Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 28, 2016

Among the most prized industry endorsements of candidates in Northeast Florida: those from NEFAR, aka the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. FloridaPolitics.com has received a list of the endorsements made thus far. In the state Senate races, there are no real surprises. Incumbents Aaron Bean, Rob Bradley, Audrey Gibson, and Travis Hutson got the nod in Senate Districts 4, 5, 6 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2016

A big endorsement for House District 16 Republican candidate Jason Fischer, a member of the Duval County School Board, came through Monday, from Rep. Travis Cummings. “I am proud to support Jason Fischer because we need more principled conservatives in Tallahassee,” Cummings said in a statement from the Fischer campaign. “Jason will stand up for our […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2016

As part of a raft of bills signed Friday, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill that passed the House and Senate by wide margins during the Legislative Session. The bill facilitates a referendum in August or November to extend the half-cent sales tax, currently earmarked for Better Jacksonville Plan project […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 21, 2016

A Monday email from state Reps. Richard Corcoran and Jose Oliva on behalf of the House Majority 2016 campaign outlined the five guiding principles of the 2016 State House campaign in light of the “volatility of this campaign season.” One such principle: staying out of the primary scrum. “We will not interfere in primary races in open House […]

Staff ReportsMarch 9, 2016

The Florida Senate voted 25-14 to approve a bill that prohibits public dollars from going to organizations, like Planned Parenthood, that are affiliated with abortion clinics. The bill also increases medical requirements for clinics that provide abortions. It now heads to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature or veto. Cecile Richards president of Planned Parenthood […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 9, 2016

On Wednesday, the Florida Senate voted 35-1 to approve the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill (SB 1652), which would allow Jacksonville to impose a pension tax via referendum if the bill is signed into law. This passage represents the culmination of a concerted effort that started months ago, including the enlistment of an army of city […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Mayor-Lenny-Curry-Florida-State-Capitol-02242016-1024x1024.jpeg

Just hours after the final Senate committee OK’d the bill Wednesday, the Florida House overwhelmingly approved the (HB 1297) Discretionary Sales Surtax bill, the key to Jacksonville defraying its unfunded pension liability. The surprising thing about the process: how smoothly the proverbial “heavy lift” went. Senior staff in the mayor’s office expected resistance from the House […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 24, 2016

Wednesday saw the Jacksonville-centric Discretionary Sales Surtax bill clear the Senate Rules Committee (SB 1652), scheduled at the same time as the third reading in the House (HB 1297). Central to the pitch: bill sponsor Rob Bradley and Mayor Lenny Curry, whose sales job gets better with every committee stop… especially important because Curry will have to sell […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 23, 2016

12494756_10208569411901429_6412660294930462742_n-1-1024x1024.jpg

The Florida House held a second reading Tuesday of Jacksonville’s “pension tax” bill, which would facilitate a referendum to extend the current half-cent sales tax 30 years and devote it to paying off Jacksonville’s $2.6 billion of unfunded pension liability. The debate before the full House went well. Going into the House session, those familiar […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

Tuesday afternoon finds Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry “headed back over to Tallahassee” to sell the pension tax bill, he told FloridaPolitics.com. Though the “Discretionary Sales Surtax” bill is not up for any committee hearings this week, Curry plans “individual meetings” with lawmakers. The next stop for the bill, Jacksonville’s plan to deal with the unfunded pension liability, […]

Tag: Travis Cummings

Northeast Florida Association of Realtors announces endorsements

Travis Cummings endorses Jason Fischer for HD 16 GOP race

Governor signs Jax Pension Tax bill; Now Lenny Curry has to sell it

House Majority outlines November strategy

Capitol Reax: Abortion, continuing care retirement communities, Iran sanctions, retirement benefits for fallen officers

Jacksonville’s pension tax bill sails through Senate, now heads to Gov. Scott

Florida House OKs Jax Pension Tax bill 86-23

Jax Pension Tax bill clears final Senate committee

Jax pension tax bill passes 2nd major House hurdle

Lenny Curry, pension tax on his mind, heads back to Tallahassee