Gray RohrerMarch 26, 2022
6min0
The accusations led to Latvala’s resignation in 2017.
Tag: Sen. Jack LatvalaImage via Palatka Main Street.
Gray RohrerMarch 26, 2022
Michael MolineOctober 12, 2017
6min221
Florida’s tax structure will produce only $52 million in gains on existing state spending during the coming fiscal year, and will leave lawmakers more than $1 billion in the hole during each of the two budget years after that. That doesn’t count what the state needs to spend to recover from Hurricane Irma. The news […]
Peter SchorschAugust 2, 2017
3min616
Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala has $3.84 million in the bank two weeks before he plans to announce whether or not he will run for Florida governor. Latvala’s fundraising arm, “Florida Leadership Committee,” will report it raised $336,000 in July. Contribution records on the committee website run through July 27 and show $255,000 raised, meaning […]
Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2017
5min201
An organization representing the interests of Florida’s private colleges and universities released a “presidential honor roll” thanking some of the state’s top lawmakers for the historic increase in financial aid for Sunshine State students in the 2017 Legislative Session. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida lobbies on behalf of about 30 private not-for-profit schools […]
Michael MolineJune 9, 2017
4min571
The Senate has teed up a compromise school-funding bill designed to help send the Legislature home from its special session. But the senators held off a final vote until the House makes good on its promise to OK an economic development bill that contains $60 million in higher education projects. The Senate passed the latter […]
Michael MolineJune 8, 2017
5min378
The Senate rejected amendments Thursday that might have blocked a meeting of minds with the House on public schools funding — including bids to tie the legislation explicitly to economic development investments. “These issues have been parsed out separately,” said Sen. Gary Farmer, who offered both amendments. “Let’s put them together. And let’s candidly assert […]
Michael MolineJune 7, 2017
5min485
The Senate’s frustration at the cosy new relationship between Gov. Rick Scott and the House showed during debate in the Committee on Commerce and Tourism on a compromise economic incentives and tourism-marketing plan. Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, presenting the bill, noted the criticism over “backroom dealmaking” involving the budget approved during an extended regular session […]
Michael MolineJune 7, 2017
3min671
The Senate voted Tuesday to override Gov. Rick Scott’s veto of the public schools budget, plus a number of higher education building projects. The first override was an “insurance policy” intended to keep the schools open after July 1 if this week’s special session of the Legislature breaks down. “This is an insurance policy. We […]
Michael MolineMay 19, 2017
5min386
If Jack Latvala runs for governor — and, mind you, he’s not saying he is — it would be to keep career politicians from taking over Tallahassee like they have done in Washington. “They start out as legislative aides, they become House members, then they become senators, with very minimal experience in the real world,” […]
Staff ReportsMay 8, 2017
11min208
The Senate approved a roughly $83 billion state spending plan during a legislative overtime Monday, including a raft of conforming bills implementing House and Senate priorities on matters including public schools, colleges, and universities. The 34-4 vote sent the General Appropriations Act to the House, which later approved it on a 98-14 vote. The annual ‘sine die’ ceremony, […]