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Staff ReportsJune 2, 2017

The House released a summary Friday of the economic incentives package unveiled by Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders. First on the list — and written in red, boldfaced letters — is what the $85 million program will not be: “a part of Enterprise Florida.” What the program will do: pay for public infrastructure and […]

Peter SchorschJune 2, 2017

Florida taxpayers will be the true winners next week as lawmakers return to Tallahassee for a special session on economic incentives and education funding in the state’s budget, says Americans for Prosperity-Florida. The conservative government watchdog group is applauding Friday’s announcement by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Senate President Joe Negron, and Gov. Rick Scott that […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2017

Northeast Florida, like the rest of the state, waits for Gov. Rick Scott to review the budget from the Florida Legislature. Scott has been typically vague on his real disposition on the budget: the new-school “Veto Corleone” hasn’t ruled out a full-on veto, or line item vetoes. And in recent months, Gov. Scott has been […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 30, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott hammered state lawmakers over reduced funding for two of his top priorities, but once again declined to say whether he’ll veto the budget when it gets to his desk in the coming days. “I’ve been in business all my life and I love to see people succeed, to take risks, and when […]

Guest AuthorMay 25, 2017

Last week, Gov. Rick Scott announced record-breaking tourism numbers in the Sunshine State. It may be the last time for a while. Ignoring extensive research, case studies and pleas from travel industry constituents across the state, the Florida Legislature slashed funding for VISIT Florida by a crippling 67 percent — recklessly jeopardizing the tourism industry’s […]

Michael MolineMay 23, 2017

A history of alcoholism in Gov. Rick Scott’s family will inform his decision about whether to sign the “whiskey & Wheaties” bill, which would tear down the wall of separation between hard liquor and other goods. “I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on that bill,” Scott told reporters. “I’ve had family members who have had […]

Guest AuthorMay 17, 2017

One of my all-time heroes is Winston Churchill. He’s widely credited with having said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” In the digital age, this phenomenon, which once took days or weeks, now takes mere hours or minutes. To know this is true […]

Joe HendersonMay 16, 2017

Take your seats, folks. This is going to be good. We are about to find out who is the boss in Florida. If Gov. Rick Scott wants to remind everyone in the Legislature who has the most stripes on their shoulder, then he has to follow through on his threat to start vetoing major — […]

Associated PressMay 12, 2017

Florida’s tourism marketing agency was forced to sign a new contract after a newspaper pointed out it hired a firm to advertise to potential Syrian tourists. VISIT FLORIDA officials said Friday a “clerical error” caused them to include Syria on a list of countries the agency planned to advertise in. VISIT FLORIDA CEO Ken Lawson signed […]

Jim RosicaMay 12, 2017

VISIT FLORIDA is saying ‘oops’ over what it calls a “clerical error” showing it made advertising buys in several Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, listed by the feds as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” The state’s embattled tourism marketing arm “was recently alerted to a clerical error in a short-term contract with the international advertising agency […]

Tag: Visit Florida

Richard Corcoran stresses that incentives package won’t benefit Enterprise Florida

Florida taxpayers, entrepreneurs winners in new budget deal, says Americans for Prosperity

Will Rick Scott’s veto pen affect Northeast Florida priorities?

Rick Scott still mum on 2017-18 budget veto plans

Gil Langley: Post-Session reflection on tourism marketing

Time growing short for Rick Scott to decide ‘whiskey & Wheaties’ bill’s fate

Richard Corcoran: Don’t believe hyperbole, hysterics from budget critics

Joe Henderson: If Rick Scott stands on principle, then he must use budget veto pen

Leave Syria, visit Florida? Tourism agency makes error

VISIT FLORIDA cops to ‘clerical error’ on Syria advertising