Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMarch 22, 2017

The business community believes trial lawyers hold the upper hand in the Legislature for the first time in years. The business community is not happy about that. “Their bills are on rocket fuel and are moving through the process,” Mark Delegal, a partner at Holland & Knight, said during a panel discussion at the Florida […]

Michael MolineMarch 22, 2017

Tourism industry leaders hope to escape the Legislative Session with a least a reasonable portion of Visit Florida intact, notwithstanding hostility in the House toward economic incentives that many members consider corporate welfare. “Never underestimate the power of the veto pen,” Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, said during […]

Jim RosicaMarch 21, 2017

A tax cut that would have helped a broader swath of Floridians, including the middle class and working poor, was changed Tuesday to instead benefit the state’s business owners. With no debate, the Senate’s Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee cleared the bill (SB 378) by a 4-0 vote. As initially proposed by Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores, it would […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 20, 2017

Florida voters appear to support economic incentives and Visit Florida, at least according to a new survey from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The survey found 78 percent of Floridians support financial incentives to “encourage companies to stay in Florida or move to Florida from another state in exchange for creating jobs and investing in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 20, 2017

Sen. Bill Nelson continues to hold an edge over Gov. Rick Scott in a hypothetical 2018 match-up. A new poll from the Florida Chamber of Commerce shows the Orlando Democrat leads Scott 48 percent to 42 percent. Nelson leads the Naples Republican 79 percent to 11 percent among Democrats, and 44 percent to 36 percent […]

Jim RosicaMarch 19, 2017

A tax cut that’s a priority of Senate President Joe Negron is running into resistance from his fellow senators. Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami-Dade Republican and Negron’s right hand in the chamber, is running the bill (SB 378) to pay for a cut in the state’s tax on mobile phone, satellite and cable TV service by […]

Staff ReportsMarch 15, 2017

The House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee approved an assignment of benefits reform bill Tuesday. The bill links fees to pre-litigation offers of judgment and requires policyholders receive notice if a contractor files suit. “The Consumer Protection Coalition applauds Rep. Jamie Grant and House leadership for taking on the issue of Assignment of Benefits fraud and […]

Jim RosicaMarch 6, 2017

A coalition of Florida business groups is giving the thumbs-down to state Sen. Anitere Flores’ proposal to pay for a cut in the state’s tax on mobile phone and satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. The legislation (SB 378) would swap the insurance break for a 2 percent reduction in the state’s communications […]

Michael MolineMarch 3, 2017

The Senate released its version of a workers’ compensation fix Friday, and the measure would lift limits on attorney fees in some cases and require insurance companies to file their own rates, rather than let a ratings agency do the job for them. The House released a draft, labeled “for discussion at a workshop March 7,” that also would […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2017

Last year in the Florida Legislature, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to create statewide regulations regarding ridesharing, but the bill died ignominiously in the state Senate. Similar bills are winding their way through committees in both chambers already in 2017, and on Wednesday, the group Floridians for Ridesharing Coalition announced their support for […]

Tag: Florida Chamber of Commerce

Chamber laments the rise of trial bar’s influence with Florida Legislature

Tourism advocates raise specter of Rick Scott’s veto in Visit Florida fight

Senate tax cut proposal OK’d — with one big switch

Poll: 78% of Floridians support incentives to ‘encourage companies to stay in … or move to Florida’

Poll: Bill Nelson leads Rick Scott 48%-42% in hypothetical 2018 match-up

Senate tax cut proposal, as is, may be on the ropes

Capitol Reax: AOB reform, workers compensation, medical marijuana, gun bills

Business groups oppose tax break swap

House, Senate release details of their workers’ compensation legislation

Floridians for Ridesharing Coalition pushes for statewide bill to get passed this year