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

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Trying to seize the momentum to normalize relations with Cuba, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington intend to introduce legislation next week to remove the travel ban on Cuba that has been in place for more than 50 years. On Monday, Congressman Mark Sanford (R- South Carolina) and Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) will introduce […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

At the Associated Press’ annual legislative planning meeting in Tallahassee on Wednesday, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli tossed a wet blanket on the coalition of businesses in Florida pushing for the state to expand Medicaid in 2015, saying,”House still stands where we stood before: We do not plan to do anything on Medicaid expansion.” Advocates for Medicaid expansion […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Governor Rick Scott was in Tampa this morning, touting his proposed cell phone and TV tax cut that is designed to reduce the average Floridians cable bill by approximately $43 a year. But that’s not what the press corps was interested in talking about of course, as Scott was besieged once again by questions surrounding […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

At a drugged driving summit sponsored by AAA earlier this week, the former founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Candace Lightner, seemed unhappy when querying state Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) about Florida’s lack of enforced regulations when it comes to increasing penalties against drunk drivers in Florida. She also disapproved of the legislator’s enthusiasm for ride-sharing […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

At a drugged driving summit sponsored by AAA earlier this week, the former founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Candace Lightner, seemed unhappy when querying state Senator Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) about Florida’s lack of enforced regulations when it comes to increasing penalties against drunk drivers in Florida. She also disapproved of the legislator’s enthusiasm for ride-sharing […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Bob Buckhorn isn’t facing serious opposition in his bid for re-election this year, and an internal poll conducted late last year by his campaign shows why nobody of note is even attempting a challenge. The survey conducted by Virginia-based Frederick Polls last November shows that 67 percent of citizens in Tampa support the mayor’s reelection bid. That’s […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2015

Melissa Alexander is out of prison now, but she’s not exactly free at last. The Jacksonville mother of three was released from prison yesterday, after she accepted a plea deal with the state on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm. This drastically reduced her sentence to the three years in prison she had already […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

In recent years, a number of Tampa elected officials have made the hour-long plane flight to Cuba — Mary Mulhern, Yolie Capin, Harry Cohen and Charlie Miranda — though none representing Hillsborough County. But as high-level officials with the White House and the Raul Castro-led Cuban government have now commenced formal discussions for the first […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

(UPDATE: New information regarding the source of the push poll call below). Supporters of Tampa City Council candidates Guido Maniscalco and Tommy Castellano say that they and other residents residing in City Council District 6 have been receiving phone calls in the past week purporting to be from an independent pollster, surveying them about all three […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

A state regulatory agency says it will release specific information tomorrow about an upcoming workshop that the Florida Retail Federation says will provide “clarity” regarding a 50-year exception in alcohol beverage law in Florida. That exception has allowed the craft brewing industry to thrive over the past decade. Earlier this month the Florida Retail Federation and the […]

Mitch Perry

Bipartisan bill to end ban on U.S. travel to Cuba introduced in Congress

At Tampa presser, Rick Scott avoids responding to question on Medicaid expansion

Rick Scott again says no Cabinet member objected to his desire to fire Gerald Bailey

MADD supports study that it’s best to take Uber when drunk

MADD supports study that it's best to take Uber when drunk

Bob Buckhorn looks strong in new internal poll

Mitch Perry Report for 1.29.15 – Justice served in Melissa Alexander case?

Janet Long wants Pinellas County to be a player in Cuba

Push poll roils Tampa City Council race

State agency to rule on craft brewery tasting rooms exception