Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017

Jacksonville may be Ground Zero for the debate about economic incentives. Local leaders want them, but the local Florida House delegation does not. This week, yet another prominent person in Jacksonville’s City Hall sounded the alarm for state incentives via Enterprise Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that local OED head Kirk Wendland made the case for […]

Guest AuthorMarch 16, 2017

Thanks to the efforts of Governor Rick Scott and the state’s committed business leaders, Florida has one of the strongest economies in the country. With our unemployment rate under 5 percent, Florida continues to exceed the nation’s annual job growth rate and tourism, one of the state’s economic drivers remains strong, with just under 113 […]

Joe HendersonMarch 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t been shy about sharing his feelings on the Affordable Care Act. Like any good Republican, he hates it. He wants it to go away. Now that Republicans have a legitimate proposal on the table to replace Obamacare, though, Scott has gone into stealth mode on the subject. In an Associated Press […]

Jim RosicaMarch 13, 2017

Proponents of keeping Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA have been repeating the talking point that even Coca-Cola, king of market share, still advertises. And so on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott kept driving home his counter-frame to House Speaker Richard Corcoran‘s “corporate welfare” narrative that killing the state’s economic development organization and tourism marketing agency will kill […]

Joe HendersonMarch 13, 2017

Rick Scott went to Tallahassee in 2011 as an outsider. He often has operated like one as well, and not always in a good way. In a private company, stubborn employees can get fired for standing up to the boss. In politics, though, defiance can be considered a virtue. Eventually, people who vow to run […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 13, 2017

Florida’s unemployment rate ticked up in January, reaching 5 percent for the first time in a year. The January unemployment rate marks a slight uptick from December, when state officials reported an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent. The statewide rate is higher than the national unemployment rate of 4.8 percent. Despite the increase in the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 10, 2017

When the Florida House of Representatives voted Friday to do away with the much-embattled Florida Enterprise – the program Gov. Rick Scott loyally supported and, oppositely, Speaker Richard Corcoran virulently chided – special interest groups who had worked tirelessly for its eradication jumped for joy. None celebrated more than the Florida branch of Americans for […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 10, 2017

Republican State Rep. Jay Fant has the safest of safe seats on Jacksonville’s deep-red Westside. However, in the even deeper-red Florida House, he found himself on the losing side of this week’s debate about Enterprise Florida. Fant spoke passionately and futilely about the need to maintain incentive programs, a position not shared by most of the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2017

The Enterprise Florida economic development organization and a multitude of business incentives would be eradicated under legislation passed by the Florida House Friday. The bill (HB 7005) passed on an 87-28 vote, with some members voting against their respective parties’ position, including 12 Republicans. The measure was pushed by Speaker Richard Corcoran, who has derided Enterprise Florida as a dispenser […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott sounded the alarm Thursday evening — again — on a bill that is the bane of his existence this session: HB 7005. “Tomorrow, members of the Florida House of Representatives will vote on HB 7005, a bill which eliminates a large majority of Florida’s economic development and jobs programs. The State of Florida […]

Tag: Enterprise Florida
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Jacksonville leaders’ arguments for state incentives fall on deaf ears in Tallahassee

Pat Neal: Prosperity for our families and future

Joe Henderson: ‘Shy’ Rick Scott needs to pipe up on Medicaid expansion

Rick Scott stumps for economic development, tourism dollars in Tallahassee

Joe Henderson: After Enterprise Florida fight, Rick Scott has little political capital left

Florida’s unemployment rate ticks up to 5% in January

Special-interest groups rejoice Enterprise Florida House vote; call for Senate death knell

Jay Fant for Attorney General? Intrigue in Jacksonville

House to Enterprise Florida: Drop dead

Rick Scott: ‘Florida Lawmakers to vote on job killing legislation tomorrow’