Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 18, 2016

Money for aviation and manufacturing programs at Brevard County public schools. Cash for Hillsborough County Fair and the Hardee County cattlemen’s arena. They might be worthy projects, but they are also just a few of 143 projects on Florida TaxWatch’s annual turkey list. The 2016 list was released Friday, just one day after Gov. Rick […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 17, 2016

The budget is official in Gov. Rick Scott’s hands. The Legislature sent Scott the budget — and four other related bills — on Thursday. The Naples Republican now has until April 1 to act. The Legislature overwhelmingly approved the $82.3 billion spending plan on Friday. The proposed budget includes $20.2 billion for K-12 public school […]

Scott PowersMarch 16, 2016

The Florida Policy Institute says the state’s new 2016 budget is better than Gov. Rick Scott’s initial proposal. The nonprofit’s report, though, says the spending plan still lacks adequate investment in health care, public education, prisons and other state services. The report praised the Legislature for killing Scott’s proposed $1 billion tax cut, saying it […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 15, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott took a pre-emptive strike Tuesday, saying he plans to veto more than $250 million in projects when lawmakers send him the fiscal 2016-17 budget. The move comes just days after the Legislature voted overwhelmingly — 40-0 in the Senate and 119-1 in the House — to approve the $82.3 billion spending plan. […]

Associated PressMarch 14, 2016

A potentially far-reaching trial that will determine whether the Florida Legislature is shortchanging public schools is starting in a Tallahassee courtroom. In the lawsuit filed six years ago, education groups and parents from Duval and Pasco counties contend the Legislature and state officials have not provided enough money to the state’s schools as required under […]

Drew WilsonMarch 12, 2016

The Foundation for Florida’s Future highlighted a bevy of bills and budget items passed by the Legislature in a celebratory email sent out by the education advocacy group Friday. “More Florida children will get a better education – that is the takeaway from this year’s Legislative Session,” said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for […]

Scott PowersMarch 11, 2016

Although her bill to fund state investigations of police-caused deaths died in committee in January, state Sen. Geraldine Thompson said Friday she finally got what she wanted. “The bill didn’t move but there is money in the budget for FDLE and I got in proviso language that stipulates that of the funds that they get […]

Gary FineoutMarch 11, 2016

The Florida Legislature is expected on Friday to approve a more than $82.3 billion budget for 2016-17 that is roughly 5 percent larger than this year’s budget. Here are a few key items you should know about: – EDUCATION: The new budget increases day-to-day public school spending by $458 million, which translates into a 1 […]

Associated PressMarch 9, 2016

A crucial trial over the future of gambling in Florida could be pushed back until the fall. Attorneys for both the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state on Wednesday asked a federal judge to push back a two-week trial until October. The trial now scheduled for July will determine whether or not the Seminoles […]

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2016

The University of Central Florida has walked a careful path to line up support for what had been a controversial plan for a downtown Orlando campus, and now the university has everything but the governor’s signature. No one is taking that for granted, though. Over the weekend, with pushes from Senate President Andy Gardiner of […]

Tag: Florida Legislature
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Florida TaxWatch: 2016-17 budget includes $104.9 million in turkeys

Legislature sends $82.3 billion budget to Rick Scott

Policy institute calls final state budget better than Rick Scott’s, but still lacking

Rick Scott says he’ll veto more than $250 million from state budget

Failing grade? Trial over Florida’s schools finally starts

Foundation for Florida’s Future highlights expanded education options passed by lawmakers

Geraldine Thompson declares victory in getting state to probe police-caused deaths

Highlights from Florida’s new $82.3 billion budget

Crucial federal trial over gambling could be pushed back

With downtown campus funding in budget, UCF hopes it has satisfied Rick Scott