Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 16, 2016

And so it goes, another attempt to change the state’s alimony regimen, down in flames. This year’s bill (SB 668) was complicated by the addition of language from another measure in the 2016 Legislative Session. It would have changed the beginning assumption of child custody (or “time-sharing”) to 50/50 between spouses. And that is what […]

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. […]

Associated PressApril 13, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is probably going to be heading abroad on a trade trip. Enterprise Florida officials announced Wednesday Scott is expected to attend an international air show in the United Kingdom this July. Since becoming governor Scott has routinely taken trips to air shows that are held in Paris and London. An Enterprise […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

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An activist group is running a radio ad in the Tampa Bay area questioning St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ ethics. The 60-second spot from Florida Strong is called “Let’s Make a (corrupt) Deal.” It attacks the Pinellas Republican for receiving campaign contributions from companies such as Duke Energy and insurance lobbyists, and then claims that he […]

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. […]

Jim RosicaMarch 11, 2016

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State Sen. Jack Latvala brought up “the elephant in the room” during remarks on the 2016-17 state budget Friday, lamenting the lack of a $250 million business incentives fund, a priority of Gov. Rick Scott. The Clearwater Republican, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development, said the absence of the Florida Enterprise […]

Staff ReportsMarch 7, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala, who will become Appropriations chair next year, blasted House leadership as “ideologues” for refusing to fund Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposed $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund. Latvala, the Clearwater Republican who now heads the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development, penned an op-ed in the Tampa Bay Times on Friday morning. Latvala […]

Tag: Enterprise Florida
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Takeaways from Tallahassee – The (veto) pen is mightier than the (legislators’) sword

Enterprise Florida downgraded in Rick Scott’s new organizational chart

Rick Scott planning trade trip to United Kingdom

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

Rick Scott orders probes into Visit Florida, Space Florida

Radio ad blasts Jeff Brandes on ethics

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

Enterprise Florida CEO Bill Johnson stepping down

Jack Latvala rues lack of business incentives in budget

In op-ed, Jack Latvala blasts House zeroing out of incentives fund