Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMay 12, 2017

Former state representative and congressman David Rivera banked $110,750 last month toward his 2018 run for House District 105, campaign finance records show. The April take follows a $100,000 loan. Rivera is looking to replace term-limited state Rep. Carlos Trujillo in the Republican-leaning district. His only competitor, Republican Ana Maria Rodriguez, collected $36,800 for April, bringing her […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 4, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott chastised state lawmakers for being unable to complete the 2017-18 budget on time, but once again stopped short of saying whether he would veto the entire spending plan once it reaches his desk. “You would expect that when people have a job to do they’d get it done. I’ve been in business […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The House and Senate were tantalizingly close Wednesday to completing negotiations on an $83 billion state budget. It appeared only a question of firming up some details and completing the paperwork. “There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into preparing the document and getting it distributed and printed and whatever. But the major points […]

Phil AmmannMay 1, 2017

Florida legislators are considering another public meeting on the state’s budget language before finalizing the agreement Tuesday. Lobby Tools is reporting Monday that Senate budget chief Jack Latvala and Carlos Trujillo, his House counterpart, said that the joint appropriations committee would not meet again, so it’s not clear who will be involved in the meeting, […]

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2017

Money to help smaller communities market themselves during the off-season could still be in play as legislative leaders continue to negotiate the 2017-18 budget. The Senate has proposed language to move a state-funded marketing program run by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation from Visit Florida. The House […]

Jim RosicaApril 30, 2017

The House and Senate is seemingly at odds over whether to pay for the Constitution Revision Commission. A Sunday spreadsheet that came out of the first 2017-18 state budget conference chairs meeting of the day had a line item for the commission, which meets every 20 years to review and revise the state’s governing document. […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

Don’t expect any movement in the budgets for Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA at the conference committee level. “I’m authorized to negotiate quite a few things in this budget and there’s a few things I’m not, and those would be among the things I’m not,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, the St. Petersburg Republican chairing the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is continuing his push for money for Visit Florida, releasing a new digital ad hitting lawmakers over proposals to cut funding for the state’s tourism marketing agency. In the 60-second spot, released by Scott’s political committee Let’s Get to Work, the Naples Republican is shown saying “Florida’s been winning, now a group […]

Staff ReportsApril 14, 2017

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A proposed overhaul of the Florida College System from Sen. Dorothy Hukill has been passed Senate and is heading to a conference next week after amendments by the House. “This legislation (SB 374) will strengthen and expand college and university partnerships so the next generation of Floridians can benefit from our excellent 2+2 program,” said […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 12, 2017

The Florida House rebuffed an attempt to include proviso language in the budget for a report on the “imposition and execution of capital punishment” in Florida. The amendment, put forward by Rep. Sharon Pritchett, called for the state to use money to fund a report from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability […]

Tag: Carlos Trujillo

David Rivera banks another $110,000 for April

Rick Scott says lawmakers inability to finish budget on time ‘doesn’t make any sense’

Final $83 billion budget bill awaits only fine tuning, conferees report

Lawmakers consider one more public budget meeting

Hospitality marketing money still in play, lawmakers say

Constitutional review panel money becomes a ‘bump issue’

Top line tourism, economic development money closed out, chair says

Rick Scott calls proposed cuts to Visit Florida ‘irresponsible’ in new web ad

Dorothy Hukill ‘College Competitiveness’ bill moves to conference

House votes down budget amendment calling for report on cost-effectiveness of Florida’s death penalty