Capitol Chatter: Feb. 24

Tax breaks approved
for job creation
The Florida House approved a series of tax breaks designed to help small businesses and consumers and fan the young embers of economic recovery in Florida — continuing one of Gov. Rick Scott's campaign priorities from two years ago.

The bill increases the corporate income tax exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 as part of a broad economic-development proposal that includes tax breaks for aircraft repair, industrial machinery and equipment and agricultural packing houses. The tax breaks would keep about $121 million in Floridians' pockets that would have gone to taxes.

“The Florida House has demonstrated it knows what it takes to help grow private-sector jobs,” Scott said in a written statement about the entire bill, which passed 92-22.