Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2016

The departing head of the state’s private-public economic development agency will receive more than $132,000 as part of his severance package. The Enterprise Florida board of directors’ executive committee approved Bill Johnson’s severance package during its committee meeting Tuesday. Johnson will receive $132,500. His final day is June 24. Alan Becker, the vice chair of […]

Jim RosicaApril 14, 2016

The next head of Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development organization, will no longer report directly to Gov. Rick Scott, according to a new Governor’s Office organizational chart. The chart, first unearthed Wednesday by Associated Press Capitol reporter Gary Fineout in his The Fine Print blog, had been quietly posted on the Governor’s Office official website, www.flgov.com. […]

Jim RosicaApril 13, 2016

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The vice chair of Enterprise Florida (EFI), the state’s public-private economic development agency, sounded like he was playing defense in a conference call with the group’s executive committee Wednesday. “As you read some of the newspapers, they make it sound like we’re out of business,” said Alan Becker, co-founder of South Florida’s Becker & Poliakoff law firm. […]

Ryan RayMarch 30, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered examinations into Visit Florida and Space Florida, two high-profile public-private partnerships with the state government, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Gray Rohrer. The purpose of the reviews is to determine the level of return on investment Florida taxpayers get in exchange for funding projects through the entities, which don’t have the same broad […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 29, 2016

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is giving Gov. Rick Scott kudos for his decision to audit Enterprise Florida. According to POLITICO Florida, Scott told Enterprise Florida board members on Monday that he’s bringing in David Wilkins, the former head of the Department of Children and Families, to audit the organization. Wilkins will be tasked with finding savings […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2016

The head of the state’s public-private economic development organization is stepping down. On Monday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson is leaving the organization. “Bill has traveled the globe to let businesses know that Florida is the top destination in the world for jobs,” Scott said in a prepared statement Monday. […]

Associated PressFebruary 27, 2016

The head of Florida’s economic development agency is warning that the state could lose out on 50,000 jobs because of the Legislature. Bill Johnson, the president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, made that prediction in an email he sent Saturday to business partners statewide. Legislative leaders late Friday announced they were rejecting Gov. Rick Scott‘s […]

Bob SparksFebruary 25, 2016

Sometimes during legislative sessions some unusual partnerships develop. Unlikely alliances can form to pass or defeat a measure that fits a common goal. Florida has provided a prime example of such teamwork. The philosophy of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” syndrome has played out in the area of economic incentives. House Bill […]

Ryan RayFebruary 24, 2016

Day 2 of the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual International Days event continued Wednesday, with Consuls General and business liaisons from around the world hearing from top state officials in Tallahassee. In his introductory remarks, Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson relayed a poignant story from a dinner Tuesday night that brought the annual confab into focus. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2016

Americans for Prosperity-Florida, a Koch brothers-affiliated group, has at times gotten under the nerves of Florida Republicans with their intense advocacy on issues. It’s taken a tight bead on Gov. Rick Scott‘s $250 million request for Enterprise Florida. Scott claims the agency is underfunded, making it unable to compete with Florida’s strongest competitors for job growth […]

Tag: Bill Johnson
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly extradits Kermit Booth back to the First Coast. Image via Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

Bill Johnson to receive $132K as part of severance package

Enterprise Florida downgraded in Rick Scott’s new organizational chart

Enterprise Florida shouldn’t “be overlooked,” vice chair says

Rick Scott orders probes into Visit Florida, Space Florida

Americans for Prosperity-Florida applauds Rick Scott’s planned audit of Enterprise Florida

Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson stepping down

Jobs chief: Florida could lose out on thousands of jobs

Bob Sparks: Battle over economic incentives features unlikely alliances

Florida Chamber’s International Days continue with talks from high-level state officials

Enterprise Florida’s Bill Johnson unloads on AFP-Florida over anti-incentives ads