Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonJune 8, 2015

Senate budget Chief Tom Lee said on Monday the House is “doing the bidding” of Gov. Rick Scott in pushing to increase funds to Enterprise Florida. The remarks followed Sen. Jack Latvala‘s abrupt move to adjourn the Tourism and Economic Development budget conferee meeting early Monday morning just minutes into the meeting and as the House […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 8, 2015

Chagrined at the levels of funding allocated in the proposed 2015-16 budget Enterprise Florida held a conference call early Monday morning asked members of its executive committee to contact budget conferees and press for more money. According to EFI staff there is $30 million in the Senate budget and $5 million for marketing or EFI […]

Ryan RayApril 15, 2015

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A lengthy debate over a lobbying ethics reform bill ended with with former Senate President Don Gaetz moving to TP his own bill. The proposal — Gaetz’s SB 1372 — would tighten many restrictions on lobbying in Florida. Most notably, it would hold Gov. Rick Scott‘s brainchild — Enterprise Florida Inc., housed within another Scott innovation in […]

James CallApril 9, 2015

Florida’s business-recruiter-in-chief is stepping up a media campaign in advance of a California job-hunting expedition. Enterprise Florida began running radio commercials Thursday touting Florida’s perfect business climate in advance of Gov. Rick Scott’s trade delegation to California April 12-13. “California has the nation’s highest personal income tax, the highest state sales tax, and one of […]

James CallApril 8, 2015

Florida’s job-poacher-in-chief is at it again. Enterprise Florida has been running an ad campaign in California, flaunting the Sunshine State’s economic climate, in advance of a trade mission by Gov. Rick Scott next week. “Florida is Ready!” touts investments in the state’s ports and roads, encouraging California shipping companies to re-route businesses through Florida. “With our low tax, business-friendly […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2015

A Florida House Committee on Tuesday passed a bill (HB 451) that would replenish a tax incentives program to woo Hollywood film, television and digital productions to Florida, but it wasn’t easy. Orlando Republican Mike Miller is sponsoring the bill in the House, while Nancy Detert from Venice is carrying it once again in the Senate. For the past […]

Peter SchorschMarch 23, 2015

It’s been an interesting six months for Republican political operative Mike Grissom, someone we’ve described as one of the brightest minds in Florida politics. After inexplicably leaving the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the former Executive Director of the Republican Party of Florida quarterbacked Leslie Dougher’s unsuccessful re-election bid as Chair of the RPOF. Since then, […]

Ryan RayFebruary 28, 2015

Former Enterprise Florida CEO and de facto Scott administration jobs czar Gray Swoope penned a farewell letter on Friday, marking the final chapter of his transition from the public-private sector to the private sector. After expressing his gratitude to the likes of Gov. Rick Scott and EFI Vice Chair Alan Becker, Swoope included an interesting detail at the missive’s very end: […]

William PatrickFebruary 10, 2015

Office Depot is packing up its corporate bags and shipping out of the Sunshine State, but not before scoring millions in state and local taxpayer incentives. The Boca Raton business giant announced this past Wednesday that Staples Inc., its chief office supplies competitor, is buying the Fortune 300 company and moving its South Florida corporate […]

James CallJanuary 7, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott’s marketing plan for the state of Florida is starting to come into focus. In his second term inaugural address Tuesday, Scott called on the businesses and people of California, New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois to move to Florida. “Over the next four years, I will be traveling to your states personally to […]

Tag: Enterprise Florida

Tom Lee says House is “doing the bidding” of Rick Scott on Enterprise Florida funding

Enterprise Florida pushing for more money in the 2015-16 budget

Lobbying ethics bill stumbles in Senate Rules

Enterprise Florida buys radio ads ahead of Rick Scott California visit

Florida’s job-poacher-in-chief goes California dreamin’

Film tax incentives package gets through House panel

The return of Mike Grissom

Gray Swoope joins Gov. Haley Barbour at VisionFirst Advisors

Millions in taxpayer incentives later, Office Depot leaving business-friendly Florida

Enterprise Florida and DEO pitch Leg for money for a "Perfect Business Climate" campaign