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Rick Scott calls proposed cuts to Visit Florida ‘irresponsible’ in new web ad

in 2017 by

Gov. Rick Scott is continuing his push for money for Visit Florida, releasing a new digital ad hitting lawmakers over proposals to cut funding for the state’s tourism marketing agency. In the 60-second spot, released by Scott’s political committee Let’s Get to Work, the Naples Republican is shown saying “Florida’s been winning, now a group of politicians in Tallahassee want us to lose.” “That’s irresponsible,” he continues. “It’s real simple, if the politicians in Tallahassee say they don’t want to…

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Continuing sales pitch for Visit Florida, Rick Scott warns of hit to state revenues

in Statewide by
tourism

Gov. Rick Scott has issued another missive urging full financial support for Visit Florida. This one is a memo written to Scott by Christian Weiss, in-house economist to the governor, who warns that cutting the tourism-development program by $50 million — as House and Senate budget negotiators are considering doing — would result in a $210 million decline in state revenues. Two thirds of that would comprise sales tax receipts to the state, Weiss wrote; the rest, sales tax distributions…

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From Argentina, Rick Scott keeps up the chatter for economic incentives

in Statewide by

Gov. Rick Scott, while on a trade mission to Argentina, urged the Florida Legislature to include his economic incentives  programs when finalizing the next state budget. “Lawmakers cannot be shortsighted at the expense of Florida families by cutting funds for tourism marketing and economic development,” Scott said in a written statement distributed by his office. “I would be absolutely shocked if politicians in the Florida Legislature put their self-interests before the interests of our families and small businesses,” he wrote. “Let’s remember, fully…

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Rick Scott enlists state bonds chief in fight for Visit Florida funding

in Statewide by

Gov. Rick Scott has distributed a letter by Ben Watkins, director of the Division of Bond Finance, to the House and Senate budget chairmen, warning that cutting Visit Florida could damage the state’s credit rating. The letter, dated Tuesday, addressed to Jack Latvala in the Senate and Carlos Trujillo in the House, warns that cutting back on tourism promotion has harmed the economies of states that have attempted it, including Colorado and Pennsylvania. “Even a 2 percent reduction in visitors…

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Joe Henderson: What damage could follow as Frank Artiles’ rant reverberates around the globe?

in Statewide by

The damage wrought by state Sen. Frank Artiles’ racist rant has ripples that extend far beyond the seats of power in Tallahassee. All it took to confirm that was to type his “Senator Frank Artiles” into Google. Within seconds, a collection of stories popped up that confirms how much impact the bile from his bigoted psyche had when he called African-American colleagues … aw, you know what he said by now. You know what else though? Readers who follow the…

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Rick Scott pushes ahead for VISIT FLORIDA funding

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott went once more unto the breach Tuesday, pressing his case for full funding of the state’s VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency. The Republican governor—surrounded by VISIT FLORIDA’s CEO Ken Lawson, board chairman William Talbert, and others—spoke with reporters outside his Capitol office. The GOP-majority House of Representatives, which at first wanted to eliminate the agency, instead reduced its budget to $25 million for next year. Scott wants $100 million to market the state to visitors, saying every dollar…

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Tourism trends on tap at Tampa Downtown Partnership event May 2

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

As Florida’s largest industry, tourism is a major economic driver in both downtown Tampa and the entire region. Official estimates put the number of visitors to Hillsborough County at nearly 22-million annually, with $3.6 billion in spending and supporting more than 48,000 hospitality-related jobs, making it a significant sector of Tampa Bay’s economy. The Tampa Downtown Partnership will examine the latest trends in tourism and future growth in “Downtown Debriefing Series: Trends in Tourism,” scheduled Tuesday, May 2, at the…

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