Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineMarch 22, 2017

Tourism industry leaders hope to escape the Legislative Session with a least a reasonable portion of Visit Florida intact, notwithstanding hostility in the House toward economic incentives that many members consider corporate welfare. “Never underestimate the power of the veto pen,” Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, said during […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 20, 2017

Florida voters appear to support economic incentives and Visit Florida, at least according to a new survey from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The survey found 78 percent of Floridians support financial incentives to “encourage companies to stay in Florida or move to Florida from another state in exchange for creating jobs and investing in […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2017

When Gov. Rick Scott comes to your town to hold a “Fighting for Florida’s Jobs” round table, that means your GOP State Representatives crossed him on an incentive vote. Scott started off March in Rep. Travis Cummings‘ district, where he repeatedly jabbed at Cummings and Rep. Paul Renner for opposing Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. Cummings was just one […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 16, 2017

The fight between Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida House continues to heat up, with the governor taking to the airwaves to bash “the politicians in Tallahassee.” The Naples Republican released a 30-second advertisement Thursday. The ad — paid for by Let’s Get to Work, his political committee — is expected to air across the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 16, 2017

Thanks to the efforts of Governor Rick Scott and the state’s committed business leaders, Florida has one of the strongest economies in the country. With our unemployment rate under 5 percent, Florida continues to exceed the nation’s annual job growth rate and tourism, one of the state’s economic drivers remains strong, with just under 113 […]

Joe HendersonMarch 15, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott hasn’t been shy about sharing his feelings on the Affordable Care Act. Like any good Republican, he hates it. He wants it to go away. Now that Republicans have a legitimate proposal on the table to replace Obamacare, though, Scott has gone into stealth mode on the subject. In an Associated Press […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2017

With VISIT FLORIDA chief Ken Lawson acting as hype man, Gov. Rick Scott held a Tuesday rally inside the Florida Capitol to “save” the embattled tourism organization. Scott, not normally a high-energy performer, worked up the crowd of hundreds in the building’s rotunda with the help of CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. In the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 13, 2017

Proponents of keeping Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA have been repeating the talking point that even Coca-Cola, king of market share, still advertises. And so on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott kept driving home his counter-frame to House Speaker Richard Corcoran‘s “corporate welfare” narrative that killing the state’s economic development organization and tourism marketing agency will kill […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2017

VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing agency, will be subject to greater oversight under a bill passed the Florida House Friday. State representatives passed the measure (HB 9), sponsored by Paul Renner of Palm Coast, by a vote of 80-35. Its reception in the Senate will likely not be warm: That chamber has not moved a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

House Democrats on Thursday grilled the sponsor of a bill that would overhaul and clamp down on VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s tourism marketing agency. The full House began its consideration of the measure (HB 9) with questions to bill sponsor Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican. “It is simply a bill about accountability,” he said. […]

Tag: Visit Florida

Tourism advocates raise specter of Rick Scott’s veto in Visit Florida fight

Poll: 78% of Floridians support incentives to ‘encourage companies to stay in … or move to Florida’

Rick Scott harangues Duval Delegation, pushes incentives in Jacksonville

Rick Scott launches TV ad taking aim at ‘politicians in Tallahassee’ over tourism, jobs

Pat Neal: Prosperity for our families and future

Joe Henderson: ‘Shy’ Rick Scott needs to pipe up on Medicaid expansion

Rick Scott rallies allies for VISIT FLORIDA

Rick Scott stumps for economic development, tourism dollars in Tallahassee

House approves bill to rein in VISIT FLORIDA

House begins looking at VISIT FLORIDA overhaul