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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

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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

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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, […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 14, 2016

We liked this lead so much from last week, we’re recycling it: With halftime in the 60-day 2016 Legislative Session on Wednesday, “the theme so far is like a line from a Frankie Valli song: ‘… so close/And yet so far.’ “ With budget votes in each chamber and conference ready to begin, about $1 billion still separates […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Travis Cummings has had bigger fundraising hauls than he had in January, yet the HD 18 Republican incumbent is likely still smiling. $8,150 of new money pushes Cummings over $187,000, against just under $47,000 spent. Build Something that Lasts, the Lenny Curry PAC, maxed out for Cummings, the original House sponsor of the “discretionary sales surtax” […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 29, 2016

Northeast Florida legislators have their share of local projects and asks in the House budget. Prominent areas, as one would expect, include education on all levels, as well as social services, and a couple of infrastructural projects. These aren’t splashy asks; they are quality of life requests, and in some cases (especially that of Lake […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 25, 2016

Without a doubt, the most interesting Senate committee meeting of the new Florida Legislative Session for Jacksonville will occur Tuesday morning. The Committee on Community Affairs meets to consider nine bills, but it’s the sixth that should interest Jacksonville locals. The Discretionary Sales Surtax bill, introduced by Sen. Rob Bradley and co-sponsored by Sen. Aaron […]

Tag: Travis Cummings

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

Takeaways from Tallahassee: A good week for lobbyists, a tough one for oranges, Ed Narain

Lenny Curry PAC money swells Travis Cummings’ campaign coffers in January

Education, social services top Northeast Florida House members’ budget requests

Senate panel to discuss Jacksonville’s pension liability surtax Tuesday