Sunshine State News
Cabinet members were talking softly, smiling at one another, clapping each other on the back. But anyone who couldn’t sense a Baileygate hangover throbbing uncomfortably over the March 29 Cabinet meeting had his head in the sand. There were two finalists for Florida insurance commissioner at that meeting, Jeffrey Bragg of Palm Harbor and Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton. Two of 55 applicants. All Gov. Rick Scott and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater had to do was agree on one of the two and get one more vote, either from Attorney General Pam Bondi or Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
“I would like to extend an offer of the position of commissioner of insurance regulation … to Rep. Bill Hager …,” motioned Atwater.
“I won’t second it,” replied Scott.
And that was that. Bragg was the governor’s man. No further discussion, except to keep the application process open until April 15. When the meeting adjourned, it was as if Scott had snatched up his pail and shovel and left the sandbox.
