Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

Don’t expect any movement in the budgets for Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA at the conference committee level. “I’m authorized to negotiate quite a few things in this budget and there’s a few things I’m not, and those would be among the things I’m not,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, the St. Petersburg Republican chairing the […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

The House on Friday sent back a Senate beer advertising bill, having tacked on language that would also allow beer makers to give free glasses to bars and restaurants. The measure (SB 388) allow advertising and sponsoring of events by beer companies in the state’s theme parks. It passed the House on a 110-9 vote. But the House […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

We’ve been writing about it for years, all the while wondering ‘why,’ but 2017 was the winning session for an overhaul of the estoppel letter process. The House on Friday passed the Senate’s bill (SB 398) on a 117-0 vote, sending it to Gov. Rick Scott. “This legislation will benefit Florida’s homeowners, associations, and taxpayers,” said […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

What began as a bang ended with a whimper as the House passed a diluted trauma center bill and sent it to the Senate Friday. The measure (HB 1077), which passed 93-24, began its legislative life to do away with a cap on how many trauma centers can open in Florida. The bill that was passed says […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

A well-meaning idea could cost the state’s pot of money for scholarships and public education up to about $50 million. The House this week passed a measure (HB 937) mandating six different warnings, which would rotate, on Florida Lottery tickets and advertisements. They include “WARNING: GAMBLING CAN BE ADDICTIVE” and “WARNING: YOUR ODDS OF WINNING THE TOP PRIZE […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

Ken Lawson, CEO of the embattled VISIT FLORIDA, again pleaded with lawmakers to fully fund his agency, saying jobs depend on it. Lawson appeared before the Legislature’s tourism and economic development budget conference on Friday as Gov. Rick Scott left the state to attend a National Rifle Association meeting in Atlanta. Meantime, Scott’s political committee, Let’s […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

Rick Scott did not look like he was negotiating. The governor fired a shot over the bow of the Legislature, all but demanding full funding in the state budget for his 2017-18 priorities: $200 million to begin fixing the dike at Lake Okeechobee, $100 million for VISIT FLORIDA, and salvaging Enterprise Florida from House Speaker […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

A bill to allow beer companies to sponsor “events, activities, or cooperative advertising” at the state’s theme parks is ready for a final vote in the Florida House. The House on Friday will take up the Senate bill (SB 388), sponsored by Republican Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton. It eases the state’s “tied house evil” law by allowing […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

The Senate capitulated to the House on several issues Thursday as part of ongoing negotiations to strike a compromise on gambling legislation, while holding firm on others. But the latest offer includes a key provision desired by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, OK’ing up to 1,500 slots machines in “facilities in referendum counties” with a requirement […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

The reaction to the Florida Legislature’s repeal of the state’s “booze wall” law continued long after Wednesday’s vote. The House, on a close vote of 58-57, passed the Senate’s bill (SB 106) to allow retailers to remove the ‘wall of separation’ between hard liquor and other goods. (Full story here.) The legislation now heads to Gov. Rick Scott. If signed […]

Jim Rosica
Image via AP.

Top line tourism, economic development money closed out, chair says

Beer bill bounces back to Senate with free glass provision

After years of work, estoppel bill heads to governor

Watered-down trauma center bill passes House

Warning labels could cost millions, Florida Lottery says

Ken Lawson on VISIT FLORIDA funding: ‘Protect our people’

Rick Scott demands full funding for tourism, development

Beer advertising bill ready for vote on House floor

Senate and House move closer to deal on gambling bill

Interests for and against ‘liquor wall’ legislation react to passage