Mitch Perry, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

Pinellas County Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly‘s proposal to ban federal officeholders from directly seeking campaign contributions has been getting an ambivalent reception across the region and the country. His legislation would affect only elected federal officials: the president, vice president and members of Congress. The change would not apply to candidates for federal office who […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

A GOP presidential poll released Wednesday by Florida Atlantic University shows Donald Trump leading in Florida in the March 15 presidential primary, with a stunning 48 percent share of the vote. Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are well behind at 11 and 10 percent, putting them in third and fourth places, respectively (Ted Cruz is […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

This past May, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation to require Florida to adopt online voter registration by October 2017, though he said he did it with “some hesitation.” Democrats were unhappy the state couldn’t enact the new system in time for this fall’s general election, but if it were up to Secretary of State Ken Detzner […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

Florida Department of Environmental Protection head Jon Steverson was formally confirmed in his position by members of the Senate’s Ethics and Elections Committee on Wednesday. That affirmation, though, came only after he was grilled by the panel about controversial decisions or statements made under his watch the past year. The Senate refused to confirm him in last year’s regular […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2016

If one were a better person, the most likeliest general election matchup in the presidential race nine months from now would be Donald Trump vs. Hillary Clinton. That scenario may never happen, but based strictly on the polls, those two candidates lead their respective parties nationally. There could be an interesting debate about who might […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2016

A bill to set statewide insurance standards for drivers of ridesharing services advanced unanimously in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Tuesday. Unlike the bill moving through the Florida House sponsored by Republican Matt Gaetz, the Senate bill (SB 1118) sponsored by Altamonte Springs Republican Dave Simmons deals solely with the insurance requirements required for Transportation Network […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2016

Shortly after David Jolly formally announced his legislation that would prohibit federal officers from raising money in office, he issued out a statement calling on members of the public to support the effort, called the STOP Act. He’s also released this new digital ad, which begins with news footage of cable news anchors talking about […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 19, 2016

I know soccer aficionados (somewhat pretentiously) like to call their favorite sport “The Beautiful Game.” As much as I respect that it’s the world’s favorite sport, it ain’t America’s. That would be football. Personally, I would advocate that basketball is actually the most beautiful sport when it’s executed the way the San Antonio Spurs did two years […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

When the Florida Legislature convenes Tuesday to begin the second week of the nine-week Legislative Session, the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal that divides the Tampa and Polk County legislative delegations. House Bill 815, sponsored by Tampa Republican Shawn Harrison, would move the 2nd District Court of Appeal from Lakeland to the Tampa […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2016

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida (RLC) has announced its 2016 legislative agenda, and at the top of the list is a bill calling for transparency in how political committees help fund campaigns around the state. The legislation, sponsored in the House by New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy and Orlando Democrat Darren Soto in the […]

Mitch Perry

Kathy Castor says David Jolly’s campaign finance idea doesn’t go far enough

Mitch Perry Report for 1.21.16 — New Florida Senate poll is interesting

Ken Detzner reports online voter registration on track to begin October 2017

Jon Steverson grilled on fracking, timber harvesting, hunting in state parks by Senate panel

Mitch Perry Report for 1.20.16 — Democratic Party establishment freaks out over Bernie Sanders

Senate panel OKs bill to establish state insurance standards for ride-share companies

David Jolly releases digital ad promoting his STOP Act (and takes a shot at Ron DeSantis)

Mitch Perry Report for 1.19.16 — Sorry, LeBron. Actually not sorry

Bill to move 2nd District Court to Tampa riles Polk legislators

Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida lays out its 2016 legislative agenda