Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

The 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in mid-February is more than halfway complete, an anomaly that usually happens once every decade. Under a bill, SPB 7076, that narrowly passed through the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Tuesday, the early start could happen again in 2018. It passed on a party-line vote, with all three Democrats […]

Ryan RayNovember 23, 2015

A panel of state economists and analysts estimated Monday one of two dueling ballot initiatives dealing with solar energy voters may consider on the November 2016 elections will not have any impact on state spending should it pass. The Financial Impact Estimating Conference, a slate of economists for the Legislature and executive branch, held a […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2015

Legislation is moving in the Legislature that would allow people to buy their lottery tickets at the gas pump despite a lingering question that the measure is an expansion of gambling. The question is more than moral or academic: Expanded gambling is a condition for the Seminole Tribe of Florida to stop sharing revenue from its […]

Ryan RayOctober 19, 2015

A group of economists representing the executive branch, both houses of the Legislature and various state agencies identified a handful of sticking points – but few if any definitive solutions – when it comes to the possible economic impact of a 2016 ballot initiative legalizing marijuana. Among the issues discussed by the Florida Impact Estimating […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2015

The Senate’s budget panel got the raw news Thursday: Florida isn’t getting a break on health care costs anytime soon. The Appropriations Committee, which helps write the state’s annual spending plan, heard presentations on “The Economics of Health Care” and “Factors Influencing the Price of Health Insurance.” One item conspicuously not on the agenda: Medicaid expansion. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 30, 2015

It’s still not clear how much a proposed constitutional amendment allowing medical use of marijuana will cost the state to implement, nor how much Florida will gain financially from it. The state’s Financial Impact Estimating Conference, made up of various state officials, met Wednesday to go over nearly 600 pages of reference material on the initiative. One […]

Phil AmmannApril 2, 2015

Two new political ads from the Seminole Tribe of Florida again call on state lawmakers to renew a key provision of the 2009 gambling agreement set to expire July 31. The ads arrive as Florida considers the future of gaming in Florida, including the renewal of The Seminole Compact, the agreement giving the Tribe exclusive rights to operate […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 19, 2015

A high-stakes multimillion dollar tug-of-war over funding for professional sports is now in overtime. A 14-member joint legislative budget panel on Thursday voted to delay a decision on whether to approve the ranking of four applications for state subsidies. Joint Legislative Budget Commission Chairman Rep. Richard Corcoran said he was opposed to awarding any incentive […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida is weighing in on the sports incentives the Joint Legislative Budget Commission is slated to discuss tomorrow. Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of business lobby AIF, sent a letter to the 14 members of the LBC asking that they consider the “impact, great number of jobs and rich history […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 18, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida is weighing in on the sports incentives the Joint Legislative Budget Commission is slated to discuss tomorrow. Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of business lobby AIF, sent a letter to the 14 members of the LBC asking that they consider the “impact, great number of jobs and rich history […]

Tag: Amy Baker

Bill to start 2018 Legislative Session in January advances in Florida Senate

State economists say “Smart Solar” amendment unlikely to have fiscal impact

Is it “expanding gambling” to sell lottery tickets at gas pumps?

State economists deliberate over fiscal impact of medical marijuana amendment

Senate budget panel wrestles with health costs

State panel talks dollars and cents of medical pot

Seminole Tribe launches new ads for Compact renewal

Joint Legislative Budget Commission punts on sports tax incentives

Did Dep’t of Economic Opportunity ‘punt’ on sports incentives? Debate continues to heat up on eve of legislative review

Did Dep't of Economic Opportunity 'punt' on sports incentives? Debate continues to heat up on eve of legislative review