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Pat Neal

Pat Neal: Business rent tax stifles Florida’s economic future

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

The business rent tax is the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire country and Florida is the not-so-proud holder of that title. Not even tax-happy havens like California and New York impose this state tax on its businesses. Due to this burdensome tax, Florida businesses shell out more than $1.7 billion every year to the state. As a result, our state economy dramatically suffers in the form of suppressed job growth and economic activity. Luckily, Gov.…

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Joe Gruters says he’s a long shot for CFO position, but appreciates the consideration

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Sarasota GOP Chair and state Rep. Joe Gruters said he is a “long-shot” to be Gov. Rick Scott‘s choice to succeed Jeff Atwater as Chief Financial Officer once Atwater leaves the office in May. On Wednesday afternoon, Gruters appeared on Tampa Bay area radio station News Talk 820 WWBA with guest host David Jolly, who formerly represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District.Gruters had shown loyalty to Scott and President Jolly said Gruters had shown loyalty to Scott and President Donald Trump when he backed both candidates when they were considered outliers within…

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Could Pat Neal’s anti-Donald Trump hurt his chances of becoming CFO?

in The Bay and the 'Burg by

Not surprisingly, Donald Trump hasn’t been too keen on hiring those associated with the “Never Trump” movement of conservative policy who surfaced in last year’s presidential campaign. The most glaring example of this is the case of former State Department official Elliott Abrams. A meeting between the two last month reportedly went well, according to CNN. Ultimately, though, Trump opted not to hire Abrams for the Deputy Secretary of State position once he learned that Abrams criticized him during his White House run. With the in mind, might…

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In local TV interview, David Jolly blasts Carlos Beruff’s business background

in 2017/Top Headlines by

Slowly but surely, the GOP Senate candidates are taking more shots at each other in advance of the August 30 primary. Carlos Beruff has yet to respond directly to David Jolly’s criticism that he should apologize for referring to President Obama as “an animal” in a speech last week before St. John’s County Republicans. Earlier on Sunday, however, Jolly took a major shot at Beruff’s past in a TV interview. The context was Jolly responding to criticism of his congressional proposal in the House to ban…

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SuperPac for Carlos Lopez-Cantera’s expected Senate bid is announced

in Top Headlines by

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera‘s expected candidacy in the 2016 U.S. Senate race will get a boost when the new SuperPac called Reform Washington is announced in Tampa on Thursday. The new SuperPac is inspired by the leadership of Lopez-Cantera and his “agenda to ignite economic growth, ensure American national security and refocus Congress on its Constitutional duties,” a press release announcing the formation of the SuperPac notes. “Reform Washington will support candidates who make a firm commitment to cut spending and…

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A diverse fundraiser signals Charlie Crist strategy

in Statewide by

It was a group rarely, if ever, seen together on Florida’s political money trail. There was Pat Neal, former executive director of the Florida Christian Coalition, mingling near Barbara A. Zdravecky, the head of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. Nearby, former Sarasota Republican Party Chairman Bob Waechter chatted amiably at the appetizer table with the very Democrat, Shirley Brown, he worked to defeat four years earlier for School Board and has vowed to defeat this year. In another…

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