Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

The bill train to Gov. Rick Scott continued Tuesday, with another packet of legislation heading to his desk for review and possible signature. The latest bills include: HB 59 – Relating to Agritourism – Prohibits local government from regulating “agritourism” activity on land classified as agricultural. HB 75 – Relating to Electronic Monitoring Devices – […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

Echoing a Seminole Tribe attorney earlier in the day, Senate budget chief Tom Lee opened the possibility that provisions added to the Seminole Compact to placate the state’s pari-mutuels were a “ransom” that tanked the legislation. Lee, the Brandon Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee, spoke to reporters after his panel finished its Tuesday meeting. As the […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2016

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The University of Central Florida has secured another $3 million in private donations – this time from Orlando-based Dr. Phillips Charities – and takes its bid for a downtown campus to the Board of Governors Wednesday still short but full of confidence. UCF President John Hitt and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined Dr. Phillips Charities […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

If the Seminole Compact and related legislation don’t pass this session, lawmakers will have no one to blame but themselves, the tribe’s Tallahassee-based attorney said Tuesday. Barry Richard, who represents the Seminole Tribe of Florida, blamed the apparent Tuesday morning collapse of the 2016 gambling bills on lawmakers bending over backward to appease the state’s dog […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 28, 2016

Budget negotiations kicked off Friday night after days of will-they-or-won’t-they speculation. But the first meeting unveiled some surprising revelations. That $1 billion tax cut the House passed a few weeks ago? It’s now a $400 million tax cut. The $250 million the Senate set aside for the Florida Enterprise Fund? Nonexistent. House and Senate budget writers are trying […]

Ryan RayFebruary 26, 2016

House and Senate budget writers met Friday night to organize the 2016 Budget Conference process. They plan to meet through the weekend as they negotiate how to reconcile the $1 billion gulf between their spending plans as they allocate taxpayers’ money to keep Florida’s government running. Rep. Richard Corcoran, House budget chief, said after the […]

Bob SparksFebruary 25, 2016

Sometimes during legislative sessions some unusual partnerships develop. Unlikely alliances can form to pass or defeat a measure that fits a common goal. Florida has provided a prime example of such teamwork. The philosophy of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” syndrome has played out in the area of economic incentives. House Bill […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday signaled he would approve a bill to remove and replace a statue of a Confederate army general as one of Florida’s two entries in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The House passed the Senate’s bill (SB 310) by a vote of 83-32 earlier in the day. The House put aside its version (HB 141) […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday suggested, with as much subtext as he could muster, that lawmakers need to come around on his two main budget goals for 2016-17: $1 billion in tax cuts and $25o million for business incentives. After all, legislative leadership passed their priority bills early on, which Scott happily signed. The message was […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 24, 2016

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After a debate that included mentions of monsters, Robert A. Heinlein and the Tampa Bay Rays, the Florida House of Representatives Wednesday passed its 2016 business and economic incentives package, including the framework for Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposed $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund. As bill sponsor Jim Boyd reminded members, it still has no funding: “This is a structure bill, […]

Tag: Gov. Rick Scott
Image via AP.

More bills headed to Rick Scott for signing

Gambling concessions to pari-mutuels same as “ransom,” Tom Lee says

UCF gets another $3 million for downtown campus, heads to Board of Governors

Effort to appease pari-mutuels is killing Seminole Compact

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Everything is not awesome

Budget conferees begin weekend of negotiations

Bob Sparks: Battle over economic incentives features unlikely alliances

Rick Scott says he’ll sign Confederate statue bill

Rick Scott calls session “successful” – but still hasn’t got what he wants

House passes incentives measure desired by Rick Scott