Florida Independent

Scott signs new funding for sexual assault services

By Ashley Lopez | 04.27.12 | 3:39 pm

Gov. Rick Scott signed new legislation today that will allocate $1.5 million to pay for relocation services for women who are victims of sexual battery. The bill’s signing comes in the wake of criticism of the governor over his veto of $1.5 million for the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, a group that was going to pass along that funding to 30 rape crisis centers across the state.

Scott honors director of rape crisis center after cutting her funding

By Ashley Lopez | 04.26.12 | 11:28 am

Timing has not been on Gov. Rick Scott’s side lately.

VIDEO: Scott asked about vetoed rape crisis center funding

By Ashley Lopez | 04.25.12 | 3:30 pm

After The Florida Independent broke news on Monday that Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $1.5 million for Florida rape crisis centers during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the governor began discussing the elimination today — and he is fumbling his words.

Tampa rape crisis center issues open invitation to Gov. Scott

By Ashley Lopez | 04.25.12 | 10:05 am

In response to Gov. Rick Scott’s line item veto stripping funding for 30 rape crisis centers around the state, a Tampa Bay center issued an open invitation to Scott yesterday.

Lawmaker says Scott’s rape crisis center funding veto highlights his ‘lack of understanding’

By Ashley Lopez | 04.24.12 | 3:32 pm

State Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, released a statement today expressing “deep disappointment in Governor Scott’s decision to veto $1.5 million in funding for the 30 certified rape crisis centers serviced by the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence.”

Scott spokesperson calls vetoed rape crisis center funding ‘duplicative’

By Ashley Lopez | 04.24.12 | 9:33 am

Gov. Rick Scott’s office is claiming that the funding he vetoed for rape crisis centers was “duplicative” and that “nobody was able to make it clear to [the governor] why rape crisis centers needed the new funding.”

Scott cuts funding for rape crisis centers during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Ashley Lopez | 04.23.12 | 11:32 am

On April 17, smack in the middle of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $1.5 million for the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. The Legislature allotted the funds to the organization in order to support 30 rape crisis centers as they face impending reductions in collections, which currently is the bulk of their budgets.