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Staff ReportsApril 13, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a pared down tax package Wednesday, holding a bill signing ceremony in Jacksonville. Among other things, the bill permanently eliminates the sales tax charged on manufacturing equipment. It also creates a three-day back-to-school tax holiday. That tax holiday runs from Aug. 5 through Aug. 7. Randy Miller, president and CEO […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMarch 11, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott kicks off his “Million Billion Jobs” victory tour Monday. The self-proclaimed jobs governor is visiting five cities celebrating creating more than 1 million jobs in five years and $1 billion in tax cuts for Florida families over the past two years. “The debate in Florida is now about how we can create […]

Jim RosicaMarch 11, 2016

It was among the last on the list Friday, but the Legislature passed a tax-cut package worth $129 million. The Senate vote was 35-4, with four Democrats opposed: Dwight Bullard of Miami, Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth, Arthenia Joyner of Tampa, and Oscar Braynon of Miami Gardens. That sent it back to the House, which passed […]

Associated PressMarch 10, 2016

Putting behind a year’s worth of rancor, the Florida Legislature on Friday will approve a more than $82.3 billion budget that includes a slight boost in money for schools but also rejects many of Gov. Rick Scott‘s main priorities. Just a few months ago the Republican-controlled Legislature was rushing to pass a budget to avoid […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2016

The 2016 tax package was back in the Senate Thursday, one day before the end of the 2016 Legislative Session, with state Sen. Dorothy Hukill trying to safely land the more than 100-page bill. Ironically, a watchdog group issued a report the same day that said the real tax problem in Florida isn’t at the state level, […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2016

A squabble over tourist taxes, a last-minute amendment to the Senate’s tax cut package, sucked up about half of the 2016 Legislative Session’s last Senate Appropriations meeting, killing bills left hanging on the agenda. The panel OK’d the House plan (HB 7099) after amending it with the Senate’s own tax package. The legislation promises about $129 million in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 1, 2016

Keep sales tax holidays. That’s the message the Florida Retail Federation is sending to state lawmakers as the Florida Senate decides whether to hear the House’s sweeping tax-cut proposal. The Senate Appropriations committee on Tuesday was scheduled to hear the proposal (HB 7099), where senators were proposing a strike-all amendment that, among other things, would […]

Ryan RayFebruary 26, 2016

House and Senate budget writers met Friday night to organize the 2016 Budget Conference process. They plan to meet through the weekend as they negotiate how to reconcile the $1 billion gulf between their spending plans as they allocate taxpayers’ money to keep Florida’s government running. Rep. Richard Corcoran, House budget chief, said after the […]

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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 11, 2016

The Florida House passed a wide-sweeping tax cut package Thursday, setting the scene for negotiations with the Senate over the tax reductions. The House voted 96 to 17 to support the nearly $1 billion proposal, getting the support of several House Democrats. “Here’s in Florida we’re running counter-culture to many of the decisions that are […]

Tag: tax cuts
Missile in Pakistan/India war. Image via AP

Capitol Reax: Rick Scott signs tax cut package

Rick Scott to launch jobs creation and “tax cut victory” tour

Tax cut package finally clears Legislature

Lawmakers poised to approve nearly $82.3 billion budget

With clock ticking, tax package discussed in Senate

Tug of war over tax package kills bills

Florida Retail Federation calls on Senate to support sales tax holidays

Budget conferees begin weekend of negotiations

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

House approves $1 billion tax cut package