Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Lloyd DunkelbergerJune 21, 2018

A U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding the ability of states to pull in tax dollars from online purchases could have a significant impact in Florida. In a 5-4 ruling Thursday, the nation’s highest court upheld a South Dakota law that allowed the state to apply its sales tax to major online retailers, even if they […]

Danny McAuliffeJune 20, 2018

The state continues to be a relatively low-tax environment, but Floridians still face higher local tax burdens than others, according to a new report from fiscal watchdog nonprofit Florida TaxWatch. One of just seven states without a personal income tax, Florida’s state and local tax revenue figures out to $5,679 per person — the ninth-lowest […]

Danny McAuliffeJune 4, 2018

As its name suggests, Amendment 2 Is For Everybody — the campaign supporting the second proposal on the November ballot — is spreading the word that voting in favor of Amendment 2 would benefit all Floridians. The campaign hosted a Facebook Live panel on Monday with private-industry tax experts who claimed Amendment 2, which seeks to […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

Fausto Gomez, President of Gomez Barker Advisors, recently joined the Board of Trustees of Florida TaxWatch, the taxpayer research institute and watchdog organization. With his addition, TaxWatch says it’s bringing one of Florida’s “most-respected government relations counselors” on board. “We are thrilled to welcome Fausto Gomez,” TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said in a […]

Staff ReportsMay 15, 2018

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Asked for a 30-second ‘elevator speech‘ on why voters should choose ‘yes’ for Amendment 2 in November, Florida TaxWatch president Dominic M. Calabro didn’t blink. “If you don’t vote ‘yes,’ either you or your neighbors will see massive tax increases and great deal of property tax dissatisfaction … anger even, if we see property taxes jump […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2018

Per the Florida Times-Union reportage of Wednesday’s Florida Taxwatch media call, $12.5 million state money for the Talleyrand Connector was a “turkey” in the state budget. The Talleyrand Connector will tear down Jacksonville’s current Hart Bridge offramps, routing traffic toward JAXPORT and the Sports Complex. The “turkey” designation was because the money circumvented usual process, added in late […]

Michael MolineApril 4, 2018

Florida’s new $88.7 billion state budget contains 87 “turkeys” worth $147.5 million, Florida TaxWatch announced Wednesday, including nearly $120 million in transportation projects slipped in by state legislators without formal evaluation. That helped starve arts spending. The Department of State had ranked 489 cultural, museum, and other arts projects worth $41.6 million, but the Legislature […]

Jim RosicaMarch 16, 2018

Talk about pre-emption. With Gov. Rick Scott speedily approving the 2018-19 state budget and issuing line-item vetoes just two days after it hit his desk, Florida TaxWatch was prevented from holding its signature event: The annual presentation of “Budget Turkeys.” “This historically, exceptionally fast turnaround time did not allow Florida TaxWatch to fully complete the meticulous […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 10, 2018

Tradition abounds in Tallahassee as Florida lawmakers return to begin the people’s business for 2018. The annual 60-day Legislative Session began Tuesday with Rick Scott’s State of the State address — his last as Governor — followed by the custom of opening statements from each chamber’s leader charting past accomplishments and future goals. But among […]

Jim RosicaNovember 17, 2017

Chris Hart IV, who last was with Florida TaxWatch, will be the next CEO of the statewide Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association, according to a Friday press release. He starts Dec. 4. Hart “will provide strong leadership to our association,” said Marcia M. Johnson, Franklin County Clerk and Comptroller and 2017-18 Board President, in a statement. […]

Tag: Florida TaxWatch
Image via AP.

Internet tax ruling could be major for Florida

Report: Overall taxation low, but local burdens high

‘There’s no catch’: Amendment 2 supporters say it’s for everyone

Personnel note: Fausto Gomez joins TaxWatch board

TaxWatch stumps for property-tax cap on November ballot

Lenny Curry, Aaron Bean, Marco Rubio claim Jacksonville Talleyrand Connector is no ‘turkey’

Florida TaxWatch finds $147.5 million in ‘turkeys’ in state budget

Quick budget turnaround cuts TaxWatch off at the pass

Florida TaxWatch turns focus to taxpayers with annual Session event

Personnel note: Chris Hart IV to head Court Clerks group