Associated Industries of Florida

Lobby firms bring in more than $35.7M in first quarter

Published on May 16, 2017 in Statewide by Staff Reports

The numbers are out. Registered legislative lobbying firms reported median earnings of more than $35.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. The Top 5 earners during the three-month period were Ballard Partners, Southern Strategy Group, Ronald L. Book PA, Capital City Consulting, and Greenberg Traurig. If those rankings look familiar, there’s a reason for that. The five firms were ranked among the Top 5 firms each quarter in 2016. And according to LobbyTools Legislative IQ, it appears the pentad…

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One element of the workers’ compensation fix headed to the governor

Published on May 3, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

It’s not the big banana, but a small piece of workers’ compensation reform is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. The bill is CS/CS/HB 1107, shielding personally identifying information about workers’ comp claimants under Florida’s public records laws. It passed the House on a 120-0 vote Wednesday, having cleared the Senate, 37-0, on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the big workers’ compensation package remained on the Senate calendar, awaiting debate. The House has passed its version of that legislation. The information…

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AIF lauds proposed revisions to House’s workers’ compensation reform

Published on April 6, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

Associated Industries of Florida chief Tom Feeney had praise Thursday for amendments that would bring the House workers’ compensation reform bill closer to business interests’ ideal. “AIF today calls on members of the Florida House Commerce Committee to adopt the amendments to HB 7085 that will go a long way in rectifying our state’s wounded workers’ compensation system,” Feeney said in a written statement. “While there is still more work to be done to make Florida’s workers’ compensation system whole…

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AIF, Florida Chamber, other business groups join forces to oppose Senate tax proposal

Published on March 23, 2017 in Statewide by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

A bevy of business groups have joined forces in opposition to a Senate proposal to lower the tax commercial rents by eliminating a tax credit benefiting another industry. Eight of the state’s leading business organizations — including Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Florida United Business Association — sent a letter to Sen. Anitere Flores on Wednesday urging here to “support lowering the sales tax currently charged on all…

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Tom Feeney calls Senate plan ‘largest Florida tax hike in many years’

Published on March 21, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Staff Reports

The head of Associated Industries of Florida came out in opposition Tuesday to the Senate’s plan to repeal a tax break to the insurance industry. “AIF supports reducing the business rent tax,” AIF president & CEO Tom Feeney said. “However, we cannot support this tax break on the back of creating what would be the largest Florida tax hike in many years if the insurance premium tax salary credit is repealed.” The bill (SB 378) aims to use the money from the insurance…

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Senate tax cut proposal OK’d — with one big switch

Published on March 21, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Jim Rosica

A tax cut that would have helped a broader swath of Floridians, including the middle class and working poor, was changed Tuesday to instead benefit the state’s business owners. With no debate, the Senate’s Finance and Tax Appropriations Subcommittee cleared the bill (SB 378) by a 4-0 vote. As initially proposed by Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores, it would have paid for a cut in the state’s communications services tax (CST) on mobile phone, satellite and cable TV service by repealing a tax break to insurers. The…

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Dana Young to Bob Buckhorn: You should support next generation utility legislation

Published on March 15, 2017 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Mitch Perry

Bob Buckhorn and Dana Young are waging a war of words over newly filed legislation allowing wireless equipment in public rights of way. Tampa’s Democratic mayor argues the measure removes local control of public spaces. No, says the South Tampa Republican senator, Buckhorn is completely off-base with his concerns on what the bill will actually do. In a recent op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times, Buckhorn made his case: “Telecommunications companies are pushing SB 596 and HB 687, legislation that would allow them to place small refrigerator-sized equipment, and even…

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