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Staff ReportsOctober 31, 2018

It’s that time of year to be frightened — not by ghosts or goblins, but by Florida’s tax rules on candy. Every year, Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog, uses Halloween to demonstrate the state’s boggling rules on what gets taxed and what doesn’t. “Groceries are generally exempt from Florida sales tax, but candy can get confusing,” the […]

Drew WilsonOctober 29, 2018

Environmental group Sierra Club is getting ready for Halloween with a new quiz inviting Floridians to face their “most rational worst fears” when it comes to Gov. Rick Scott’s environmental policy. “Halloween is right around the corner, and, tbh, there’s some super scary stuff going on this year. Bomb threats, white nationalism, embattled midterm elections, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 26, 2018

The conservative, pro-environment group RepublicEN snuck a Halloween theme into its weekly newsletter Friday. The letter cautions readers not to be scared of “climate hoaxers” and offers up a classic Halloween song to get folks in the spooky mood — the “Monster Mash.” RepublicEN supports taking action to combat climate change through free market solutions and […]

Jacob OglesOctober 25, 2018

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Amendment 2 supporters summon very different demons to spook Democrats or Republicans into a ‘yes’ vote. The Amendment 2 is for Everybody PAC sent out different Halloween-themed direct mail pieces, each one laying out on a headstone the consequence of letting Florida’s property tax cap expire. “Amendment 2 is for everybody,” said Ann Howard, Amendment […]

Drew WilsonOctober 22, 2018

Florida Retailers are expecting their tills to be flush, not hexed, when Halloween rolls around later this month. According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, an affiliate of the Florida Retail Federation, consumers are expected to spend some frighteningly large sums celebrating the eve of All-Hallows — nearly enough to crack the all-time […]

Staff ReportsOctober 31, 2017

It’s that time of year to be frightened – not by ghosts or goblins, but by Florida’s tax rules on candy. Every year, Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog, uses Halloween to demonstrate the state’s boggling rules on what gets taxed and what doesn’t. “Groceries are generally exempt from Florida sales tax, but candy can get confusing,” it says. […]

Drew WilsonOctober 30, 2017

Consumer confidence may be down, but shoppers won’t be spooked on Halloween according to a new survey by the National Retail Federation. NRF, the parent group of the Florida Retail Federation, expects 179 million Americans to spend a combined $9.1 billion this year on all things Halloween — that’s 8 million more trick-or-treaters and $700 […]

Blake DowlingOctober 31, 2016

Technology can be scary. That said, my Halloween column focuses on some frightening examples of tech gone awry; some you might find scarier (dumb scary) than an Ernest movie. Who remembers those? AWFUL. Others are disturbing in a more realistic way. I recently noticed an email alert about a fake “blue screen of death.” An […]

Phil AmmannOctober 31, 2016

For many Floridians, the most unsettling part of Halloween isn’t ghosts, goblins, or zombies. It’s figuring the state’s tax rules on candy. The innocent goody bag can become a minefield of tax policy, with often-confusing rules governing grocery store purchases statewide and throughout the country. Florida TaxWatch, the nonprofit bipartisan government watchdog, uses Halloween to demonstrate exactly […]

Peter SchorschOctober 30, 2016

The witching hour is upon us. Ghosts and ghouls fill the streets. Zombies walk side-by-side with princesses and superheroes. Their mission the same: Spook and scare their neighbors in hopes of scoring enough candy to sustain them for the next year. Total spending for Halloween is expected to reach $8.2 billion in 2016, according to […]

Tag: Halloween

Florida TaxWatch says Halloween treats taxed trickily

Sierra Club opens ‘Rick Scott’s House of Horrors’

Pro-environment conservatives: Don’t let climate hoaxers spook you

Direct mail round-up: Invoking partisan spirits for Amendment 2

Florida Retailers expect scary good Halloween spending

Taxes tricky for Halloween treats, TaxWatch says

NRF survey predicts another record-setting Halloween for retailers

Blake Dowling: This Halloween, tech can be really scary

A real fright for Halloween: Florida tax rules on candy, treats

Halloween is brought you by these Florida lobbyists and political associations