Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 17, 2017

Legislation to reconfigure the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) was approved Monday by the Florida Senate Commerce Committee. However, the bill passed with changes taking some power from the agency and giving it to the state. Sponsored by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, SB 1672 would change TBARTA to a transit agency (no longer transportation) and would encompass […]

Mitch PerryApril 17, 2017

A Senate bill to repeal a program offering public funding from sales taxes to offset the cost of professional sports facility construction and renovations died in committee Monday. Although no arguments were uttered against the proposal, SB 236 failed to win approval in the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism. The legislation, sponsored by Brandon Republican Tom […]

Rosanne DunkelbergerApril 17, 2017

In the venue where newly qualified, but unlikely, candidate Rick Scott introduced himself to Tallahassee in 2010 and another potential gubernatorial candidate, John Morgan, came to visit in February, Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala paid a visit Monday to the Capital Tiger Bay Club. While rumors swirl about Latvala’s possible 2018 run for Florida’s top […]

Mitch PerryApril 17, 2017

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Tom Lee insists he never wanted to air any “dirty laundry” about Tampa International Airport when he attempted to introduce an amendment to the Florida Senate’s budget last Wednesday that would have the airport independently audited. But the Brandon Republican says that there are too many unanswered questions about how the airport is being run for him to […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2017

Sparks flew on the floor of the Florida Senate Wednesday between Tampa Bay-area Republicans after Tom Lee stated that “potential public corruption” is taking place at Tampa International Airport. The Brandon Republican then proposed inserting an amendment to the Senate budget calling for the Auditor General to review spending at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which is […]

Scott PowersApril 12, 2017

A Florida Legislature Conference Committee showdown appears likely over how much money will be cut from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s office now that the Florida Senate passed a budget package Wednesday that includes a much smaller cut than is being proposed in the Florida House. Engineered by state Sen. Randolph Bracy, an Oakland Democrat, […]

Scott PowersApril 11, 2017

Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala‘s office would take a much smaller budget hit this year under a compromise worked out by state Sen. Randolph Bracy and Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala Tuesday. Both the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives have been pursuing budget proposals that would have cut at least $1.3 million […]

Michael MolineApril 5, 2017

If House leaders really oppose special interests they’ll support the Lake Okeechobee plan the Senate Appropriations Committee approved Wednesday, chairman Jack Latvala said following the vote. “When you hear their stated objections that they’ve made publicly, it’s always had to do with losing jobs or the amount of bonding involved,” Latvala told reporters. “We’ve pretty […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2017

Jack Latvala raised more than $250,000 in the first week of March, much of which was raised in a single day. Florida Leadership Committee, the Clearwater Republican’s political committee, raised at least $252,160 between March 1 and March 6, according to contribution data posted to the committee’s website. The committee received about $244,600 of that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2017

Adam Putnam is poised to have another record fundraising month, laying the groundwork for his likely 2018 gubernatorial run. Florida Grown, the political committee that will fuel Putnam’s likely 2018 run, raised at least $872,841 in March, according to contribution data posted on the committee’s website. That sum is expected to rise to nearly $1.1 […]

Tag: Jack Latvala
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Senate advances plan for new Tampa Bay-area transit agency

Senate committee kills bill to repeal controversial sports-development program

House ‘assault’ derails Senate, budget chief Jack Latvala tells Tiger Bay

Tom Lee not backing down on claim of questionable spending at Tampa International Airport

Sparks fly with Tampa Bay GOP senators over Tom Lee’s call for Tampa International Airport audit

Florida Senate passes budget with limited cut to Aramis Ayala’s office

Randolph Bracy, Jack Latvala reach compromise on Senate cut to Aramis Ayala’s office

Jack Latvala argues revised Lake Okeechobee project defangs its critics

Jack Latvala raises more than $244K on eve of 2017 Legislative Session

Adam Putnam political committee brings in big bucks in March