TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
The battle between Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida House over the fate of Visit Florida heated up on Tuesday as a budget panel voted to cut spending on tourism marketing and eliminate funding for Enterprise Florida.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the HB 7005 bill passed in an 18-12 vote with just two Republicans, Reps. Holly Raschein of Key Largo and Bill Hager of Boca Raton, voting against it. The amended bill is looking to put Visit Florida under “strict transparency and accountability rules,” according to those who support the legislation.
Under HB 7005, salaries for Visit Florida staffers would be capped at $130,000 per year, travel expenses and contract spending would have to follow state rules and its CEO would have to gain Senate approval. The updated bill would also reduce Visit Florida’s state funding to from $76 million to $25 million.
An original version of the bill proposed by the House called to eliminate Visit Florida funding entirely. The amended version of the bill will next make its way to the House floor, for further consideration.
The Florida Legislature will meet in a session beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March. A regular session lasts for 60 calendar days and this is when further action and legislation could occur.
More information on HB 7005 is available via the Orlando Sentinel.
