LobbyTools Polling

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Popular Budget and Taxes Bills

SB 1500 Appropriations

HB 5001 General Appropriations Act

SB 0316 Taxes

SB 1828 Tax Administration

SB 7040 Appropriations

SB 1832 Taxation

SB 1852 Funding from the National Mortgage Settlement

HB 0605 Workers' Compensation

HB 0391 Exemptions from Tax on Sales, Use, & Other Transactions

HB 5401 Transparency in State Contracting

Budget and Taxes Bills On The Move

HB 1105 Health Insurance Tax

HOUSE Died in Local & Federal Affairs Committee

ANRAS1 Trust Funds/DEP

HOUSE Committee Bill filed as H 7049

HB 7109 Local Business Taxes

HOUSE Died in Local & Federal Affairs Committee

HB 7097 Tax On Sales, Use, & Other Transactions

HOUSE Died in Appropriations Committee

SB 1514 Education

Approved by Governor; Chapter No. 2013-045

TEDAS2 Transportation Revenue Bond Trust Fund/DOT

HOUSE Committee Bill Filed as H 7039

HB 7123 Sovereign Immunity

HOUSE Died in Appropriations Committee

SB 7032 Homestead Property Tax Exemptions

SENATE Committee Bill filed as S 1838

HB 5013 Health Benefits for OPS Employees

HOUSE Laid on Table

SB 0960 Tax on Sales, Use, and Other Transactions

SENATE Read Second Time; Substituted for HB 0423; Laid on Table, Refer to HB 0423

Budget and Taxes

Florida pays off federal loans to unemployment fund

by Gray Rohrer - 1 day ago - +

The state made its last payment on $3.5 billion in federal loans for unemployment compensation claims this week.

Chamber gives lawmakers high marks

by Bill Cotterell - 2 days ago - +

The Chamber gives high marks to lawmakers who back its agenda, saying their pro-business votes support job creators. A lawmaker ranked low by the group dismissed its finding, calling the Chamber "an arm of the right wing."

Scott signs budget but vetoes $368 million in spending first

by Gray Rohrer - 4 days ago - +

Gov. Rick Scott discusses his budget vetoes Monday during an outdoor news conference after signing the record $74 billion spending bill for the fiscal year starting July 1./Bill Cotterell

A 3 percent tuition hike and a slew of local projects falls victim to Gov. Rick Scott's veto pen as he highlights an increase in education spending and positive jobs numbers.

Governor vetoes $50 million for proposed bike trail along with $27.3 million in water projects

by Bruce Ritchie - 4 days ago - +

This map shows the "Coast to Coast Connector," a proposed series of recreation trails that would connect to existing trails across Central Florida. Gov. Rick Scott on May 20 vetoed a $50-million appropriation for the project in the 2013-14

When deciding whether to approve or reject a spending item, Scott said his criteria was whether it helps families get jobs, improves the education system or makes government more eficient.

Gov. Scott signs constitutionally murky tax cut, touts jobless rate down to 7.2 percent

by Gray Rohrer - 7 days ago - +

Questions remain about the House vote on HB 7007, but Scott highlighted the manufacturing tax cut in the bill and the drop in unemployment rate to 7.2 percent.

TaxWatch 'turkeys' draw fire

by Bill Cotterell - 1 week ago - +

Robert Weissert, left, and Kurt Wenner are tax-research executives at Florida TaxWatch. Thursday, they discussed the group's annual "Turkey list" of budget items at the Florida Press Center. Photo/ Bill Cotterell

The Senate's chief budget writer calls the group's annual turkey list a tired, lame attempt to be relevant. While the Senate President referred to the business-backed group's report as an example of the "arrogance of the elite."

TaxWatch turkey list tops $100 million

by Bill Cotterell - 1 week ago - +

The Tallahassee-based policy group highlights 107 projects it said the governor should consider for a veto.

Water projects left off Florida TaxWatch's "turkey" list this year

by Bruce Ritchie - 1 week ago - +

Rep. Ben Albritton, chair of the House Appropriations AG & Natural Resources Subcommittee, holds up a packet of applications for water projects funding during an April 1 meeting. Photo by Bruce Ritchie.

The Legislature's 2013-14 state budget includes 88 water projects totaling $59.4 million. Last year, Florida TaxWatch labeled as turkeys 23 local water projects totaling $19 million and asked Gov. Rick Scott to veto them. The governor eventually vetoed $12.6 million in water projects. Other items were targeted as turkeys including appropriations for wildlife and state parks groups.

Scott touts business tax repeal

by Bill Cotterell - 1 week ago - +

Gov. Rick Scott speaks with reporters at the Johnson & Johnson Vision Care contact lens factory in Jacksonville on Monday as he started his "Building Up Florida Manufacturing Victory Tour." Photo by Meredyth Hope Hall.

Six-city tour is his second in two weeks, designed to celebrate the governor's 2013 session successes.

2013 Session Summary: Budget & Taxes

by LobbyTools - 2 weeks ago - +

A projected budget surplus helped foster a relatively amicable session. It's also helped send Gov. Rick Scott on a "victory tour" throughout the state with his top priorities of a teacher pay raise and manufacturing tax cut in tow.

Environmental representatives lament budget for land-buying, question outcome of land sales

by Bruce Ritchie - 2 weeks ago - +

The $74.5 billion budget approved by the Legislature includes $70 million for land acquisition, including $50 million from the sale of state lands. "It takes a significant amount of time to review parcels that are identified as potentially surplus," said Janet Bowman of The Nature Conservancy.