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

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

In what is being depicted as a devastating blow to President Barack Obama, the House of Representatives on Friday resoundingly rejected a proposal that would grant financial aid to displaced workers by a vote of 302 to 126. That damages the possibility that Congress will grant the president fast-track trade authority to complete the Trans Pacific Partnership, […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

The Florida Democratic Party gathers Saturday night in Hollywood for its annual Leadership Blue Gala. They’re expected to drop their report on how to pick up the pieces after the major disappointment of the 2014 campaign. The report was written by the party’s LEAD (Leadership Expansion to Advance Democrats) Task Force, and it’s already being panned […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

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Former Tampa City Council member Mary Mulhern says she’s “investigating” running for political office in 2016, and that includes the possibility of moving to Pinellas County this summer to compete for the District 13 Congressional seat held by Republican David Jolly. “I’ve been crunching numbers for months, and networking, and talking to people at all levels […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

According to a survey conducted of the CNBC Global CFO Council, Jeb Bush will be the likely Republican nominee for President in 2016, and nobody else is really close. More than 72 percent of members of the council surveyed this month say Bush will in fact win the 2016 nomination. Respondents were asked to choose who they […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

On the eve of Jeb Bush’s announcement Monday at Miami Dade Community College that he’s officially a candidate for the Republican nomination for president, his campaign has issued a list of Florida GOP lawmakers backing him in the race against Marco Rubio and the more than dozen other candidates in the race. For starters, the entire […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

Thirty-eights years after Anita Bryant, Florida no longer officially bans gays from adopting children. Although it’s been legal for such couples to adopt since 2010, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Thursday night that now makes that official. The issue roiled social conservatives in and outside of the Legislature this spring. The inclusion of […]

Mitch PerryJune 11, 2015

It took him awhile, but Florida Governor Rick Scott today signed HB 7013, an adoption bill that offers financial incentives for qualifying employees of state agencies who adopt a child from the child welfare system. The measure would provide $5,000 payments to government workers who adopt foster children, with the payments increasing to $10,000 for adopting children […]

Mitch PerryJune 11, 2015

Charlie Crist’s narrow loss last fall to Rick Scott was devastating for the Democratic Party of Florida, but hope springs eternal when it comes to 2016. To prepare for next year’s battles, as well as just getting together and having a good time, over 1,200 Florida Democrats from across the state will regroup and get fired up […]

Mitch PerryJune 11, 2015

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As has been the case in the past two Republican presidential primary cycles, CNN will be bringing its resources to Florida to host a televised debate. The cable news network announced Wednesday that it will come to the Sunshine State to host a debate on March 10, five days before registered Republican voters here will vote […]

Mitch PerryJune 11, 2015

The Tampa Bay Times lead Thursday is a story that we touched upon briefly Wednesday because the Legislature is now half-way through its Special Session in Tallahassee: There are fears among Tampa leaders that state funding for a USF College of Medicine building ($17 million) and accompanying USF Heart Institute ($15.75 million) is in peril. […]

Mitch Perry

Kathy Castor explains why she opposed Obama on trade bill

Steve Schale weighs in on what Florida Democrats should do for 2016

Mary Mulhern “investigating” run for Pinellas County CD 13 seat

Survey indicates CFOs think Jeb Bush will capture GOP nomination

Florida lawmakers line up behind Jeb Bush before official announcement

Mitch Perry Report for 6.12.15 — On this LGBT issue, Florida and Rick Scott resist social conservative pressures

Rick Scott signs bill that repeals gay-adoption ban in Florida

Florida Democrats prepare to party this Saturday night in Hollywood

CNN returning to Florida in March to host presidential debate

Mitch Perry Report for 6.11.15 — Picking winners and losers in Tallahassee