Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

Bemoaning that a major Hollywood production set in Ybor City was recently filmed in Brunswick, Georgia, instead, the Tampa City Council is urging the Legislature to approve a film incentives proposal. For the fourth straight Legislative Session in Tallahassee, a measure that would provide tax incentives to lure film and television productions to Florida is being debated. Funding […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 21, 2016

Enterprise Florida was on the defensive Thursday as the state’s chief economist threw cold water on Gov. Rick Scott‘s proposed $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund. The Senate’s Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development held a workshop on the proposal. Amy Baker, head of the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, told lawmakers the governor’s […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2016

Before the Republican leadership in the Florida Senate coronates John Legg as Jack Latvala‘s successor, it might want to check with former state Rep. Ed Hooper. On Tuesday, Hooper told FloridaPolitics.com that he has mailed his paperwork to the Florida Division of Elections making him a candidate for Latvala’s north Pinellas seat, which will be […]

Associated PressJanuary 17, 2016

A major ethics and anti-corruption bill that advocates say is long overdue – but critics say may go too far – faces a rocky path in the Legislature. The legislation seeks to end what a 2010 grand jury called a “corruption tax” on Florida citizens amounting to millions a year in extra taxes, government fees […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

A measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has picked up a second Republican sponsor in the Florida Senate: Travis Hutson of St. Augustine. The group behind the the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act” (HB 45/SB 120) announced the move in a news release Friday. The prime sponsors […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2016

In the Florida Legislature, John Legg is one of the good guys. A protege of populist Mike Fasano, Legg is a dedicated, policy-driven lawmaker with years of legislative experience that run counter to his boyish looks. That said, Legg has been somewhat of an enigma lately, although it’s understandable why he’s been acting the way […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2016

Supporters of Pinellas Republican Chris Sprowls‘ bid to become Speaker of the Florida House at the beginning of the next decade have repeated a talking point again and again about rival Eric Eisnaugle: “We’re not sure who eventually will be Speaker in 2021, but we know it won’t be Eisnaugle.” They said that after the […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

A controversial new ethics proposal backed by the Gannett chain of newspapers has just scored an advancement in its quest to become law. The so-called “anti-corruption” bill that would hold government contractors to standards now applied to many elected officials has just been adopted as part of Sen. Don Gaetz‘s SB 686, an omnibus ethics reform […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 13, 2016

The financial cold shoulder Republican state Senators had been giving to the Republican Party of Florida appears to be thawing. As reported by several outlets after Monday’s campaign finance reporting deadline, the RPOF’s fundraising totals are their lowest in years. They even failed to double up the Florida Democratic Party, as was standard most years. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 12, 2016

Pinellas County Commissioners Tuesday passed an ordinance furthering the work of the Florida Legislature to curb human trafficking. Last year, the legislature approved a bill ultimately signed into law that gave county commissions the authority to place signs in certain locations educating the public about the labor and sex trafficking. The state law enacted in […]

Tag: Jack Latvala
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Tampa City Council wants Legislature to OK film incentives proposal

Enterprise Florida losing fight for $250 million incentives fund?

Former lawmaker Ed Hooper filing to succeed Jack Latvala in state Senate

Anti-corruption bill faces rocky path in Legislature

Support for LGBT-protection bill grows among Legislature’s GOP members

What is John Legg thinking (Part 2)?

Did Chris Sprowls just finally defeat Eric Eisnaugle for House Speaker … and by default?

Gannett public corruption bill now attached to broader Senate ethics package

Despite intraparty tension, state Senators pony up cash to Florida GOP

Pinellas County Commission expands state human trafficking initiative