Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 23, 2015

The name of the south Jacksonville sign shop where Florida Governor Rick Scott unveiled his “Florida First” budget on Monday, Harbinger Signs (a business in Jacksonville for 53 years now), had a Thomas Pynchon quality. Expected going in, as a “harbinger” of the Monday event: an announcement that Florida would have a record $29.8 billion of general […]

Gary FineoutNovember 5, 2015

Setting up another contentious budget battle, Florida Gov. Rick Scott was expected Thursday to call for $1 billion in tax cuts, most of it targeted at businesses. Scott’s is recommending the hefty amount despite signs that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature will resist going along with such a large tax cut package. Scott, however, will argue […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 23, 2015

Rick Scott vetoed $461.4 million in special projects when he signed the fiscal year 2015-16 budget early Tuesday morning, in his office and not in the public. No governor has vetoed more in cash projects than Scott did early this morning, his staff claims in a prepared statement. Included in the veto list: $15 million for […]

Gary FineoutJune 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday ended the state’s biggest budget crisis in more than two decades by signing a more than $78 billion budget into law, but he may have created another divide with some of his fellow Republicans. Scott signed the budget just days after the Florida Legislature approved it during an unusual June […]

Phil AmmannJune 19, 2015

A final vote on the near $79 billion budget Friday afternoon brought a disappointing end to Florida’s 2015 Legislative Session, according to House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford. “I think of all the missed opportunities,” said the West Palm Beach Democrat, who faces term limits in 2016. “As much as this budget funds many good programs and […]

Phil AmmannJune 19, 2015

Florida Education Association President Andy Ford hailed the newly passed $78.8 billion budget as a “step forward” in properly funding the state’s public education. But more work is needed, he cautioned. Florida lawmakers finished the overtime marathon session after 6 p.m. Passed unanimously by the Senate and by a 96-17 vote in the House, the […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 19, 2015

Florida’s legislative leaders are trying to make the health care financing decisions they made during the June Special Session veto-proof. The Florida House and Senate were at odds throughout the 2015 Regular Legislative Session on health care spending and policy. Indeed, the inability to agree on how much additional Medicaid funding to include in the […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 12, 2015

Legislative leaders on Friday said the House and Senate budget chairs would continue to work over the weekend in order to bring the General Appropriations Act in for a landing. The goal is for a copy of the budget to be on lawmakers’ desks by Tuesday so they can wait the mandated 72 hours before […]

Associated PressJune 4, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, aides say, and plans to announce that June 15. Here’s where he stands on some of the issues likely to be debated in the campaign. Immigration Bush supports a system that would allow immigrants in the country illegally to stay, if they […]

Bob SparksMay 28, 2015

Next week the Florida Legislature returns for an overtime session to fulfill their sole constitutional requirement of passing a budget. Not a Washington budget, but one where bean counters must have the same number of beans on the expense side as well as the revenue side. Conversations containing the word “shutdown” have gained a little […]

Tag: Budget
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Rick Scott unveils “Florida First” budget at Jax sign shop

Despite resistance, Rick Scott wants $1 billion in tax cuts

Gov. Scott zaps $461 million in special projects as he signs state budget

Gov. Rick Scott signs state budget in private, averts government shutdown

House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford laments ‘missed opportunities’ in budget

FEA president praises budget as ‘step forward’ for public schools, says further work needed

Lawmakers aimed to build a veto-proof health care budget

Everybody’s working over the weekend, really

Where they stand: Jeb Bush on key topics of 2016 campaign

Bob Sparks: Shutdowns, Obamacare and July special sessions