The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives will convene for the Opening Day of the 2022 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, in the Florida Capitol at 400 S. Monroe St. [Read more…] about Joint Media Advisory: Florida Senate, Florida House Opening Day 2022
Florida House
Joint Statement From Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson
In response to today’s morning press conference where Governor Ron DeSantis called for a special session to take a stand against the federal government’s overreach, Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor) and Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) issued the following joint statement: [Read more…] about Joint Statement From Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson
Florida House & Senate Pass HB 845 and Reverses Course on Collegiate Athlete Compensation for Name, Image, and Likeness
Rep. Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) and the Florida House passed SB 845 by Rep. David Smith. [Read more…] about Florida House & Senate Pass HB 845 and Reverses Course on Collegiate Athlete Compensation for Name, Image, and Likeness
Connie Mack Endorses Gregory
Today, the Tommy Gregory Campaign announced the endorsement of former U.S. Senator Connie Mack, who represented Florida for two terms. Gregory continues to consolidate the support of area Republican leaders in his run for the District 73 seat in the Florida House of Representatives, currently held by Joe Gruters, who is running for the Florida Senate.
Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell Endorses Elswick for Florida House
Grinnell says Shannon Elswick will bring conservative
values and healthcare expertise to Tallahassee.
The Shannon Elswick Campaign today announced the endorsement of Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell. Elswick is running to succeed Representative Larry Metz, who faces term limits, in the District 32 seat of the Florida House of Representatives.
“I’m proud to support a man of integrity like Shannon Elswick,” said Grinnell. “Shannon has always worked hard to serve our community, and his thorough knowledge of the challenges facing our healthcare system are badly needed in Tallahassee. I have no doubt that his conservative values and ability to forge relationships will have a positive impact in the Florida House.”
Grinnell was elected Lake County Sheriff last year after serving in the Sheriff’s Office in a variety of capacities since 1994. He is a Marine Corps combat veteran with distinguished service in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Middle East and Operation Just Cause in Panama. He is a Eustis native and a graduate of Leesburg High School. As Sheriff, Grinnell has made a mark by vigorously pursuing heroin dealers in the community.
“Sheriff Grinnell is a great public servant and leader, and I’m honored to have his support,” said Elswick. “Our law enforcement community here is first rate, and I look forward to working with Sheriff Grinnell to keep Lake County safe and family-friendly.”
District 32 covers the south and central portions of Lake County, including the cities of Clermont and portions of Leesburg. Republicans dominate the district with 41 percent of registered voters while Democrats make up 33 percent.
ON THE WEB: shannonelswick.com
Paid by Shannon Elswick, Republican, for State Representative
MORE FLORIDA HOUSE MEMBERS ENDORSE SPRITZ
Boca Raton, Fla. — Today, the Matt Spritz Campaign announced the endorsements of Republican State Representatives Bobby Payne and Tom Leek. Payne represents District 19 and Leek District 25, both in Northeast Florida. They join Representatives Byron Donalds, Alex Miller, and Bob Rommel, who endorsed Spritz last month. Spritz is seeking the District 89 seat in the Florida House.
“Matt Spritz embodies all that makes a great public servant,” said Payne. “His background, leadership skills, and conservative convictions will serve the people of District 89 very well, and I look forward to having him as a colleague.”
“I have no doubt that Matt Spritz will be an outstanding member of the Florida House,” said Leek. “His strong work ethic, values, and concern for others make him exactly the kind of person we need more of in Tallahassee.”
Both Payne and Leek are serving their first term in the Legislature. Payne has had a decades-long career at Seminole Electric Cooperative in Palatka and serves as Vice Chair of the Energy and Utilities Subcommittee as well as on the Commerce Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. An Ormond Beach resident, Leek is an attorney who is Vice Chair of the Public Integrity and Ethics Committee. He also serves on the Ways and Means Committee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and the Local, Federal, and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.
“I’m honored to have the support of Representatives Payne and Leek,” said Spritz. “Both of them set a great example for how to serve the people of Florida with vision and excellence, and I look forward to working with them to preserve our freedoms and create more opportunity in our great state.”
Born and raised in South Florida, Spritz graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors from Emory University and from New York University School of Law in New York City. He practiced corporate and business law in New York City and later in South Florida before committing himself to public service in the Florida House.
House District 89 covers coastal portions of Palm Beach County spanning from Singer Island to Boca Raton, which has the largest concentration of voters. Thirty-six percent of registered voters in the district are Republicans, while Democrats make up 33 percent, and voters with minor or no party affiliation, 31 percent.
Mast Statement on Passage of S.B. 10
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) released the following statement after final passage of S.B. 10 in the Florida Senate and House:
“As I talk to people in our community, the one issue that keeps them up at night more than any other is the lack of clean, safe water in our area. Our waterways are irreplaceable treasures, central to the economy and quality of life in our region. The water being discharged by Lake Okeechobee into the Treasure Coast is destroying our community, putting people out of business, killing sea life and even making people sick. The Florida legislature’s commitment to building a reservoir south of the lake is a critical step forward in our work to restore our lagoon and beaches. I urge Governor Scott to sign this bill, and in my role as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, I will do everything in my power to ensure the federal government matches Florida’s commitment to clean water.”
BACKGROUND
Rep. Mast has been a strong supporter of efforts to build a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Army Corps of Engineers.
Gov. Scott: Florida House is Playing Politics with Families’ Jobs
Governor Rick Scott has written the below op-ed on the Florida House playing politics with Florida families jobs in advance of the House Appropriations Committee vote tomorrow to abolish Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. The committee meeting is tomorrow at 1pm at the Florida State Capitol and includes many members who just last year supported Governor Scott’s efforts to increase funding at Enterprise Florida, including: Rep. Brodeur, Rep. Cummings, Rep. Hager, Rep. Metz, Rep. Raschein, and Rep. Stone.
Florida House is Playing Politics with Families’ Jobs
By, Governor Rick Scott
The Florida House of Representatives has decided to push legislation to undo economic development funding in Florida and defund our state’s tourism agency. A House panel voted for this job killing legislation two weeks ago and the House Appropriations Committee will be voting on it tomorrow.
That’s correct, many of your elected members of the Florida House have decided their top priority this year is to eliminate funding for Florida’s economy. They want to eliminate Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida.
They say that they don’t want government intrusion in the free market. Of course, there is government financing in the areas of healthcare, transportation, education, housing, and social services. But, they have decided to try to totally eliminate funding for the one area where we can easily show a major return on the investment of your tax dollars – jobs are being created by more companies moving to our state and our tourism industry has recruited a record-breaking number of visitors over the last few years.
Even more absurd, the politicians in the Florida House who already voted for this bill say they don’t necessarily want to abolish these programs but instead want to advance a “conversation” …meaning they voted for something they don’t support. This is hypocrisy at its best and these are the kind of games I came to Tallahassee to change.
I ran for Governor to fight this sort of politics and bring common sense from the business world to our government. The plan has worked, as Florida has added more than 1.26 million new jobs.
Many politicians spend a lifetime in government and they simply don’t have any understanding of how business actually works. These are the facts that confirm the negligence of eliminating our jobs and tourism agencies generating jobs:
- Before I came into office, state incentives were often awarded before goals, like job creation, were met.
- But, today Florida companies only receive economic incentives after an independent third-party audit proves stringent requirements are met, including proven job growth and wage requirements to ensure a great return on investment for Florida families.
- This means NO MONEY is given as “corporate welfare” because no money can be awarded until contract requirements like jobs are created.
- Because of our economic development programs, several companies like Hertz, Northrup Grumman, and Blue Origin – to name a few – have located or expanded in our state to create thousands of jobs.
The Florida House likes to rely on inaccurate information to push their narrative of “corporate welfare,” by highlighting the failed deal of Digital Domain. Let’s look at the facts: EFI recommended that the state not fund Digital Domain. Ironically, politicians in the Florida Legislature chose to ignore EFI’s recommendation and circumvented EFI’s strict process in 2009 by funding the failed project FROM THE LEGISLATURE.
Both Visit Florida and EFI have made mistakes over the years. In both cases, we have made changes to ensure transparency of taxpayer dollars and brought in new leadership. That is what you do in business; you make changes and get it right. But what you do not do is close up shop.
If the House were to succeed with ending economic development and tourism programs in Florida, the small and rural communities in our state would be hurt the most. Cancelling our statewide program would hurt those areas in Florida that would truly be revitalized by a new job creator in their community.
Just last week I travelled the state and met with business owners who are devastated that there is even talk of abolishing these programs. Many job creators rely on EFI and Visit Florida and said they would not be able to keep their doors open if it weren’t for their help. No job is expendable to the families they employ.
Coming into this job after a lifetime in business, I knew I would have to learn to tolerate some aspects of politics, and I would have to endure lectures from people who do not know the first thing about creating jobs. But, I cannot allow thousands of Floridians to be denied jobs and opportunities in our state just so a few in elected office can get headlines for their campaign for higher office.
Our economy is booming. Our economic development and tourism programs are some of the best in the nation when it comes to getting a positive return on investment. I will continue to set the record straight on the politics the Florida House is playing and fight for the Florida families who expect their government officials to bring them more opportunity, not less.
This is no time to stand still. In business you are either moving forward or you are moving backward. The Florida House is currently planning to take our state backward. I will fight to stop them, and so should you.
