Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 1, 2016

Keep sales tax holidays. That’s the message the Florida Retail Federation is sending to state lawmakers as the Florida Senate decides whether to hear the House’s sweeping tax-cut proposal. The Senate Appropriations committee on Tuesday was scheduled to hear the proposal (HB 7099), where senators were proposing a strike-all amendment that, among other things, would […]

Ryan RayJanuary 4, 2016

Influential retailers lobby Florida Retail Federation announced Monday it has named a new President and CEO, promoting Randy Miller from the position of Executive Vice President. Miller also assumes the helm at sister organization Georgia Retail Association, where he was also a senior executive. Longtime FRF staffers Samantha Hunter Padgett and Melissa Joiner Ramba – wife of well-known Tallahassee lobbyist David Ramba – also received promotions […]

Melissa RossDecember 24, 2015

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Amidst all the shopping, wrapping, and returns, the Florida Retail Federation says this holiday season is also expected to feature a spike in fraud. The FRF says retailers expect fraud to reach more than $2.2 billion nationally, an increase in fraudulent activity of 3.5 percent over 2014. The biggest offense: criminals who try to return […]

Peter SchorschDecember 23, 2015

The 2015 holiday season marks a quiet before the storm in Florida politics, before the lawmakers and lobbyists take over Tallahassee in January and the high drama of Jeb Bush vs. Marco Rubio and the rest of the GOP presidential field reaches its primary crescendo. So this year, before the annual rites and rituals of “The Process” come to […]

Drew WilsonDecember 22, 2015

With the holiday shopping season entering its twilight hours, retailers have turned their attention to preventing fraudulent returns. The Florida Retail Federation expects total annual returns to hit $260.5 billion this year, including $9.1 billion worth of fraudulent returns. Holiday returns alone are estimated to account for $2.2 billion in fraudulent returns, the group said, […]

Staff ReportsDecember 14, 2015

An array of business lobbies has banded together to support one of Gov. Rick Scott‘s tax cut proposals that would reduce the tax businesses pay on their rents. The new campaign, Cut My Rent 1 Percent, is backed by Florida Realtors, National Federation of Independent Business, Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated Industries of Florida, and the […]

Melissa RossNovember 26, 2015

The Florida Retail Federation is predicting a robust holiday shopping season this year, with FRF President/CEO Rick McAllister projecting a 4 1/2 percent increase in sales over 2014. “It’s going to be a good year,” said McAllister in a statewide conference call with media outlets. Noting that 30 percent of annual sales take place in […]

Peter SchorschNovember 26, 2015

corbellaWith all the talk of beleaguered immigrants seeking refuge in America, the true meaning of Thanksgiving is all too poignant this year. We’ve all seen the words “turkey” and “lobbyist” in the same sentence before. But, more than likely, this referred to the role of special interests in securing political pork for clients. Indeed, Florida’s […]

Staff ReportsOctober 28, 2015

Rick McAllister, the Florida Retail Federation’s longtime president and CEO, is retiring at the end of this year. He’s led the FRF for 14 years. Veteran FRF Executive Vice President Randy Miller will become the new president/CEO, beginning Jan. 1. According to an FRF news release, McAllister led the organization to “unprecedented success, recognition and prestige.” […]

Mitch PerryOctober 15, 2015

Florida Agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam raised over $323,000 in the third-quarter of this year in his amassing nearly $2 million for the political committee he created earlier this year. Florida Grown, the name of the committee, has now raised a total of over $2.3 million – $2,394,383.22 to be exact. Putnam is considered to be one of the leading […]

Tag: Florida Retail Federation

Florida Retail Federation calls on Senate to support sales tax holidays

Florida Retail Federation elevates Randy Miller to President

Florida Retail Federation expects spike in holiday fraud

This holiday season is brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations

Florida retailers expect fraud to rise in 2015

In Florida, the rent (tax) is too damn high, groups say

Florida Retail Federation: 2015 holiday shopping season will be “robust”

Thanksgiving, as brought to you by these lobbyists and political associations

Florida Retail Federation President Rick McAllister to retire

Adam Putnam adds $323,816 to his PAC in 3rd quarter of fundraising