Seeking Rents
Seeking Rents – The Podcast
Florida’s tourism industry has taken billions from residents of Florida’s biggest tourism town — and now it wants more
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Florida’s tourism industry has taken billions from residents of Florida’s biggest tourism town — and now it wants more

Lobbying by companies like Disney and Universal has forced people living in Orlando to subsidize tourism businesses and sports billionaires instead of solving real problems like traffic and housing.
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In this episode: The city of Orlando, home to Disney World and Universal Studios, raises hundreds of millions of dollars every year from a tax on hotels. But while other communities spend hotel taxes on public safety, environmental preservation and affordable housing, Orlando spends all its money propping up tourism businesses and sports billionaires. It’s the result of decades of lobbying by Disney, Universal and other big tourism businesses — and of compliant politicians, from the local county commission to the state Legislature. But change may finally be afoot.

Further reading:

  • Orlando Sentinel: Hoteliers, Keys fight for use of tourist tax

  • Orlando Sentinel: Florida police group: Use hotel tax to keep tourists safe

  • Orlando Sentinel: Small county takes on tourism industry over control of bed taxes

  • Florida Trend: The bed tax never sleeps in Florida

  • Orlando Sentinel: Universal Orlando’s new road deal with Orange County is lopsided, critics say

  • Orlando Sentinel: Orlando hotel taxes don’t pay for roads or housing like in other cities. One reason: Disney and Universal’s political power

  • Orlando Sentinel: Environmentalists praise plan to spend hotel taxes on ailing springs and lakes. But the tourism industry is fighting it.

  • Orlando Business Journal: Orlando state representative files bill to expand TDT uses

  • Seeking Rents: Mr. Smith goes to Washington…and gets rolled

  • Seeking Rents: The Orange County mayor's office isn't telling the truth as it tries to sell voters on a higher sales tax

  • Orlando Sentinel: An uprising? Mayor’s hotel-tax task force suggests overdue changes | Commentary

Contact: Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com

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Seeking Rents
Seeking Rents – The Podcast
"Rent-seeking" is a term in economics that describes when a corporation uses its political influence to twist tax laws and other public policy in its favor. Seeking Rents – The Podcast brings you the stories of how that's happening in Florida, where corporate interests like Florida Power & Light, Big Sugar, and Walt Disney World wield enormous influence everywhere from local city halls to the state Capitol. Hosted by award-winning journalist Jason Garcia, Florida's leading corporate-accountability reporter.