Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Wednesday saw the Jacksonville-centric Discretionary Sales Surtax bill clear the Senate Rules Committee (SB 1652), scheduled at the same time as the third reading in the House (HB 1297). Central to the pitch: bill sponsor Rob Bradley and Mayor Lenny Curry, whose sales job gets better with every committee stop… especially important because Curry will have to sell […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 23, 2016

House lawmakers spent nearly two hours Tuesday setting up the chamber’s 2016 business and economic incentives package, which will likely be debated and voted on by that chamber on Wednesday. A line of Democrats barraged sponsor Jim Boyd, a Bradenton Republican, with questions on the measure (HB 1325) before it was finally rolled over to a third […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

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A concept of “deal” implies that each side gets “something.” Not so with Uber and the taxi industry. So far, in all negotiations, Uber has stuck to everything they want, yet offering little (or nothing) in return. From the onset, Uber’s arrival in Florida quickly became a matter of ignoring the existing rules, beginning with […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 19, 2016

The bill meant to be the vehicle for the House of Representatives’ 2016 business and economic incentives package will be considered by the full chamber soon. But it still doesn’t have a dollar amount. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli yanked the legislation (HB 1325) from its remaining committee stops this week, meaning it will go straight to […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2016

A series of rewrites to Florida’s economic-incentive programs, a chief priority of Gov. Rick Scott, passed its first House panel Tuesday afternoon. Lobby Tools reports that HB 1325, from Bradenton Republican Rep. Jim Boyd, seeks to establish a new Florida Enterprise Fund, as well as changes in the process of administering economic incentives for businesses […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

Florida Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner‘s bill to increase salaries of all state legislators from (SB 712) was shot down in committee on Tuesday. Under her bill, the salaries of the members of representatives and senators would rise from $29,600 to $50,000 annually. The House Speaker and Senate President’s salaries would rise to $57,000. Joyner, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 16, 2016

Residents in eight state Senate districts will be receiving a mailer from Americans for Prosperity-Florida in the coming days. The organization announced Tuesday it has launched a direct mail campaign to tell Floridians about a proposal moving through the state Senate that includes film production and sports incentives. The measure (SB 1646), sponsored by Sen. […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2016

Orlando’s theme park behemoths – mostly Walt Disney companies – have already poured $2.77 million into campaign and political committees and parties for this election cycle so far, preferring Republicans by almost 3 to 1 over Democrats. Disney, as usual, leads the way, with a combination of cash and in-kind services (typically providing tickets or […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 10, 2016

As the Florida Senate began considering its proposed $80.9 billion budget, state Sen. Don Gaetz on Wednesday defended his recommendation for a $30 million competitive grants program for after-school mentoring instead of direct funding. Gaetz, who chairs the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said he wanted to save nonprofits on “expensive lobbying and the anguish of the Legislative Session.” […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

A Senate committee Tuesday unanimously approved a bill enabling insurance companies to sell standalone sinkhole policies for damages falling short of catastrophic loss, reports LobbyTools. The bill “would allow people to go out on the market and buy sinkhole coverage, standalone, not tied to their homeowner’s insurance,” said Sen. Jack Latvala, sponsor of Senate Bill […]

Tag: Jack Latvala
Stock image via Adobe.

Jax Pension Tax bill clears final Senate committee

House members grapple with incentives funding process

The case for the taxis not making a legislative deal with Uber & Lyft

House economic incentives bill heading to floor

House committee OK’s rewrite of state economic incentive program

Committee shoots down pay raise for lawmakers

Americans for Prosperity-Florida launching direct mail campaign targeting sports, film incentives

Orlando’s theme park companies pour at least $2.77 million into state politics

Senate budget: Don Gaetz questioned over mentoring funding

Senate panel unanimously OKs standalone sinkhole insurance bill