Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2017

An organization representing the interests of Florida’s private colleges and universities released a “presidential honor roll” thanking some of the state’s top lawmakers for the historic increase in financial aid for Sunshine State students in the 2017 Legislative Session. The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida lobbies on behalf of about 30 private not-for-profit schools […]

Michael MolineMay 4, 2017

House and Senate budget negotiators traded final offers Thursday and pronounced their work done, bar some last-minute tidying up. “The budget is closed,” Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Lavala said. “We’ve got a couple of question marks, but this is not an opportunity to entertain any new issues. We’re going to resolve one or two issues, […]

Michael MolineApril 30, 2017

House and Senate negotiators agreed on $40 million in water projects and a $23 million higher education budget Sunday, but major decisions on charter schools, Lake Okeechobee restoration, and more remained unsettled. Carlos Trujillo and Jack Latvala, respectively the House and Senate budget chairmen, made progress during what Latvala said would be their last meeting […]

Michael MolineApril 27, 2017

House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo did not appear especially intimidated by Gov. Rick Scott’s tough talk on the state budget Thursday evening. That $200 million Scott seeks to repair the Herbert Hoover Dike, for example? Not likely. “That showed up about a week ago, and we’d already gone a far way down the road as […]

Staff ReportsApril 25, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has distributed a letter by Ben Watkins, director of the Division of Bond Finance, to the House and Senate budget chairmen, warning that cutting Visit Florida could damage the state’s credit rating. The letter, dated Tuesday, addressed to Jack Latvala in the Senate and Carlos Trujillo in the House, warns that cutting […]

Michael MolineApril 25, 2017

The House and Senate were on the brink Tuesday evening of agreeing to a framework for negotiating s budget deal, House Speaker Richard Corcoran told the House. “We are very, very, very close to having allocations agreed to with the Senate,” Corcoran announced from the speaker’s podium, drawing cheers from the members. “And I mean […]

Michael MolineApril 25, 2017

The House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to approve an $82.1 billion “standard operating budget,” in a move Democrats complained brought Washington-style dysfunction to Tallahassee. “I can tell you, we have spent every last, legitimate effort trying to compromise before we came to this point. It wasn’t for lack of effort. It wasn’t […]

Michael MolineApril 20, 2017

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With two weeks and change remaining in the 2017 Legislative Session, House and Senate budget leaders are professing optimism that they can resolve their differences and adjourn on time May 5. House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo — and Jack Latvala, his Senate counterpart — both said Thursday they hope to begin formal budget conference negotiations […]

Michael MolineApril 6, 2017

Advocates of assignment of benefits reform delivered 1,500 petition signatures to House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s office Thursday, renewing their campaign against what they consider dodgy lawsuits by unscrupulous contractors and attorneys. And no — they didn’t mean to imply anything untoward about the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The advocates, operating under the Florida […]

Michael MolineFebruary 7, 2017

The House Appropriations Committee gave a respectful reception Tuesday to Gov. Rick Scott’s $83.5 billion state budget Tuesday, with chairman Carlos Trujillo praising the spending plan as “conservative.” “It’s a very fair budget,” Trujillo told reporters following the meeting. “It was balanced. Some different priorities than we’ve expressed here in the House. But, overall, I […]

Tag: Rep. Carlos Trujillo

Private university advocacy group honors Florida lawmakers

Appropriations chiefs declare budget talks ‘closed’ — but with an asterisk

Big budget questions headed to House and Senate presiding officers

Rick Scott’s demand for budget priorities leaves Carlos Trujillo unfazed

Rick Scott enlists state bonds chief in fight for Visit Florida funding

Richard Corcoran: House and Senate ‘very, very, very’ close to budget deal

House ‘standard operating budget’ clears Appropriations Committee

Appropriations chiefs sound hopeful as clock ticks on state budget negotiations

AOB reformers, bearing petitions, insist no offense intended against House chair

A cordial House reception for Scott’s budget, despite off-stage rancor