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Staff ReportsMarch 20, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott vowed to ensure tourism stayed vibrant even after Hurricane Irma wreaked its havoc, and the numbers released Tuesday in Naples show that he pulled it off. The 116.5 million visitors, per VISIT FLORIDA, mark a 3.6 percent increase over the 112.4 million visitors in 2016. This was despite a loss of 1.8 million visitors […]

Scott PowersMarch 12, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott still isn’t officially in the race for Florida’s U.S. Senate election this year but that’s not stopping Democrats from hammering him with two new digital ads being released Monday, raising questions about his financial blind trust and his missing nursing home voicemails. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is releasing the digital […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 1, 2018

The House and Senate in negotiations have seemingly agreed on funding for job and tourism incentives — but still are significantly apart on spends for hurricane-related affordable housing programs that are now expected to be ironed out by budget chairs Rep. Carlos Trujillo and Sen. Rob Bradley. A recent Senate offer in the Transportation, Tourism, […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 24, 2018

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With less than two weeks before the end of the 2018 Legislative Session, the pot of money lawmakers must work with in order to craft a state budget is shrinking rapidly. At work are two factors: one is a revised estimate for state tax and revenue collections, the second is the estimated cost of the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 19, 2018

Reimbursements will come sooner or later for the city of Jacksonville from the federal government for Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. Until then, however, the impact of the storms will be felt in the city’s general fund budget. The Jacksonville City Council Auditor’s quarterly report for the final three months of 2017 puts the figures in […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 12, 2018

After contentious weeks at the U.S. Capitol, Congressman Darren Soto has turned his attention toward Tallahassee, where he believes legislators face “big challenges” and should seize the opportunity to unite on major issues facing the state. The Orlando-area Democrat gave his take on the state’s Session on Monday during a press conference with several Hispanic […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 10, 2018

A list of 10 amendment proposals, dubbed “the terrible ten,” is making the rounds as the Constitution Revision Commission nears a May deadline to submit its final report. The left-leaning advocacy group, League of Women Voters of Florida, has come up with its “worst of the worst” list compiled of what they say are proposed […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2018

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the feds this week announced “yet another decrease in the size of the Florida orange crop this season due to Hurricane Irma.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s latest report pegs orange production for 2017-18 at 45 million boxes—”a 35 percent decrease over last season and the lowest crop […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 7, 2018

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill by Sarasota Sen. Greg Steube, SB 1168, that the Consumer Protection Coalition said would “do little to protect consumers” from Assignment of Benefits abuse. The group said it prefers HB 7015 by Rep. Jay Trumbull, which includes modifications to one-way attorney fees which proponents say […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 3, 2018

Hey, we get it. There’s a lot going on in the 2018 Legislative Session — and it’s only Week Five. With budget negotiations, the passage of 27 bills this week and it being an election year, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. So, here’s a brief — very brief — update on some […]

Tag: Hurricane Irma
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Despite Irma, Florida sets another tourism record

Democrats hammer Rick Scott’s finances, statements with new digital ads

Affordable housing issues likely headed to budget chairs

As lawmakers tiptoe to budget negotiating starting line, state revenue estimate is cut by $167 million

$130M+ hit for Jacksonville from hurricanes, as financial storm clouds loom

Darren Soto: State lawmakers need to unite on policy

Takeaways from Tallahassee — ‘Terrible ten’

Down and down it goes: Florida’s orange crop plummets

Capitol reax: AOB, Publix PrEP, campus ‘free speech,’ criminal justice, Rick Scott

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Legislative misses