Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog organization, served up its annual list of “Budget Turkeys,” naming almost $178 million in line-item projects part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. For the Tampa Bay region, Florida TaxWatch targeted more than $33 million in local projects as individual line […]

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Thanksgiving is six months away, but Friday is “turkey” day for Gov. Rick Scott. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, released its annual “Budget Turkey List,” of almost $178 million in line-item projects that are part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. Budget Turkeys are individual […]

Scott PowersMay 26, 2017

State Rep. Rene Plasencia, a former public school teacher, was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as one of the state’s board members on the Southern Regional Education Board, a 16-state compact. “I am a firm believer we need to start reducing some of the high-stakes testing that we offer,” Plasencia told POLITICO Florida. “I want […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

Winston Churchill once said: “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Democrats are starting to formulate a strategy for Bill Nelson’s upcoming Senate re-election effort — more likely than not facing Gov. Rick Scott. Not one to waste a good opportunity, Nelson’s nascent campaign could receive a significant boost by way of a veto of the sweeping education […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 25, 2017

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott signed HB 457 into law, a measure that boosts penalties for terrorism charges. Among those charges: paramilitary training from foreign terrorist organizations; lending material support to those organizations; joining those organizations; and agri-terrorism. The bill creates a more expansive definition of “terrorism” and “terrorist activities” in the wake of the Pulse massacre in June. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 25, 2017

Florida will reduce the tax pay on business pay on rent, have two, three-day sales tax holidays, and eliminate the so-called tampon tax under a $180 million tax cut package signed by Gov. Rick Scott. Scott signed the measure (HB 7109) during an event at 3C Interactive in Boca Raton on Thursday. While the tax […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2017

John Tupps is heading back to the Governor’s Office. Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday that Tupps would be returning to the Governor’s Office as his communications director beginning June 5. He will replace Jackie Schutz Zeckman, who has been tapped to serve as Scott’s chief of staff. “John has demonstrated an incredible commitment to supporting […]

Guest AuthorMay 25, 2017

Last week, Gov. Rick Scott announced record-breaking tourism numbers in the Sunshine State. It may be the last time for a while. Ignoring extensive research, case studies and pleas from travel industry constituents across the state, the Florida Legislature slashed funding for VISIT Florida by a crippling 67 percent — recklessly jeopardizing the tourism industry’s […]

Staff ReportsMay 24, 2017

Add Sen. Jeff Clemens to the list of Democratic leaders backing Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. The Gillum campaign announced Wednesday that Clemens, the Senate Democratic Leader-designate, has endorsed Gillum’s 2018 gubernatorial bid. In a statement, Clemens called Gillum a “bold leader whose vision will transform Florida.” “Andrew will prioritize the people we serve, not the […]

Staff ReportsMay 24, 2017

Add Raquel Regalado to the list of politicos vying to replace Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Congress. Regalado, a former Miami-Dade school board member, announced Tuesday she was running to replace Ros-Lehtinen in Florida’s 27th Congressional District. The Miami Herald reported she is the second big-name Republican to enter the race, after Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro. […]

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Tampa Bay region marked for $33M in Florida TaxWatch ‘turkeys’

Rick Scott gets $178M serving of Florida TaxWatch ‘budget turkeys’

Rene Plasencia appointed to Southern Regional Education Board

Democrats have opportunity-in-crisis with Rick Scott education bill veto possibility

Rick Scott signs counterterrorism bill into law

Rick Scott signs $180M tax cut package into law

Rick Scott names John Tupps communications director

Gil Langley: Post-Session reflection on tourism marketing

Jeff Clemens endorses Andrew Gillum for Governor

Raquel Regalado announces bid to replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen