Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that the Tampa area added 31,800 jobs between July 2014 and July 2015, causing a 1.1 percentage point drop in the region’s unemployment. “With the second-highest number of jobs of all areas in the state last month, the Tampa economy continues to thrive,” Scott said in the announcement. “We will […]

Frank TorresAugust 2, 2015

Everyone has a role in their family. Mine, unfortunately, is often “chauffeur.” As the single guy living in the tourism capital of the world, with a family from the Midwest, I get to drive everyone around to the attractions and beaches when they visit. My siblings and cousins quickly use their children and traditional “9 to […]

Phil AmmannJuly 23, 2015

During Thursday’s visit to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home of Winter the Dolphin, Gov. Rick Scott took an opportunity to highlight Florida tourism, the state’s largest industry. In the current state budget, $74 million is set aside for VISIT FLORIDA, the quasi-governmental corporation tasked with attracting more tourists to the Sunshine State. In 2014, Florida […]

Daniel TilsonJuly 12, 2015

When is a “good” job growth report bad news? When it’s about Florida, and serves both to burnish Gov. Rick Scott’s ginned-up “job creator” status, and further the creation of a new socioeconomic order in the state. The job growth report released this month by ADP Research Institute places Florida second nationally with almost 32,000 […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 12, 2015

Legislative leaders on Friday said the House and Senate budget chairs would continue to work over the weekend in order to bring the General Appropriations Act in for a landing. The goal is for a copy of the budget to be on lawmakers’ desks by Tuesday so they can wait the mandated 72 hours before […]

Guest AuthorJune 1, 2015

Last month, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) voted to forgo purchasing U.S. Sugar-owned land to build a vital reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). That decision is a setback to Everglades restoration and to communities enduring damaging discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water along Florida’s east and west […]

Guest AuthorMay 31, 2015

Last month, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) voted to forgo purchasing U.S. Sugar-owned land to build a vital reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This decision is a setback to Everglades restoration and communities enduring damaging discharges of polluted Lake Okeechobee water along Florida’s east and west coasts. […]

Guest AuthorMay 12, 2015

As we all know, Florida is an odd state for politics; one where Republicans control the Cabinet, House and Senate, but where voters have supported a Democratic presidential candidate the last two cycles. On the important topic of energy, Florida’s red politicians get very purple. Traditionally, Republicans have supported the notion of offshore energy exploration, […]

Guest AuthorMarch 6, 2015

For decades casino lobbyists have tried to turn Florida into Las Vegas. But they have been turned back time and again by voters, legislators, governors and business groups that understand the toxic nature of gambling economics. But gambling lobbyists are back again, this time pushing for the biggest expansion of gambling in Florida’s history. There […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 27, 2015

Floridians’ consumer sentiment rose more than a point from last month to 94.7 in February, the seventh straight month of increase, according to a new University of Florida survey. “Economic optimism among Floridians continues to advance as many of the fundamentals show improvement,” said Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau […]

Tag: tourism

Tampa Bay region adds 31,000 jobs in past 12 months, as unemployment drops to 5.4%

“Orlando North” concept is wrong for Seminole County

Gov. Scott visits Clearwater Aquarium to highlight record tourism

Dan Tilson: Rick Scott’s job-growth puffery masks Florida’s low-wage future

Everybody’s working over the weekend, really

Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation still eager to work with Legislature on water storage

Eric Eikenberg: Everglades Foundation still eager to work with Legislature on water storage

Barney Bishop: Florida should take head out of the sand, allow offshore seismic surveying

John Sowinski: Dana Young's gambling bill encourages parasite casinos

Floridians’ consumer confidence continues upward trend