Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

This is the first legislative session that South Florida’s Oscar Braynon II will be the Senate’s Democratic Leader. The 40-year-old, who succeeded term-limited former Leader Arthenia Joyner, was first elected in 2011 after serving in the House and on the Miami Gardens City Council before that. Though he’s in the minority, Braynon has high hopes […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2017

When Florida Gov. Rick Scott makes a “Fighting for Florida Jobs” stop in a town, it’s not so he can study the local traffic patterns. Rather, it’s intended to send a message to local Republicans: the Florida House is getting in the way of the gubernatorial agenda relative to Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida. Wednesday afternoon found […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2017

Florida Gov. Rick Scott will be in the Jacksonville media market Wednesday afternoon, visiting Orange Park for a “Fighting for Florida Jobs” roundtable. The Scott visit, which addresses the benefits of Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, lands in the heart of Rep. Travis Cummings‘ district. Cummings was among a number of Republican legislators called out in an email to […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 27, 2017

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In a letter to fellow members, state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz says House leadership now is planning to bifurcate its legislation to eliminate Enterprise Florida and to overhaul VISIT FLORIDA. The Senate, however, so far still intends to keep Enterprise Florida as part of its economic development tool chest. On Monday, Diaz – the Miami-Dade Republican who chairs the House […]

Scott PowersFebruary 24, 2017

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran made it clear Friday he is sticking to his drive to abolish Enterprise Florida Inc. and VISIT Florida saying the moves are right in philosophy and facts. “I’m telling you we’re right. We’re absolutely right,” Corcoran declared in a speech before the Central Florida Urban League. Corcoran described Enterprise Florida as […]

Joe HendersonFebruary 23, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has added a new title to his resume in the last few weeks – lame duck. Sure, he officially retains the job of Florida governor until a successor takes over in 2019, but for all intents, it appears a majority of state House members aren’t waiting until then to stop listening to […]

Associated PressFebruary 23, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is now saying that his fellow Republicans in the Florida House are using “fake news” to justify their plan to scrap the state’s economic development agency. Scott used his campaign Twitter account on Wednesday to distribute a video critical of House Speaker Richard Corcoran and House Republicans. The video labels Corcoran a […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 22, 2017

Likely Republican voters are against the Florida Senate proposal to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee, according to a new poll released by the Associated Industries of Florida obtained by FloridaPolitics.com. The survey asked Republican voters about a variety of issues on the table for the 2017 Legislative Session and no matter the wording, the […]

Tag: Visit Florida

Joe Gruters voices support for incentives programs in op-ed

House Rules Committee votes to kill most economic-development programs

2017 Legislative Session preview: Oscar Braynon on juvenile justice, incentives and Chance the Rapper

Rick Scott defends incentives, bashes Travis Cummings in Orange Park

Rick Scott to work Jacksonville media market Wednesday

House splitting legislation on incentives, tourism funding

Richard Corcoran says philosophy, facts drive his EFI, VISIT Florida axe

Rick Scott’s newest title – lame duck

Rick Scott says fellow Republicans — he’s looking at you, Mr. Speaker — are spreading fake news

Lake O land buy plan a non-starter with likely Republican voters, poll shows