Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 5, 2017

Ever since he was able to put a leash on rapper Pitbull‘s contract with VISIT Florida, Richard Corcoran has been the patron saint of those hoping to ferret out egregious government spending. Hospitals paying too much to their executives and lobbyists? Call Speaker Corcoran. Lottery makes a deal with a vendor which encumbers future legislative […]

Jim RosicaApril 27, 2017

Rick Scott did not look like he was negotiating. The governor fired a shot over the bow of the Legislature, all but demanding full funding in the state budget for his 2017-18 priorities: $200 million to begin fixing the dike at Lake Okeechobee, $100 million for VISIT FLORIDA, and salvaging Enterprise Florida from House Speaker […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 7, 2017

In prepared remarks for his speech Tuesday, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran again threw down the gauntlet to Senate leadership and the Governor’s office, offering an unapologetic defense of the House’s approach to state government under his watch. That said, Corcoran asserts that the House is willing to negotiate, to “come to the table, sit down and […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 27, 2017

Screen-Shot-2016-02-29-at-4.43.02-PM-1024x1024.png

In a letter to fellow members, state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz says House leadership now is planning to bifurcate its legislation to eliminate Enterprise Florida and to overhaul VISIT FLORIDA. The Senate, however, so far still intends to keep Enterprise Florida as part of its economic development tool chest. On Monday, Diaz – the Miami-Dade Republican who chairs the House […]

Scott PowersFebruary 24, 2017

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran made it clear Friday he is sticking to his drive to abolish Enterprise Florida Inc. and VISIT Florida saying the moves are right in philosophy and facts. “I’m telling you we’re right. We’re absolutely right,” Corcoran declared in a speech before the Central Florida Urban League. Corcoran described Enterprise Florida as […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

Screen-Shot-2017-02-21-at-1.14.44-PM.png

A House bill that would abolish the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, eliminate a throng of business incentive programs, and strip the VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency down to a barebones $25 million budget cleared its second and final panel Tuesday. That means the measure (HB 7005), OK’d by the House Appropriations Committee on an 18-12 vote, is ready to […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 20, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran offered a compromise Monday in his plan to kill the public-private VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency, but Gov. Rick Scott rejected it as a “massive cut.” One day before a bill (HB 7005) aimed at eliminating the organization gets its second and final committee review, an amendment to be offered by GOP state Rep. Paul Renner would save […]

Associated PressFebruary 16, 2017

Florida had another record-setting year for tourism despite natural disasters, a virus outbreak and a tragic attack on an Orlando nightclub. Gov. Rick Scott will announce Thursday at the Brevard Zoo that nearly 113 million tourists visited the state last year. This is the sixth year in a row that the numbers have climbed. Nearly […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 19, 2017

David Wilkins, who led the state’s perennially troubled child welfare agency, is now helping new CEO Ken Lawson right the ship at VISIT FLORIDA. An internal email sent Wednesday and shared with FloridaPolitics.com says Wilkins, secretary of the Department of Children and Families under Gov. Rick Scott in 2011-13, is “assisting VISIT FLORIDA in the review […]

Florence SnyderJanuary 2, 2017

Good on you, Jason Steele, for being the first person in the Space Florida boardroom to talk about the elephant. “We have not had a target on our back, but I promise you, and my crystal ball is very clear, the target will be on our back,” Steele told his fellow Space Florida directors, as […]

Tag: Pitbull

Richard Corcoran insists he’s not getting in the middle of Scientology vs. Clearwater Aquarium

Rick Scott demands full funding for tourism, development

Richard Corcoran: Florida House is keeping the faith with voters

House splitting legislation on incentives, tourism funding

Richard Corcoran says philosophy, facts drive his EFI, VISIT Florida axe

Bill to kill business incentives, Enterprise Florida cleared for House floor

Florida House, Rick Scott again at loggerheads over VISIT FLORIDA

Sunshine State has another banner year for tourism

David Wilkins consulting at struggling VISIT FLORIDA

Space Florida ‘Steeles’ itself for the winter that’s coming