Crony Capitalism
Does Florida have Crony Capitalism? The answer is, Yes.
Florida has economic programs that function as systems of legalized corruption and cronyism. These programs that permit crony capitalism should be overhauled or eliminated. Government should not be subsidizing some businesses at the expense of other businesses through tax subsidies in the name of “job creation” and “economic development.”
Enterprise Florida – Crony Capitalism
Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership between business and government, is the state’s economic development organization. Many of Florida’s largest corporations (investors) pay $50,000 for a seat on Enterprise Florida’s Board. Click Here to see the list of Board members.
Enterprise Florida works to recruit new business to the state and to retain and expand existing business. To accomplish that goal, Enterprise Florida offers taxpayer funded incentives to targeted businesses (including those who are represented on the Board) in the name of job creation. Click Here to see the latest Enterprise Florida incentives report.
What Florida Needs.
State and local government policies should be free of favoritism and instead focused on creating vibrant free-market communities where every employer matters and entrepreneurship thrives.
Research Publications
Subsidizing Corporate Tax Dodgers
Download the full PDF report here
February 2015
Executive Summary
As Florida policymakers consider cutting corporate profits tax revenues, this study seeks to
provide more transparency about the actual corporate profit tax rates being paid by the Fortune
500 corporations headquartered in Florida to state governments in the U.S.
While the Florida Legislature maintains a policy of secrecy that prevents disclosure of corporate
profits tax payments made by individual corporations, the staff of Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ)
and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) conducted a special study of state
corporate profits tax payments made by Florida’s 17 Fortune 500 corporations nationally at the
request of […]
Enterprise Florida Economic Development or Corporate Welfare?
Download the full PDF report here
February 2013
Executive Summary
Floridians have entrusted Enterprise Florida, a public–private partnership focused on economic
development, with significant public resources to deliver high quality job creation results, yet the
organization has failed to accomplish its goals. Why has Enterprise Florida struggled as an
economic development program? To better understand its operations, we take a close look at the
incentive agreements executed by Enterprise Florida in the 2012 fiscal year. We selected 2012
because it presents the most recent data. It’s also a year that the Florida Secretary of Commerce
has boasted of being an exemplar of success, referring to previous years’ efforts […]
Corruption Risk Report: Enterprise Florida
Download the full PDF report here
April 2012
Executive Summary
Enterprise Florida serves as the State of Florida’s official economic development organization.
In this report, Integrity Florida does not take a position on whether tax incentives for economic
development are good or bad. This report examines Enterprise Florida’s commitment to public
access to information, accountability, performance metrics and transparency.
Summary of Enterprise Florida Corruption Risk Indicators
Enterprise Florida’s most recent legislative agenda prioritized confidentiality measures.
Corporate seats on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors are offered for $50,000.
Enterprise Florida board member companies receive Enterprise Florida tax incentives.
Enterprise Florida board member companies serve as Enterprise Florida vendors.
Enterprise Florida does […]