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

Mitch PerryMarch 23, 2017

A bill in the Florida legislature that could arm teachers with guns in private religious schools passed the House Judiciary Committee Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Polk City Republican Neil Combee (HB 849), would carve out certain religious private schools from Florida law that prohibits anyone except law enforcement officers from carrying guns in K-12 schools […]

Mitch PerryMarch 22, 2017

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Legislation to make texting while driving a primary offense passed Wednesday unanimously by the Senate Transportation Committee. Miami Republican Rene Garcia sponsored the legislation (SB 144). Florida was one of the later states in the country to adopt anti-texting laws, not doing so until 2013. But the fact that it’s a secondary offense has led critics […]

Mitch PerryMarch 22, 2017

A proposal to allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to store firearms with security officers at courthouses advanced in the Florida Senate Wednesday. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Greg Steube (SB 616), is one of 10 firearms-related pieces of legislation the Sarasota Republican has introduced in the current Session. Unlike many of those proposals, however, opposition to this bill isn’t as fevered in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 22, 2017

Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor says that the House Republican health care bill “is actually getting worse” as it gets amended to try to win over more conservative votes in Congress. “TrumpCare will be devastating to Florida families and Speaker Ryan is desperately trying to ram this bill through the U.S. House before the American people understand the impact,” Castor said […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

At a presentation about circuit court judicial caseloads Tuesday, House Appropriations Committee Chair Carlos Trujillo asked why judges have an issue with moving to a paperless system. Speaking to the committee, Robert E. Roundtree Jr., an 8th Judicial Circuit Court judge and former chief judge, said circuit courts in Florida are electronically filing cases: “There are no […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

Legislation banning sanctuary city policies moved through another Florida House committee Tuesday. Yalaha Republican Rep. Larry Metz‘s bill (HB 697) would force any “sanctuary city” or county in Florida to remove all formal or informal policies shielding undocumented immigrants from federal custody. It passed the House Subcommittee on Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs on a 9-5 vote on Tuesday. The […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

Andrew Gillum picked up two new endorsements Tuesday in his campaign for governor. The Tallahassee mayor’s campaign announced that Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe and Gainesville City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos are backing his candidacy for the 2018 Democratic nomination. “As mayor of Gainesville, I know the importance of having a governor who understands the needs of our […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

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The House of Representatives are poised to vote on “The American Health Care Act” Thursday, but nobody is certain whether the GOP-backed plan has enough votes to pass. Miami Republican Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehtinen has said she would vote against the bill; now the Club for Growth wants to ensure dissension in a new television ad, one of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

Legislation that would refigure the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA) had its first hearing in the Florida Legislature, where it became clear changes may be needed if its to pass. The bill was introduced by Clearwater state Senator Jack Latvala earlier this month, and is being sponsored in the House by Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson. The bill (HB […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

As the Florida Legislature continues to debate the implementation of a popular medical marijuana initiative, voters believe the state is moving too slow in doing so, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The survey by nationally-recognized pollster Tony Fabrizio of Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that 44 percent of Floridians believe the implementation of Amendment 2 is going too […]

Mitch Perry
Florida Politics' Drew Wilson a few pounds heavier and with a bit more hair next to Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell ... (guess who we're rooting for?).

House advances bill allowing guns in private religious schools

Tougher texting-and-driving ban sails through Senate committee

With little debate, Senate advances Greg Steube’s courthouse carry gun bill

Kathy Castor says GOP health care bill getting worse as it gets closer to vote in the House

Circuit court judges to finally get a statewide case management system?

Bill to eliminate sanctuary cities in Florida moves through another House committee

Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe and City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos endorse Andrew Gillum for governor

Club for Growth encourages Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to oppose the GOP health care bill

Bill creating Tampa Bay area transit authority gets first hearing in Legislature

New poll shows Floridians thinking lawmakers going too slow in implementing medical marijuana initiative