Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 5, 2017

The state’s anti-gambling expansion group is pushing back against comments that it’s “misinformed” about casino gambling not being a “meaningful attraction for Florida tourism.” Steven Norton, a longtime gambling executive and consultant, linked to Nick Sortal‘s Friday column for the Miami Herald in Norton’s Monday email roundup of the gambling scene in the South. “As I survey the scene […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 5, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed 33 bills into law Friday, including Northeast Florida State Rep. Cyndi Stevenson’s bill (HB 141) to remove some restrictions from craft distilleries. Among the highlights of the legislation: increasing production caps from 75,000 to 250,000 gallons; allowing for off-site distribution points; and relaxing limits on how many bottles a consumer could […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott signed a nearly $83 billion state budget Friday, and released a list of line item vetoes amounting to nearly $12 billion. The vetoes included individual projects worth $409 million — much of the rest represented Scott’s rejection of efforts to take money from dedicated trust funds. As promised during a morning news […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

A bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott Friday would loosen regulations on more than 100 Florida cosmetic manufacturers. CS/HB 211 removes the requirements for companies to register cosmetic products they manufacture or repackage. The bill conforms by removing registration and renewal requirements for cosmetic products, including the requirements to give registration applications, product […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Proponents of a workers’ compensation fix would want the matter debated during next week’s special session of the Legislature. The National Federation of Independent Business was the first to issue a public call to that end. Florida director Bill Herrle released a letter to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders, arguing, “Florida’s economic growth cannot […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday approved another 33 bills from the 2017 Legislative Session, according to an email from his office. The official list with descriptions follows: CS/CS/HB 39 Autism Awareness Training for Law Enforcement Officers – This bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to enhance Autism Spectrum Disorder training for law enforcement […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

The House released a summary Friday of the economic incentives package unveiled by Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders. First on the list — and written in red, boldfaced letters — is what the $85 million program will not be: “a part of Enterprise Florida.” What the program will do: pay for public infrastructure and […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott talked about education and tourism funding and job training in the upcoming Special Session but did not mention medical marijuana. Scott spoke briefly with reporters outside an Enterprise Florida meeting in Tallahassee Friday, a few hours after he appeared with legislative leaders in Miami to announce a Special Session next Wednesday-Friday. “I’ve been talking […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

The Florida Education Association isn’t satisfied with Gov. Rick Scott’s and legislative leaders’ plan to pump another $100 per pupil into public education. The union also wants Scott to veto HB 7069, the Legislature’s big education package. “The gaping flaws in HB 7069 haven’t changed with this suggested increase in funding,” FEA President Joanne McCall […]

Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

Florida Democrats are hitting Gov. Rick Scott and Republican leadership over a budget deal announced Friday. In a statement, Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Johanna Cervone said the budget deal fails the state’s working families, while funneling money to Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. “Not only does this budget deal funnel millions to private for-profit charter […]

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Image via St. Pete Catalyst.

No Casinos responds to criticism it’s ‘misinformed’ about casino gambling

How Cyndi Stevenson scored a ‘significant win for craft distilleries’

Rick Scott signs state budget — minus nearly $12 billion in line item vetoes

Rick Scott signs bill loosening regulations on Florida cosmetic manufacturers

Small business wants special session to take up workers’ compensation reform

Rick Scott signs 33 bills into law

Richard Corcoran stresses that incentives package won’t benefit Enterprise Florida

Rick Scott talks budget, jobs—but not medical marijuana

Another $215 million for schools doesn’t go far enough, FEA complains

Florida Democrats accuses Rick Scott of ‘backroom politics at its worst’ over special session