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Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran brought some sizzle back to the annual task of previewing what the Legislature will — and won't — do in during its session.
Corcoran, specifically, targeted how much the state doles out for job incentives and tourism marketing, and he's come out in fighting mode. For starters, Florida Gov. Rick Scott's requests, for $76 million for Visit Florida and $85 million for Enterprise Florida, has no chance of making the next state budget, says Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes. (The budget fight is separate from pending bills that could eliminate
Visit Florida or Enterprise Florida.)
And while a multipronged opposition has already formed against his plans, Corcoran says he will remain steadfast in his fight for transparency in government spending. “There are cockroaches everywhere, and I think you're seeing that,” Corcoran said at an Associated Press meeting for reporters and editors in Tallahassee late last month. “You turn on the lights, and there's Enterprise Florida and you say, let's take a closer look...”
Corcoran recently sent out a letter to 35 tourism and economic development agencies statewide requesting a bevy of detailed financial and expenditure documents from fiscal 2015-2016.
“Recent spending abuses and unwarranted secrecy in the tourism and economic development arena in Florida raise legitimate concerns among both taxpayers and elected officials,” Corcoran wrote in the letter. “Recent news media reports have only heightened that concern and reinforced my belief that it is time we take a close look at where development money is being spent, how it is being spent, and whether these expenditures are returning value to the taxpayers.”
Corcoran adds in the letter that failure to submit the documents could result in a subpoena under state statutes. The offices and agencies Corcoran sent the letter to include nearly 20 in the Gulf Coast region, with seven in Polk County alone. The list includes:
Tourism
Hillsborough Tourist Development Council;
Lee County Tourist Development Council;
Pasco County Tourist Development Council;
Pinellas County Tourist Development Council;
Polk County Tourist Development Council;
Economic development
Hillsborough: Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. and the Hillsborough County Department of Economic Development;
Lee County Economic Development Office;
Manatee County: Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp. and the Manatee County Economic Development Department.
Pasco Economic Development Council
Pinellas County Economic Development;
Polk County: Lakeland Economic Development Council; Central Florida Development Council; Polk County Economic Development Corp.; Central Florida Development Council; Winter Haven Economic Development Council; Haines City Economic Development Council; Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Council.
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