Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaAugust 1, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday set the dates for elections to fill House District 58, recently vacated by GOP state Rep. Dan Raulerson, who stepped down for health reasons. Scott signed an executive order setting Oct. 10 for the primary election and Dec. 19 for the general election. Raulerson’s resignation is effective Aug. 15, meaning the […]

Scott PowersJune 27, 2017

Vacation home-rental marketing giant Airbnb said Tuesday its expanding list of tax agreements and its growing business should lead it to equal last year’s total sales and tourist tax payments just in the first six months of 2017. The company announced that its five-month totals in sales and tourist taxes paid to the state and […]

Staff ReportsMarch 14, 2017

A bill to shutter the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Committee continued its rapid pace through the House, quickly passing the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Tuesday. Transportation and Infrastructure, which oversees taxicabs and limousines, has clashed with municipalities lately over the regulation of ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. In past years, several members of the […]

Les NeuhausMarch 8, 2017

A bill introduced and passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Wednesday would take away a tool long since considered useful, but increasingly controversial – the power of discretion. The measure – SB 196 — could drastically limit what those in the policing community could do when responding to calls involving […]

Joe HendersonMarch 7, 2017

The Hillsborough County public school district has straightforward rules in its student handbook about religion. It says students can talk about religion, practice their religion, can be excused to observe a religious holiday, and – most important for the context of our discussion today – decide for themselves whether they want to participate in things […]

Erin ClarkMarch 3, 2017

As Florida legislators consider ways to get more high-achieving charter schools into the state, school districts have another concern: getting more teachers into the state. The national teacher shortage is hitting Florida hard. Hillsborough County alone could use another 500 teachers. Advocacy group Teachers of Tomorrow identifies Florida as one of the top five states […]

Les NeuhausMarch 1, 2017

A 2-year-old boy died after his half-sister left him in a hot car parked outside a Tampa-area day care for several hours while the girl was working, a law enforcement spokesman said Wednesday. Hillsborough County Sheriff deputies were called to the Oak Park Shopping Center Tuesday at 2:40 p.m. at the corner of W. Lumsden […]

Joe HendersonFebruary 8, 2017

In 2012, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan went on a personal crusade to convince Bass Pro Shops to build a store in Brandon. Hagan’s aim was to create jobs as the county struggled to recover from the Great Recession. He proposed an “incentive” package that was about $15 million of taxpayer money, arguing that it […]

Peter SchorschDecember 27, 2016

As 2016 draws to a close, more Tampa Bay area residents than ever will turn to Uber for safe, affordable rides to and from New Year’s Eve celebrations. Once again, Uber is partnering with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Tampa Police Department and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to provide area residents and visitors a […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2016

Airbnb has reached an agreement Wednesday with the Hillsborough County Tax Collector Office, in a deal that could immediately add thousands of dollars in county revenue. Home hosts in Hillsborough will begin paying bed taxes for overnight guests, which is estimated at about one-quarter million dollars a year. Airbnb will collect and remit taxes from 838 […]

Tag: Hillsborough County

Election dates set for Dan Raulerson’s House seat

Airbnb says county agreements should lead it to equal 2016 tax payments in first six months

House committee pushes through local bill abolishing Hillsborough PTC

Appropriations Committee approves bill removing police ‘discretion tool’ in first-time cases with juveniles

Just imagine huge can of worms opened by religious liberty bill

Florida needs teachers, but high schoolers aren’t interested

Toddler dies after hours in hot car parked outside Tampa day care

On Rick Scott/Richard Corcoran feud; ‘incentives’ not needed to draw business to Florida

Uber, MADD, Hillsborough County want New Year’s Eve celebrants to #LeaveTheKeys for safety

Airbnb reaches agreement with Hillsborough County over tourist taxes