AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 16, 2021 at 6:45 pmIn May 2014, just before the Florida Legislature passed the state’s first medical marijuana law, then-state House Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jason Brodeur teamed up to add a provision to the bill forcing any company that wanted to grow and sell cannabis in Florida to also hire a physician as medical director.One week later, records show, one of their friends — Orlando hand doctor Jason Pirozzolo, who had been on the floor of the state House that day — started a new consulting business providing medical directors to cannabis...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 16, 2021 at 6:45 pmIn May 2014, just before the Florida Legislature passed the state’s first medical marijuana law, then-state House Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jason Brodeur teamed up to add a provision to the bill forcing any company that wanted to grow and sell cannabis in Florida to also hire a physician as medical director.One week later, records show, one of their friends — Orlando hand doctor Jason Pirozzolo, who had been on the floor of the state House that day — started a new consulting business providing medical directors to cannabis...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 13, 2021 at 7:49 pmBefore he resigned in disgrace last year, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg doled out dubious contracts to a number of Republican politicians, political strategists and other allies, many with links to the scandals that have rocked Florida politics this month, according to audit documents, emails and other records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel.The records also provide further details of Greenberg’s friendships with two of the powerful figures buffeted by the controversies: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and lobbyist Chris...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 13, 2021 at 7:49 pmBefore he resigned in disgrace last year, Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg doled out dubious contracts to a number of Republican politicians, political strategists and other allies, many with links to the scandals that have rocked Florida politics this month, according to audit documents, emails and other records reviewed by the Orlando Sentinel.The records also provide further details of Greenberg’s friendships with two of the powerful figures buffeted by the controversies: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and lobbyist Chris...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 08, 2021 at 8:51 pmFederal investigators are probing a trip to the Bahamas that U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz allegedly took with former Orlando International Airport board appointee Jason Pirozzolo as part of a probe into potential sex-trafficking violations, .Citing “multiple” unnamed sources, CBS reported that investigators are probing a Bahamian trip Gaetz, a Republican from the Panhandle, took with Pirozzolo, an Orlando hand doctor and medical marijuana investor who allegedly paid for travel expenses, accommodations and female...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 08, 2021 at 8:51 pmFederal investigators are probing a trip to the Bahamas that U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz allegedly took with former Orlando International Airport board appointee Jason Pirozzolo as part of a probe into potential sex-trafficking violations, .Citing “multiple” unnamed sources, CBS reported that investigators are probing a Bahamian trip Gaetz, a Republican from the Panhandle, took with Pirozzolo, an Orlando hand doctor and medical marijuana investor who allegedly paid for travel expenses, accommodations and female...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 02, 2021 at 10:01 pmJoel Greenberg and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on at least one occasion several years ago were recorded together entering the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office when it was closed on a weekend night, according to a person familiar with office operations who saw the videotape.The person said the footage showed Greenberg and Gaetz walking into the Tax Collector’s Lake Mary office on Primera Drive. Greenberg was seen going through baskets where driver’s licenses, turned in by residents for disposal, were stored and later went into a back...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 02, 2021 at 10:01 pmJoel Greenberg and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on at least one occasion several years ago were recorded together entering the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office when it was closed on a weekend night, according to a person familiar with office operations who saw the videotape.The person said the footage showed Greenberg and Gaetz walking into the Tax Collector’s Lake Mary office on Primera Drive. Greenberg was seen going through baskets where driver’s licenses, turned in by residents for disposal, were stored and later went into a back...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 02, 2021 at 10:01 pmJoel Greenberg and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on at least one occasion several years ago were recorded together entering the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office when it was closed on a weekend night, according to a person familiar with office operations who saw the videotape.The person said the footage showed Greenberg and Gaetz walking into the Tax Collector’s Lake Mary office on Primera Drive. Greenberg was seen going through baskets where driver’s licenses, turned in by residents for disposal, were stored and later went into a back...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 02, 2021 at 10:01 pmJoel Greenberg and U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz on at least one occasion several years ago were recorded together entering the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office when it was closed on a weekend night, according to a person familiar with office operations who saw the videotape.The person said the footage showed Greenberg and Gaetz walking into the Tax Collector’s Lake Mary office on Primera Drive. Greenberg was seen going through baskets where driver’s licenses, turned in by residents for disposal, were stored and later went into a back...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJun 24, 2020 at 8:12 amSome of the world’s largest companies are lobbying Congress to preserve a lucrative tax break that saves them billions of dollars a year, even as the federal budget deficit swells amid efforts to contain the coronavirus and revive the sagging economy.Aerospace and defense contractors Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp. would save $2 billion each in 2022 if lawmakers agree to keep the soon-to-expire corporate tax break, at .AdvertisementAirplane manufacturer Boeing Co. would save about $2.5 billion, according to...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJun 24, 2020 at 8:12 amSome of the world’s largest companies are lobbying Congress to preserve a lucrative tax break that saves them billions of dollars a year, even as the federal budget deficit swells amid efforts to contain the coronavirus and revive the sagging economy.Aerospace and defense contractors Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp. would save $2 billion each in 2022 if lawmakers agree to keep the soon-to-expire corporate tax break, at .AdvertisementAirplane manufacturer Boeing Co. would save about $2.5 billion, according to...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 29, 2020 at 9:01 amLosing $25 million a month while its amusement parks sit closed and empty, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. hopes a loan from the federal government could help the company get through the coronavirus crisis.SeaWorld wants help from federal taxpayers though it pays little federal income taxes itself.AdvertisementOver the past 10 years, records show the company has earned nearly $193 million in pretax profits. But it has paid less than $8 million in total income taxes, according to an Orlando Sentinel review of SeaWorld’s financial...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 29, 2020 at 9:01 amLosing $25 million a month while its amusement parks sit closed and empty, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. hopes a loan from the federal government could help the company get through the coronavirus crisis.SeaWorld wants help from federal taxpayers though it pays little federal income taxes itself.AdvertisementOver the past 10 years, records show the company has earned nearly $193 million in pretax profits. But it has paid less than $8 million in total income taxes, according to an Orlando Sentinel review of SeaWorld’s financial...WW…