Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonDecember 19, 2016

Last April, in a news release by his office after signing HB-7099, Gov. Rick Scott bragged, “Over the past two years, Florida has cut more than $1 billion in taxes.” What a happy day that must have been for the governor. He has never met a tax he wouldn’t cut or gut, and that bill […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 29, 2016

A new ad from Congressional District 4 Republican Hans Tanzler attempts to draw “contrasts” between him and his opponent, “Liberal John Rutherford.” Tanzler’s ad paints a picture of Rutherford as a tax-and-spend liberal who opposes the National Rifle Association. “Liberal John Rutherford grew government spending. Fought for higher taxes. And opposed the NRA. Rutherford also made Jacksonville […]

Scott PowersJuly 20, 2016

Darden Restaurants lost a tax dispute with Orange County Wednesday that will result in the Orlando-based restaurant chain company having to pay $330,000 in back taxes and put $18.7 million of tangible personal property back on the county tax roll. The dispute led to Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh suing the company over tangible […]

Guest AuthorApril 21, 2016

In mid-April every year, Americans take a quote from Benjamin Franklin to heart – and the bank. He said that “nothing in life can be certain except death and taxes.” At the federal, state and local level, Americans are subjected to various taxes that chip away at their paychecks. While Floridians enjoy one of the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 18, 2016

Move to Florida to save some cash. That’s the pitch Gov. Rick Scott made Monday as he encouraged families and business owners to consider a move to the Sunshine State. The annual state and local tax collections per capita in Florida was $3,365 in fiscal 2012, according to the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based tax […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 29, 2016

Yale University should move to Florida. At least, that’s what Gov. Rick Scott thinks should happen. In a news release Tuesday, Scott called on the Ivy League university to consider moving its operations to the Sunshine State. The proposition comes as Connecticut lawmakers are proposing a 7 percent tax on the net investment profits of […]

Gary FineoutMarch 11, 2016

The Florida Legislature is expected on Friday to approve a more than $82.3 billion budget for 2016-17 that is roughly 5 percent larger than this year’s budget. Here are a few key items you should know about: – EDUCATION: The new budget increases day-to-day public school spending by $458 million, which translates into a 1 […]

Associated PressJanuary 2, 2016

Laws taking effect at the start of the new year show states diverging on some hot-button issues. Restrictions on carrying guns eased in Texas, for example, but got tighter in California. It is easier to register to vote in Oregon, but there is another step to take at the polls in North Carolina. The opposing […]

Staff ReportsNovember 25, 2015

As last-minute shoppers scarf up pre-cooked turkey breasts, pumpkin pies and canned veggies for Thanksgiving, it’s not always clear what they’ll pay tax on and what they won’t. No surprise, then that Florida TaxWatch has a quick guide to clue in those hapless supermarket-goers. Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of TaxWatch, says his group is […]

Associated PressSeptember 30, 2015

Republicans came into this presidential campaign with painful memories of how, in the last one, Democrats blasted Mitt Romney’s tax plan as a giveaway to the rich. Yet Donald Trump‘s tax plan adds to the number of major GOP presidential candidates who propose to cut all taxes — but especially those for the wealthy — […]

Tag: taxes
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Rick Scott wants it both ways: cut taxes, fund services. Can it be done?

Hans Tanzler ad slams ‘liberal John Rutherford’

Darden Restaurants loses tax dispute with Orange County

Dominic Calabro: Floridians’ tax burden is less than in many other states

On Tax Day, Rick Scott tells families, businesses to move to Florida to save on taxes

Rick Scott to Yale University: Come to Florida

Highlights from Florida’s new $82.3 billion budget

New laws in 2016 show states are diverging on guns, voting

Florida TaxWatch talks taxes and Thanksgiving

Republican field pushes tax cuts bound to drive up debt