Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2017

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State Sen. Bill Galvano Wednesday filed an amendment to this year’s “whiskey and Wheaties” legislation to “slow its implementation so it doesn’t come into the marketplace all at once.” The bill (SB 106), filed for four years running, would repeal the Prohibition-era state law requiring businesses, such as grocery chains and big-box retailers, to have separate stores […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 7, 2017

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Legislation that would protect small business owners who enter into franchise agreements was filed Tuesday in the Florida Legislature. State Sen. Jack Latvala and Rep. Jason Brodeur announced their support of the “Protect Florida Small Business Act” (SB 750). The bill’s intent “is to promote fair business relations between franchisees and franchisors and to protect franchisees against unfair treatment […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 2, 2017

Dana Young is introducing new legislation to give small craft breweries the ability to move product through other craft breweries. But the “Big Beer” industry in Tallahassee is already expressing concerns about SB 554, the Senate proposal filed Thursday by the Republican from Tampa. The bill allows craft breweries producing under 7,000 kegs a year, and does not […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2017

Tampa Bay’s Legislative Delegation, with state lawmakers representing the area’s eight counties, spent two hours Wednesday in Clearwater discussing how to begin addressing the region’s myriad transportation issues. According to a new white paper prepared by the D.C.-based Enos Center for Transportation for the Tampa Bay Partnership, a regional structure for transportation planning, operations and decision-making is […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 23, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran late Monday said his chamber won’t agree to hand over any more money for the Department of Environmental Protection to pay its legal bills until the agency gives a full accounting of what’s already been spent. Corcoran was reacting to the DEP’s request to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission for an additional $13 million to pay outside legal […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 23, 2017

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has busted its outside legal expenses budget over the ongoing ‘water war’ between Georgia and Florida, legislative records show. It’s asking for an additional $13 million from the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which meets Tuesday — and even that may not be enough. Gov. Rick Scott‘s office approved the request […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2017

State Sen. Jack Latvala opposed a bill to regulate the use of fracking in the 2016 Session, and in the upcoming Session, he’ll support legislation that would do so again. “I’m where I was last year,” he said when asked about the controversial practice to extract natural gas and oil out of the ground. “I helped beat it last […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 3, 2017

Less than three years after Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation providing for state revenues to go toward constructing or improving professional sports franchise facilities, state Sen. Tom Lee wants to eliminate the program created to distribute those funds. “The Sports Development Program was ill-conceived and based on the false premise that these capital improvements are a boon for economic development,” the Brandon Republican said […]

Peter SchorschDecember 21, 2016

Tip o’ the hat to the Times’ Susan Taylor Martin for covering a blistering audit of the Florida Housing Finance Corp. (FHFC), which is supposed to be the steward of both state and federal affordable housing money. But let’s also give some credit where it’s due: In a series of three articles called “Who watches the […]

Joe HendersonDecember 19, 2016

Last April, in a news release by his office after signing HB-7099, Gov. Rick Scott bragged, “Over the past two years, Florida has cut more than $1 billion in taxes.” What a happy day that must have been for the governor. He has never met a tax he wouldn’t cut or gut, and that bill […]

Tag: Jack Latvala

Amendment would slow down effect of ‘whiskey and Wheaties’ bill

Jack Latvala, Jason Brodeur aim to protect franchisees

Dana Young files bill allowing craft breweries to distribute limited amounts of their own product

Tampa Bay Legislative Delegation attempts to find answers for regional transportation fix

Richard Corcoran: House won’t OK legal money for DEP

“Water wars” could cost the state another $13M in legal fees

Jack Latvala says he’ll support legislation banning fracking again in 2017 Session

Tom Lee wants to eliminate program designed to use taxpayers funds on sports facilities

We told you so: Audit blasts Florida Housing Finance Corp.

Rick Scott wants it both ways: cut taxes, fund services. Can it be done?