Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2015

Florida’s corporate tax rate of 5.5% is among the lowest in the U.S. But if it were solely up to Rick Scott, it would be completely eliminated. The governor campaigned in 2010 on eliminating the state’s corporate tax by the end of his second term in office. Although the Legislature has resisted such a tax cut so […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 25, 2015

Florida’s corporate tax rate of 5.5% is among the lowest in the U.S. But if it were solely up to Rick Scott, it would be completely eliminated. The governor campaigned in 2010 on eliminating the state’s corporate tax by the end of his second term in office. Although the Legislature has resisted such a tax cut so […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 21, 2015

Today, nonpartisan government watchdog group Integrity Florida called on federal authorities to investigate potential violations of the civil rights conspiracy statute by state government officials in Florida. According to a recent Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald report, former Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Gerald Bailey alleged that Gov. Rick Scott and his top advisers conspired to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2015

As more calls for an independent investigation regarding the sacking of former FDLE chief Gerald Bailey grow, Rick Scott tried to stay on message today during an appearance in Tampa. After making an announcement regarding new funding for STEM education at Chromalloy, a global technology company located in Tampa’s Sabal Park just east from the […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 23, 2014

If the Legislature decrees that two plus two equals five or that water runs uphill, does that make it so? A similar question is percolating in the Florida courts. Does a blind trust constitute “full and public disclosure” of the financial interests of a public official? Common sense says no. A law passed in 2013 […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 24, 2014

In Germany two weeks ago, we were impressed by the multitude of solar arrays along the autobahn. There were too many to count. They perched on the rooftops of homes, apartment buildings, barns, offices, shops, storage sheds and garages. They were free-standing in cornfields and pastures — any place with a southern exposure and space […]

Guest AuthorJune 10, 2014

Florida’s state-run insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., is due for another investigation. This review is needed following the report “Revolving door of Citizens executives to companies with contracts raises questions” by Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times. The Herald/Times report found that at least three senior executives at Citizens went to work […]

Mark FerruloMarch 26, 2014

When you hear about a $2,000 dinner bill at a barbeque restaurant, you might think Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are in town. But if you’ve been following how Florida’s “economic development” agency, Enterprise Florida, has been operating under Gov. Rick Scott’s stewardship, you wouldn’t be surprised to find that it was actually just another […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 24, 2014

Corruption shrinks from sunlight; disclosure is the key to accountability. The public has long known that to hold elected officials and candidates accountable, we must be able to follow the money. In 2013, true to Florida’s laudable open-government history and culture, our Legislature enacted a package of significant campaign finance reforms. Championed by House Speaker […]

Guest AuthorOctober 1, 2013

Florida needs to take the problem of public corruption more seriously. Florida led the nation in federal public corruption convictions between 2000 and 2010 and recently three of our mayors were arrested in one month. Even the New York Times is calling Florida a “hothouse for corruption.” A reputation for corruption hurts all Floridians and undermines […]

Tag: Integrity Florida
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

New report says Florida taxpayers subsidize state's biggest corporations

New report says Florida taxpayers subsidize state’s biggest corporations

Integrity Florida calls for federal investigation into Baileygate

In Tampa, Rick Scott feels the heat as the Gerald Bailey controversy grows

Martin Dyckman: Blind trusts protect the politicians, not the taxpayers

Martin Dyckman: How Florida laws are made and utility regulators are appointed leave the state way behind Germany in use of solar energy

Dan Krassner: Citizens Property Insurance due for another investigation

Mark Ferrulo: Enterprise Florida’s wasteful spending needs to be investigated

Lester Abberger & Marilynn Wills: Put all campaign finance reports online

Dan Krassner: Florida must rid itself of corruption reputation