Seeking Rents
Seeking Rents – The Podcast
How the 'Free State of Florida' works with business lobbyists to keep wages low
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How the 'Free State of Florida' works with business lobbyists to keep wages low

Everyone from a small coastal city to the federal government has tried to raise pay for workers in Florida. State politicians and the Big Business lobby keep cutting them off.

In this episode: Florida’s tourism industry runs on a low-wage workforce. And the state’s biggest tourism businesses, from Walt Disney World to Outback Steakhouse, fight hard to suppress pay for workers — whether that means cutting off unemployment assistance for jobseekers or litigating against local living wage laws. They’ve had help from a long line of Florida governors, from Jeb Bush to Rick Scott to Ron DeSantis.

Further reading:

  • Wall Street Journal: States that cut unemployment benefits saw limited impact on job growth

  • Tampa Bay Times: Florida ended unemployment benefits early. Did people return to work?

  • CNBC: Cuts to unemployment benefits didn’t spur jobs, report says

  • Miami New Times: Miami Beach approves raising minimum wage to $13.31

  • WUSF: Legal fight over Miami Beach minimum wage could have far reaching impacts

  • Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association: Florida’s leading business coalition celebrates court ruling against Miami Beach’s minimum wage ordinance

  • Florida Trend: The new Florida Supreme Court

  • Seeking Rents: Records show Ron DeSantis took $300,000 from Florida lobbyists

  • Seeking Rents: Customers took Florida's biggest power company to court. Ron DeSantis and lawmakers stepped up to help...the power company.

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.