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

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2017

Central Florida businessman Chris King has made some major hires for his burgeoning candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Florida governor. King has named Omar Khan to serve as his senior adviser, as well as adding other Barack Obama alumni Jeremy Bird, Hari Sevugan, Larry Girsolano and Isaac Baker to his team. Khan was campaign manager for Charlie Crist’s 2014 gubernatorial […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2017

A bill to make Secretary of State an elected, Cabinet-level post advanced Wednesday through the Senate Rules Committee. Legislation by Fernandina Beach Republican Aaron Bean (SB 882) rolled through the committee with neither debate nor discussion. Historically, the Secretary of State in Florida was elected by the public, but that changed in 1998 when constitutional changes […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2017

Anne Gannon, the tax collector for Palm Beach County and a delegate for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention last summer, has endorsed Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for governor in 2018. “As a local elected official, I know firsthand the challenges facing Floridians, from an economy that has disproportionately led to low-wage jobs, an […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2017

Under a new bill passed Wednesday by the House Government Accountability Committee, Tampa would need to change the dates of municipal elections every four years. Changes to when local municipalities hold election days was one of a series of proposals included in a committee-written bill passed by the House Government Accountability Committee, approved easily by a 22-1 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

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No one knows when President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans will make another attempt at repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Some hard-line GOP lawmakers want to force a repeal-only bill back onto the floor, once again putting several House Republicans on the spot. On Friday, Alabama Republican Mo Brooks, part of the House Freedom Caucus, filed […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

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A majority of Florida voters believe open primaries in elections is a good idea. Robopolling released Tuesday from a coalition of groups that advocate creating an open primary system in Florida found strong support from voters having such an initiative on the ballot next year. The survey was conducted on behalf of three groups seeking […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

Momentum remains strong in Tallahassee for the first bill in Florida to regulate ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the proposal (SB 340) unanimously without debate. The bill, sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes, would require ride-sharing companies to carry $100,000 of insurance for bodily injury or death and $25,000 for property […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

State lawmakers advanced a proposal Tuesday to allow Florida Power & Light to charge customers for speculative oil and gas investments. After two and a half hours of debate, the Florida House Subcommittee on Energy and Utilities approved HB 1043, sponsored by Sanford Republican Jason Brodeur. The measure would authorize the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) to approve utilities […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

The City of Miami Beach lost the first round of a battle to raise the minimum living wage to $13.31 an hour. Nevertheless, Mayor Philip Levine vows he will fight back, possibly with a constitutional amendment to get the law through. After Levine signed the law last June to gradually raise Miami Beach’s minimum wage from the state’s $8.10 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

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A bill to repeal all local ordinances and regulations on vacation rental homes, rolling them back to 2011 levels, advanced Tuesday in the House Careers and Competition Subcommittee. The proposal, by St. Cloud Republican Mike LaRosa (HB 425), would require local governments in Florida to treat vacation rental homes like any other home in any given neighborhood. […]

Mitch Perry
Image via Tiger Bay.

Omar Khan among a group of former Obama staffers now working for Chris King’s gubernatorial campaign

Senate continues to roll bill making secretary of state an elected position

Palm Beach tax collector joins growing list of Dems behind Andrew Gillum

House advances bill to change Tampa municipal election dates

National Dems ask if Ileana Ros-Lehtinen supports new petition to repeal ACA

Poll shows support for open primary elections in Florida

Senate Judiciary Committee gives big win for ridesharing regulation

House advances bill allowing FPL to charge customers for out-of-state speculative investments

After judge tosses Miami Beach living wage ordinance, Phil Levine may pursue constitutional amendment

Bill to deregulate vacation rentals advances in House Committee