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Universal's GOP fest
Republican state legislators and lobbyists seeking to influence them will descend on Universal Orlando this weekend to raise money for the state GOP — just a few weeks before the Florida Legislature gavels open its 2019 session.
The pre-session fundraiser at Universal has become an annual tradition for the Republican Party of Florida, which holds majorities in both the state House and Senate and has been holding the event annually for more than a decade. Invitations to this year’s fundraiser feature Senate President Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton), House Speaker Jose Oliva (R-Miami Lakes) and their top lieutenants. The schedule calls for early morning VIP tours of Universal’s theme parks, a dinner reception and an evening VIP viewing of the resort’s Mardi Gras parade.
Comcast Corp.’s Universal provides theme park tickets, hotel rooms and food for lawmakers. Campaign-finance records show Universal has donated at least $1.8 million worth of goods and services to the Republican Party of Florida since 2006 for the annual event.
Among the issues Universal has lobbied the Legislature for in recent years is preserving an incentive program that was originally conceived as a way to attract investment in impoverished neighborhoods struggling with crime. Universal is by far the biggest beneficiary of that program, taking millions of dollars in tax credits despite protests from the former legislators who created it.
The Florida Legislature’s 2019 session begins March 5th.
