Scott, cabinet, March 17, 2015

Carl Hiaasen: Florida Gov. Rick Scott picks the public’s pockets, August 17, 2015

A #*@#$^& CRIMINAL.

This is why people have lost faith in the system, stay home from the polls, and continue to lose their economic security, because the criminals are running the place.

And no one in a position to do something about it, cares a whit.

Thanks, Eric Holder. Hope you are enjoying being back with your pals at Covington & Burling.

turbinetree

(24,703 posts)

6. Your thoughts on this current team of

Reply to seafan (Reply #5)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 04:14 PM

Sep 2015

hypocrites nails it right on the proverbial head--------------------there has been no accountability in this state, or any state, you name it, people have been left homeless, hungry, jobless, and now someone who committed contempt to the rule of law was let out, and used public land to defraud the people of the country, to just to name a few-------------and the same bunch is in charge--------------------why?
We ask why------------------and get what..........................

Honk-------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

seafan

(9,387 posts)

8. A political revolution led by Bernie Sanders is upon us.

Reply to turbinetree (Reply #6)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 05:06 PM

Sep 2015

Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders are leading both sides toward the same goal.

Two rivers, merging into one giant tsunami.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)

7. take a look at the Everglades using google map satellite view, there are canals cut through &

Reply to seafan (Original post)

Fri Sep 11, 2015, 04:31 PM

Sep 2015

one side about ,half of the entire Everglades, looks like a tinder land for wildfire all the way across to massive luxury homes on Florida's east side.

Seems like no ones done anything except make that canal cut the entire everglades in half and collect 167k paycheck to pretend they're doing something.

Reply to this discussion