State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Rick Scott proposes $5.8 million funding for counterterrorism efforts

Orlando Sentinel: Rattled by the "devastation" of the June 12 Pulse nightclub terror attack, Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday said he will ask for $5.8 million in the state's 2017-2018 budget to hire more counterterrorism agents for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. At a press conference at Orlando's FDLE headquarters, Scott said the money would add 46 new counterterrorism agents to be spread throughout the operation's seven regions. Scott said he was inspired to seek the funding after the Pulse shooting. "A terrorist, inspired by ISIS and filled with hate, stormed into Pulse night club here in Orlando and killed 49," Scott said. "It was an attempt to rip us apart at our seams, to divide us and instill fear in our communities."

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