Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorFebruary 19, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has long positioned Florida as a formidable foe to Texas when it comes to job creation. For years, he has pushed his “jobs, jobs, jobs” agenda by holding up the Lone Star State as a model for Florida to emulate. But a new measure making its way through the Legislature should help […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 18, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott used a stop in Southwest Florida to whip up support for his $1 billion tax cut proposal and $250 million Enterprise Florida fund. “Three years ago, we cut the sales tax, for only three years, unfortunately, for machinery equipment. We need to make that permanent,” said Scott during a stop at Arthrex […]

Ryan RayFebruary 18, 2016

Florida TaxWatch trumpeted the release of a new report Thursday morning, in which the conservative watchdog group endorsed plans to keep tax dollars flowing to economic incentives along the lines of those favored by Gov. Rick Scott, including $250 million Scott has requested for a dedicated fund for Enterprise Florida business recruitment efforts. The report titled “A […]

Associated PressFebruary 18, 2016

The heads of 10 Florida state agencies will keep their jobs. The Florida Senate voted Thursday to confirm top officials appointed by Gov. Rick Scott. They also confirmed Rick Swearingen who was appointed the head of Florida’s law-enforcement agency by Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet. The vote was important because state law would […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2016

A measure sponsored by Palm Harbor Republican Rep. Chris Sprowls to provide more transparency about health care costs advanced in the House Health & Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Sprowls said that among the provisions in the bill (HB 1175) would include allowing access for patients to learn about specific cost assessments that hospitals charge, as […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2016

Tallahassee – WWGGD? Okay, nobody is saying that, but let me pose the question that Florida Democrat will begin talking about more frequently as the year progresses – What Will Gwen Graham Do? The North Florida Congresswoman told reporters at a news conference in Tallahassee yesterday that she still has not decided if she’ll run […]

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 […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 16, 2016

With the state’s citrus industry in free-fall, Florida’s leading growers are calling for the Department of Citrus to “be scaled back considerably,” saying they “do not believe current marketing programs are generating an economic return.” A dozen growers, including Florida Citrus Hall of Famer Ben Hill Griffin III, signed and sent a letter Monday to Florida Citrus Commission […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 16, 2016

The Florida Senate Health Policy Committee today will decide Dr. John Armstrong’s fate as a group of bipartisan senators confront Florida’s surgeon general with tough questions that include his absent leadership on HIV/AIDS. Florida leads the nation with the highest rate of new HIV infections. Like that of President Ronald Reagan’s shameful legacy of refusing […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 16, 2016

Adam Putnam was met by a crowd of angry Treasure Coast residents during a stop in Martin County last week. Putnam, the state’s agriculture commissioner, was greeted by protesters calling on the state and the Army Corps of Engineers to stop discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the Indian River Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee River. In […]

Tag: Rick Scott

William Mattox: Legislators should let high-school athletes attend school of their choice

Rick Scott tells Southwest Floridians to urge lawmakers to support tax cuts

Florida TaxWatch backs Enterprise Florida fund, economic incentives

Florida Senate confirms 10 agency heads appointed by Rick Scott

Transparency, telehealth bills advance in House committee

Mitch Perry Report for 2.17.16 – What will Gwen Graham do?

House committee OK’s rewrite of state economic incentive program

State’s growers call for dramatic overhaul of Florida Department of Citrus

Michael Emanuel Rajner: Senate must reject Dr. John Armstrong, demand leadership on HIV/AIDS

Angry protesters demand that Adam Putnam put stop to Lake Okeechobee releases