Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMay 16, 2017

The numbers are out. Registered legislative lobbying firms reported median earnings of more than $35.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. The Top 5 earners during the three-month period were Ballard Partners, Southern Strategy Group, Ronald L. Book PA, Capital City Consulting, and Greenberg Traurig. If those rankings look familiar, there’s a reason for […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

It’s not the big banana, but a small piece of workers’ compensation reform is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. The bill is CS/CS/HB 1107, shielding personally identifying information about workers’ comp claimants under Florida’s public records laws. It passed the House on a 120-0 vote Wednesday, having cleared the Senate, 37-0, on […]

Michael MolineApril 6, 2017

Associated Industries of Florida chief Tom Feeney had praise Thursday for amendments that would bring the House workers’ compensation reform bill closer to business interests’ ideal. “AIF today calls on members of the Florida House Commerce Committee to adopt the amendments to HB 7085 that will go a long way in rectifying our state’s wounded […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 23, 2017

A bevy of business groups have joined forces in opposition to a Senate proposal to lower the tax commercial rents by eliminating a tax credit benefiting another industry. Eight of the state’s leading business organizations — including Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Florida […]

Jim RosicaMarch 21, 2017

A tax cut that would have helped a broader swath of Floridians, including the middle class and working poor, was changed Tuesday to instead benefit the state’s business owners. With no debate, the Senate’s Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee cleared the bill (SB 378) by a 4-0 vote. As initially proposed by Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores, it would […]

Jim RosicaMarch 19, 2017

A tax cut that’s a priority of Senate President Joe Negron is running into resistance from his fellow senators. Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami-Dade Republican and Negron’s right hand in the chamber, is running the bill (SB 378) to pay for a cut in the state’s tax on mobile phone, satellite and cable TV service by […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says a bill co-introduced by Tampa state Senator Dana Young would take away local control of public spaces, but Young says that the mayor has it wrong in his concerns about what the bill will actually do. “Telecommunications companies are pushing SB 596 and HB 687, legislation that would allow them to place small refrigerator-sized equipment, and even towering poles, […]

Staff ReportsMarch 15, 2017

The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee approved an assignment of benefits reform bill Tuesday. The bill links fees to pre-litigation offers of judgment and requires policyholders receive notice if a contractor files suit. “The Consumer Protection Coalition applauds Rep. Jamie Grant and House leadership for taking on the issue of Assignment of Benefits fraud and […]

Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2017

The 2017 Legislative Session kicked off Tuesday with Gov. Rick Scott’s penultimate “State of the State” address, and speeches from Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran. — “This session represents Florida’s best chance yet for solving an ongoing environmental catastrophe that affects millions of Floridians. For nearly 20 years, scientists have agreed that a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 6, 2017

A coalition of Florida business groups is giving the thumbs-down to state Sen. Anitere Flores’ proposal to pay for a cut in the state’s tax on mobile phone and satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. The legislation (SB 378) would swap the insurance break for a 2 percent reduction in the state’s communications […]

Tag: Associated Industries of Florida

Lobby firms bring in more than $35.7M in first quarter to lobby Legislature

One element of the workers’ compensation fix headed to the governor

AIF lauds proposed revisions to House’s workers’ compensation reform

AIF, Florida Chamber, other business groups join forces to oppose Senate tax proposal

Senate tax cut proposal OK’d — with one big switch

Senate tax cut proposal, as is, may be on the ropes

Dana Young says Bob Buckhorn should support utility legislation

Capitol Reax: AOB reform, workers compensation, medical marijuana, gun bills

Capitol Reax: Opening Day of the 2017 Legislative Session

Business groups oppose tax break swap