POLITICS

Florida Senate leaders back taxpayer aid to lure businesses, boost tourism

Arek Sarkissian

arek.sarkissian@naplesnews.com; 850-559-7620

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Senate leaders said Tuesday they will not consider a plan by House Speaker Richard Corcoran to strip taxpayer money from 22 economic incentive programs and a state tourism agency.

Their decision signals support for Gov. Rick Scott's fight to keep the incentives.

"Well, I can say there's still time left, but it's not going to be heard in my committee, at least not right now. ...," said Sen. Jeff Brandes, chairman of the Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. "The House bill was referred to my committee, but it's not on any schedule to be heard."

His Senate panel recommends $183 million for the state's corporate incentive programs, including the $23.5 million requested by Enterprise Florida for attracting businesses to Florida.

The money also would include $76 million requested by VISIT FLORIDA for tourism promotion.

The remaining $83.5 million would go toward 21 other state incentive programs.

The old Florida State Capitol building as seen from Monroe St and Apalachee Parkway with the new capitol in the background.

The Senate proposal aligns chamber leaders, including Majority Leader Wilton Simpson, with Scott against Corcoran and other House leaders.

Simpson, R-Trilby, said his background as a small-business owner led him to oppose Corcoran’s plan to go after economic incentive programs.

The House passed a bill March 10 to eliminate the incentive programs. The House also voted in favor of a plan to cut funding to VISIT FLORIDA to an unspecified amount it could match with private dollars.

The House Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday released a spending plan that would give the tourism agency $25 million.

"Like our bill says, it's up to them to meet that goal," said committee Chairman Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola.

Scott has toured the state, rallying support for the business incentive and tourism programs. He has accused Corcoran and other lawmakers of not caring about job creation.

But the House speaker has argued the programs are corporate welfare and don't warrant taxpayers' money.

Scott thanked Brandes for showing support for the incentive programs.

“We must continue to let legislators know families are depending on their vote,” Scott wrote Tuesday in a Twitter post.

“Job creators & Floridians across the state have rallied to fight for these important programs," he said in another post. "I’m glad their voices are being heard.”

The amount proposed by the Senate for the incentive programs includes another $34 million that Enterprise Florida uses to make quick cash offers to companies looking at multiple states to relocate or expand. That would include $20 million to be used for new deals and $14 million to continue existing contracts. The amount is less than the $85 million Scott requested but enough to revive the program after the Legislature cut funding last year.

The remaining amounts proposed by the Senate for the incentive programs are on par with what Scott included in his proposed $83.5 billion budget.

Corcoran is philosophically opposed to using tax dollars to support private companies.

Enterprise Florida triggered scrutiny last year after reports of overspending by former President and CEO Bill Johnson.

Johnson also cut high-dollar contracts and created executive positions for top advisers from his former job as director of PortMiami, the Naples Daily News reported.

Corcoran vowed to scrutinize VISIT FLORIDA after the agency refused to release the terms of a $1 million contract with rapper Pitbull. The House speaker sued the agency to release the document, prompting the Miami-born entertainer to make it available on social media.

Scott called for VISIT FLORIDA President Will Seccombe to resign, and he asked the agency to adopt transparency standards that required it to post all vendor contracts on a public website.