Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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. […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2017

As the House gets ready to start considering a bill to overhaul VISIT FLORIDA, its sponsor filed an amendment to dilute some of its strict requirements. The measure (HB 9) will be on the House floor today (Thursday) for questions. Rep. Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, filed the amendment Tuesday, records show. It would […]

Terry RoenMarch 7, 2017

Enterprise Florida’s Executive Committee named Mike Grissom interim CEO Tuesday, a day after the embattled agency’s CEO abruptly resigned. Former CEO Chris Hart IV resigned after serving only three months on the job. Stan Connally, vice chairman of the Enterprise board of directors, hastily called the meeting Tuesday and nominated Grissom, who served as interim […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 7, 2017

In prepared remarks for his speech Tuesday, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran again threw down the gauntlet to Senate leadership and the Governor’s office, offering an unapologetic defense of the House’s approach to state government under his watch. That said, Corcoran asserts that the House is willing to negotiate, to “come to the table, sit down and […]

Peter SchorschMarch 7, 2017

Sarasota Republican Rep. Joe Gruters voiced his support for state economic development arms Enterprise Florida and VISIT Florida in an op-ed published Tuesday. Gruters said the two organizations are “effective tools helping us to compete with other states to bring jobs and investments home to benefit our communities,” and that he “cannot support a proposal […]

Michael MolineMarch 6, 2017

The House Rules committee voted, 15-3, Monday to kill state support for 23 economics development programs worth around $200 million , including Enterprise Florida, but spared Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion organization. The members then voted, 15-2, to subject Visit Florida to stringent oversight, comparable to contract, pay, and disclosure requirements that apply to […]

Tag: Visit Florida
Aleksandar Vucic Image via AP

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

Sponsor proposes changes to VISIT FLORIDA bill

Enterprise Florida names Mike Grissom interim CEO

Richard Corcoran: Florida House is keeping the faith with voters

Joe Gruters voices support for incentives programs in op-ed

House Rules Committee votes to kill most economic-development programs