Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineFebruary 9, 2017

The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee defended state spending on economic incentives Thursday by pointing to evidence the effort produces solid returns on investment. Visit Florida, for example, returns $3.20 cents for every dollar spent on advertising, according to figures (here; scroll down) from Amy Baker, state government’s top economist. Enterprise Florida’s international offices […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 9, 2017

Ken Lawson, the new head of VISIT FLORIDA, is telling supporters he won’t give up the fight for the state’s embattled tourism marketing agency. In an email, Lawson thanked the tourism industry for showing up to a House hearing this week where the Careers and Competition Subcommittee cleared a measure to eliminate the agency, the Enterprise Florida […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 8, 2017

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A Florida House panel Wednesday cleared a bill that would eliminate the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, the VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency, and a slew of economic incentive programs. The Careers and Competition Subcommittee OK’d the proposal (PCB CCS 17-01) by a nearly party-line vote of 10-5. One Democrat voted for it, Miami’s Roy […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2017

Marketing is a contest for people’s attention, and state tourism marketing is no different. However, the detrimental impacts of removing a powerful marketing mechanism mean a world of difference when your state budget revenue depends on your share of the market. The proposed bill spearheaded by the House Careers & Competition Subcommittee that eliminates VISIT […]

Michael MolineFebruary 8, 2017

A House budget panel debated sweeping money from housing, transportation and economic development trust funds to meet spending cuts imposed by House leaders. The House Transportation & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee also entertained a suggestion that Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion arm, operate on local tourism taxes, instead of state general revenues. Rep. Mike La Rosa, […]

Michael MolineFebruary 7, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott accused House leaders Tuesday of political posturing on Florida’s economic- and tourism-development programs. “It’s pretty clear. If you don’t care about people’s jobs, you must be caring about something else,” Scott told reporters following a Cabinet meeting. “What else can it be? How can anybody say, ‘We don’t want to help a poor family […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 2, 2017

The Florida House has fired back, filing a proposed committee bill this week completely eliminate Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private jobs agency. The proposed committee bill (PCB CCS 17-01) would, among other things, abolish Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, two organizations which have drawn the ire of House Speaker Richard Corcoran. The bill, which is […]

Scott PowersJanuary 31, 2017

After laying out Democrats’ priorities for the House this session, Florida House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz said she would support Republican Speaker Richard Corcoran’s attacks on Enterprise Florida and VISIT Florida. Speaking before journalists gathered for the Florida Legislative Planning Session, Cruz, of Tampa, pledged that Democrats would continue to fight for increasing funding for […]

Michael MolineJanuary 26, 2017

Tourism business owners flocked to a Senate committee room Thursday to plead the case for Visit Florida, the state’s embattled tourism promotions agency. Representing both large operations and independent hotels and restaurants, they urged members of the Appropriations Committee to let the agency continue to sell Florida to potential tourists in the United States and overseas. […]

Scott PowersJanuary 25, 2017

Florida’s tourism economy grew by nearly 4 percent in 2015 and brought almost $109 billion worth of economic activity to the Sunshine State, according to a new survey released by VISIT Florida Wednesday. The growth was slower than was seen in the previous five years but still added $4.1 billion in new money to the […]

Tag: Visit Florida
Close-up. Arrested man handcuffed hands at the back

Jack Latvala says evidence doesn’t support House on job incentives

Ken Lawson “will continue to fight” for VISIT FLORIDA

House panel votes to kill Enterprise Florida, VISIT FLORIDA

Carol Dover: Florida’s future depends on tourism

House budget panel weighs raids on trust funds, Visit Florida’s future

Rick Scott accuses House leadership of playing politics on economic development

House to consider proposed committee bill to eliminate Enterprise Florida

Janet Cruz ready to support Richard Corcoran on Enterprise Florida

Visit Florida defenders swarm Senate Appropriations Committee hearing

Tourism business up 4 percent in 2015 to $108 billion, VISIT Florida reports