Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

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Once upon a time, Florida’s 11th Congressional District – which now encompasses Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Marion counties – was held by a Democrat. Her name was Karen Thurman. Thurman lost to Republican Ginny Brown-Waite in 2002, and since that time, the seat has remained safely in GOP control, and that scenario doesn’t appear to be changing […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

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South Florida U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy has signed a letter with 86 other House Democrats urging House Speaker Paul D. Ryan to not cut off money to the U.S. refugee resettlement program. “We respectfully urge you to reject attempts to use critical year-end spending legislation to block the acceptance of refugees, including […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

For the first time this year, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz leads in Iowa among Republican caucusgoers, according to a new Monmouth University poll released Monday. The Texas Senator gets 24 percent among Iowans likely to participate in that state’s Iowa caucus scheduled for February. That’s a 5-point leader over Donald Trump, in second place with […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

(UPDATED) Last week President Obama signed into law the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act or FAST Act, a $305 billion transportation bill that will provide the state of Florida with $890 million more than it would have gotten under current funding formulas — and about $12 billion overall. “What will be most relevant for us in this bill is it will […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

The Bernie Sanders candidacy has been built to be fueled by momentum. In September, top campaign strategists Jeff Weaver and Ted Devine acknowledged that the Vermont independent senator probably must win Iowa or New Hampshire to have any chance at knocking off Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president. What happens after that? Well, then it’s on […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

There’s a lot of angst in the country and political world about how we are dealing with domestic terrorism, five days after San Bernardino. Well, that’s what the media tells us. I’m not so sure. There were a lot of big football games over the weekend with sellout crowds. Restaurants and bars seemed to pretty […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (PTC) Chairman Victor Crist says that Jeff Brandes’ recent inquiry on whether the PTC should be allowed to hire lobbyists was simply a ploy “to try to stir the pot” in advance of next week’s Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting. “This is a publicity stunt by Sen. Brandes to stir […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

First off, I want to wish the best for Brendan McLaughlin, who will be departing as a news anchor at ABC affiliate WFTS in a couple of weeks after 21 years in the market. Like yours truly, Brendan hails from the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County, actually, I believe). Folks, there ain’t that many […]

Mitch PerryDecember 3, 2015

(UPDATED) The Florida Attorney General’s office has decided it’s up to the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission to decide whether it wants to hire lobbyists. The decision came at the request from St. Petersburg GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes for an opinion on the issue. In a letter to Brandes on Thursday, Assistant Attorney General […]

Mitch PerryDecember 3, 2015

Earlier this summer, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that defendants who use the controversial “Stand Your Ground” controversial legal defense — rather than the government — have the burden of proving it should shield them from prosecution. The ruling upset the National Rifle Association, and prompted GOP lawmakers to say they would address the issue in […]

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Justin Grabelle about to be challenged in CD 11 race?

Patrick Murphy joins call for Paul Ryan to cut Syrian issue from spending bill

Ted Cruz takes lead in Iowa in new Monmouth University poll

FAST Act means more money for Florida transit agencies’ buses

In Tampa, Bernie Sanders campaign asks Florida supporters to help effort in South Carolina

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.15 – Obama speaks on threat of Islamic State, GOP reacts

Tensions about Hillsborough PTC build as legislative delegation meeting approaches

Mitch Perry Report for 12.4.15 – on Jeb, Ted and Kobe

Pam Bondi’s office says PTC can decide whether to hire lobbyists

Stand Your Ground revisions pass thru Florida Senate committee