Andy Gardiner

TALLAHASSEE — Despite state coffers flush with cash, Central Florida taxpayers might be justified to feel short-changed in the final state budget signed by Gov. Rick Scott. That's because Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia and Brevard all...

TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Rick Scott vetoed $368 million in lawmaker pet projects Monday and blocked a 3 percent tuition hike for Florida colleges and universities. The tuition increase passed earlier this month was a small piece of the overall $74.1...

TALLAHASSEE — With the 60-day lawmaking session complete, Florida legislators are wasting no time getting back to what they do the other 10 months of the year: raising copious amounts of cash from wealthy donors and companies. And thanks to a...

The guests and topics in local public-affairs programming this weekend: Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, and Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, discuss the recent Florida Legislative Session on "Central Florida Spotlight." Greg Warmoth moderates the...

TALLAHASSEE -- Backers of a sweeping sports stadium package were working furiously Friday to convince the Florida House to pass tax-breaks for the Miami Dolphins, Orlando soccer boosters, Daytona International Speedway and others. Central Florida Sens....

TALLAHASSEE -- A showdown over expanding health-care to more than 1 million Floridians slowed the Legislature to a crawl for a second day Wednesday, with the fate of an elections reform, a sick-time fight, sports stadium tax breaks and other bills hanging...

TALLAHASSEE -- Sen. Andy Gardiner said Wednesday that a push to merge the tolling authorities of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake counties may be dead for the year -- thanks to resistance from House Majority Leader Steve Precourt and a House slowdown...

TALLAHASSEE — The last week of Florida's legislative session will settle fights on taxes, stadium subsidies from Orlando to South Florida, and the fading push from Gov. Rick Scott to win $2,500 pay raises for teachers and tax breaks for businesses....

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott should be at the high tide of his influence, dropping the hammer on fellow Republican legislators thwarting his agenda. The governor has made it clear he wants $2,500 pay raises for teachers and a $141 million...

WKMG-Channel 6's "Flashpoint" is taking the show on the road this weekend. You can attend an 11 a.m. Saturday taping at the Things to Do in Florida Expo at Seminole Towne Center. You can see "Flashpoint" at 8 a.m. Sunday on WKMG. Moderator Lauren Rowe's...

TALLAHASSEE -- Legislative budget-writers are shifting more of Florida's national mortgage settlement dollars into programs targeting the homeless, low-income college students, and foreclosure-clogged courts. The Senate on Thursday offered a new...

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott will get a slimmed-down tax-incentive toy box with tougher standards for evaluating the economic benefit of projects. But will the Dolphins get $350 million to shape up Sun Life Stadium and lure another Super Bowl? Can...