Central Florida Political Pulse - OrlandoSentinel.com

Lawmakers handed out $9.6 billion in county-level spending -- a $2 billion spike from last year

By Aaron Deslatte — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:01:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida's legislative budget-writers went bombastic this week when a business-backed group suggested that with the help of surplus taxpayer cash they had spread more pork throughout the $74.5 billion state budget.

NASA to lease old KSC shuttle pad for commercial launches

Mark K. Matthews — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:57:00 EDT

An old space shuttle launch pad at Kennedy Space Center soon could be home to commercial rockets under a plan announced Friday by NASA. The agency plans to lease what's known as Pad 39A to prospective tenants. Possible candidates include SpaceX of California and United Launch Alliance of Colorado.

DEO plans to go after BBIF money

By Aaron Deslatte — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:39:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- The Legislature this spring opted not to wade into a legal dispute that has been raging for more than a year between Gov. Rick Scott's jobs agency and the Black Business Investment Fund of Central Florida.

Friday Morning Reads: Crime,

Kathleen Haughney — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:15:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Friday.

Don Gaetz goes postal on Florida TaxWatch

By Aaron Deslatte — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:08:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Senate President Don Gaetz is hardly a politician accused of mincing words. But his latest retort to the business lobby-backed Florida TaxWatch "turkey" list is a bombastic display that distinguishes itself in the annals of Gaetz lore.

Cannon's lobbying firm banks $755k in first full quarter

By Aaron Deslatte — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:51:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Former House Speaker Dean Cannon appears to have landed on his feet quite comfortably in his return to the lobbying world.

Insurance, gaming, Everglades interests tip the lobbying scales

By Aaron Deslatte — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:22:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Insurance carriers, sugar growers pushing to lessen their pollution costs, telecommunications giant AT&T, and an Internet cafe software company dominated spending on lobbyists to influence the Florida Legislature over the first three months of 2013.

Central Florida projects made 'turkey' budget list

Kathleen Haughney — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:31:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- The business-backed fiscal watchdog Florida TaxWatch pinpointed 107 projects in the state budget that it's urging Gov. Rick Scott to veto because they were slipped into the budget at the last minute or directly benefit one specific company.

Thursday Morning Reads: Texting while driving, FAU and Rubio

Kathleen Haughney — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:39:00 EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and happy Thursday.

Rubio blames IRS scandal on Obama's 'culture of intimidation'

By William E. Gibson — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:58:00 EDT

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama ’s “culture of intimidation” led to the scandalous IRS targeting of conservative groups, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio told the Senate on Wednesday.