Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 5, 2017

Working toward a final Florida state budget, news of a skirmish between the Senate and House emerges. A war of words appears to have broken out between House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Latvala ended budget negotiations after Corcoran “changed the deal” by insisting the final agreement link […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2017

In Lake Mary to preach support for three budget priorities he’s not getting yet, Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he wants to see the Florida Legislature adopt a budget yet this week and would not commit to vetoes if he he doesn’t get what he wants in it. Scott made the first of 10 stops on […]

Joe HendersonMay 3, 2017

While it’s clear what Gov. Rick Scott hopes to accomplish with his barnstorming tour of the state over the next few days, it almost certainly won’t make any difference. He calls it the “Fighting For Florida’s Future” tour because he wants to fully fund Enterprise Florida so it can continue providing $85 million in taxpayer […]

Scott PowersMay 2, 2017

Three days from the prospect of losing funding for his two favorite economic development organizations and his big environmental project, Gov. Rick Scott plans to spend those three days touring Florida to get people to pressure for their salvation. Scott announced Tuesday his “Fighting for Florida’s Future” campaign, taking him on a whirlwind tour of home […]

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2017

Money to help smaller communities market themselves during the off-season could still be in play as legislative leaders continue to negotiate the 2017-18 budget. The Senate has proposed language to move a state-funded marketing program run by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation from Visit Florida. The House […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

Don’t expect any movement in the budgets for Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA at the conference committee level. “I’m authorized to negotiate quite a few things in this budget and there’s a few things I’m not, and those would be among the things I’m not,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, the St. Petersburg Republican chairing the […]

Jim RosicaApril 28, 2017

Ken Lawson, CEO of the embattled VISIT FLORIDA, again pleaded with lawmakers to fully fund his agency, saying jobs depend on it. Lawson appeared before the Legislature’s tourism and economic development budget conference on Friday as Gov. Rick Scott left the state to attend a National Rifle Association meeting in Atlanta. Meantime, Scott’s political committee, Let’s […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 27, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is continuing his push for money for Visit Florida, releasing a new digital ad hitting lawmakers over proposals to cut funding for the state’s tourism marketing agency. In the 60-second spot, released by Scott’s political committee Let’s Get to Work, the Naples Republican is shown saying “Florida’s been winning, now a group […]

Michael MolineApril 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has issued another missive urging full financial support for Visit Florida. This one is a memo written to Scott by Christian Weiss, in-house economist to the governor, who warns that cutting the tourism-development program by $50 million — as House and Senate budget negotiators are considering doing — would result in a […]

Staff ReportsApril 26, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott, while on a trade mission to Argentina, urged the Florida Legislature to include his economic incentives programs when finalizing the next state budget. “Lawmakers cannot be shortsighted at the expense of Florida families by cutting funds for tourism marketing and economic development,” Scott said in a written statement distributed by his office. “I would be […]

Tag: Visit Florida

Jack Latvala blames final budget stalemate on Richard Corcoran’s ‘last-minute switcheroo’

Rick Scott wants budget this week, no commitment on veto

Joe Henderson: While Rick Scott goes on tour to plead his case, Richard Corcoran keeps piling up wins

Rick Scott plans whirlwind tour to press support for VISIT Florida, Enterprise Florida, Hoover Dike

Hospitality marketing money still in play, lawmakers say

Top line tourism, economic development money closed out, chair says

Ken Lawson on VISIT FLORIDA funding: ‘Protect our people’

Rick Scott calls proposed cuts to Visit Florida ‘irresponsible’ in new web ad

Continuing sales pitch for Visit Florida, Rick Scott warns of hit to state revenues

From Argentina, Rick Scott keeps up the chatter for economic incentives