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

Mitch PerryFebruary 28, 2018

In Tampa Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott continued a statewide tour touting his proposed $500 million to make Florida’s public schools safer in the aftermath of the massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School two weeks ago. The Governor’s plan includes putting law enforcement officers in every Florida public school, assembling a “threat-assessment team” that would embed a member […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 28, 2018

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Marco Rubio had a rough night last week in Sunrise, where he faced a lion’s den of hostile voters during a CNN live town-hall meeting featuring family members and friends of the victims of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland the week before. Rubio apparently isn’t too popular with the rest […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Florida lawmakers and tourism agencies are quick to boast that the Sunshine State is by far the best state in the nation. U.S. News and World Report disagrees. According to the second annual 2018 Best States study, the digital news organization ranks Florida fifteenth of the 50 U.S. states. Number one? Iowa. This year’s rankings were based on […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Attorney General candidate Jay Fant wants a second investigation, including convening a grand jury, into the local response to the Parkland school massacre. Even though Gov. Rick Scott has already tasked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into local law enforcement’s response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Jacksonville Republican lawmaker is […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Ever since legislation calling for consolidating the University of South Florida System was unveiled in mid-January, officials from the St. Petersburg community have raised serious objections. The bill, sponsored by Estero Republican Ray Rodrigues (HB 423), would make USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee operate separately from the main campus in Tampa under its own accreditation. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Despite the outcries of parents and educators, the House appears poised to pass a school defense program that Speaker Richard Corcoran calls a “game-changer.” The “Marshal Program,” as it’s been dubbed, would allow law enforcement to train and deputize someone who would be allowed to have a concealed weapon while on campus. “If we have […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

With Thonotosassa Republican state Sen. Tom Lee widely expected to leave his Senate District 20 seat in Hillsborough County sometime after the Legislative Session ends to run for Chief Financial Officer, who will take his place? Tampa’s Shawn Harrison and Zephryhills’ Danny Burgess are two names that have been floated. But there’s already a Republican in the race: John […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

The politics of guns in Florida has rapidly changed since the Valentine’s Day shooting in Parkland. Two Senate Republicans up for re-election this fall were hammered by their Democratic opponents Monday night following a Senate committee vote defeating a Democratic amendment to ban semi-automatic rifles. Tampa attorney Bob Buesing has vowed to be more aggressive in taking […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

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On Monday, a House committee advanced Hillsborough County’s proposal to create a special district for funding some features of the $3 billion Water Street Tampa development in the city’s Channelside neighborhood. The House Government Accountability Committee unanimously approved HB 1393 that creates the Water Street Tampa Improvement District. Advancing the proposal are Strategic Property Partners and […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2018

Keeping a promise he made to the brother of a student killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch introduced legislation to create the Assault Weapons Ban of 2018. Filing the bill Monday, Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat, was joined by David Cicilline of Rhode Island and 153 other Democrats. On Valentine’s Day, a […]

Mitch Perry

In Tampa, Rick Scott remains noncommittal on signing law to arm teachers

Marco Rubio upside down in new Q poll, especially with Hispanics

Say what? U.S. News ranks Florida only No. 15 in nation

Jay Fant wants second investigation of Broward Sheriff’s Department over Parkland shooting

Last-hour effort to delay USF System consolidation fails

On Fox News, Richard Corcoran boasts of ‘marshal program’

‘Manners’ time: Republican John Houman still running for SD 20

Campaigning: Democrats blast GOP after assault weapons ban fails

House advances proposed Water Street Tampa special district

Ted Deutch introduces legislation to ban assault weapons