Elevator pitch

Phil AmmannApril 26, 2017

An epic divorce battle years in the making has embroiled Tampa Republican heavyweight Don E. Phillips. Despite claims of a “devoted family,” Phillips and his wife Erin spent the past few years firing off waves of competing lawsuits, complete with dramatic accusations of computer hacking, identity theft, domestic violence, stalking and serial infidelity among others. […]

Phil AmmannApril 25, 2017

Tampa International Airport’s chief executive officer welcomed the possibility of an audit as suggested by state Sen. Tom Lee last week. “We get audited all the time,” Joe Lopano said last week at a meeting of the St. Petersburg City Council. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported Lopano was on hand to present the $543 […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2017

As for discussion over a proposed Senate regional transit bill for the Tampa Bay region, it’s all about timing. A group of a dozen local business executives arrived for a lobbying trip to Tallahassee just one day after a contentious Senate committee meeting where three Tampa Bay lawmakers clashed over a bill seeking to overhaul […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2017

Single-use plastic bags, found at nearly every retail, grocery and convenience store in the nation, are now the latest target of environmentalists, as well as by state and local lawmakers. However, in the case of the leading nonprofit behind Florida’s growing “ban the bag” movement, something is not quite right. The Surfrider Foundation, headquartered in […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2017

Twenty-one years after a car crash that took her twin sister’s life, Emily Slosberg is continuing the fight to make Florida roads safer. Slosberg, the state representative and daughter of longtime Democratic state lawmaker Irv Slosberg, has picked up her father’s crusade on driver’s safety by championing stronger texting while driving laws statewide. As reported […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2017

A 21-year-old woman sued by Tampa political activist Sam Rashid is not “backing down,” and has filed a motion Monday to dismiss the case. Rashid, who had twice resigned seats on prestigious boards after making controversial posts on social media, has filed suit in Hillsborough County against former employee Jacqueline Lilley for an alleged libelous” […]

Phil AmmannApril 23, 2017

Florida’s business rent tax is one of the outstanding issues at play as lawmakers crawl toward sine die of the 2017 Legislative Session, set for May 5. As the only state-sanctioned sales tax on commercial leases in the entire nation, a pair of bills now making way through the Florida Capitol that attempt to lighten […]

Phil AmmannApril 22, 2017

Marco Rubio has ‘no doubt’ state Sen. Frank Artiles‘ did the right thing by resigning from the Florida Legislature Friday in the wake of a racist and sexist outburst against two lawmakers. Elected officials are rightfully “held to a different standard,” Rubio said. “You hold a public trust, you are a representative of those districts, and you are going […]

Phil AmmannApril 21, 2017

Is there a politician in Florida right now on more of a hot streak than Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry? This issue of Bold tells the tale. Curry’s pension reform appears to be on a glide path toward ratification — a major accomplishment. His moves toward downtown revitalization have a major shot in the arm, with […]

Phil AmmannApril 20, 2017

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After awarding more than $16 million in the past decade to consultants without going through competitive bidding, the city of Clearwater had finally corrected a gross misunderstanding of Florida law governing the process. While that may be indeed admirable, another potential problem could be on the horizon, as small print in a recent Request for […]

Phil Ammann

Dueling lawsuits embroil Tampa power broker Don Phillips, wife in fierce divorce battle

‘Join the club’ — Tampa Airport CEO welcomes Tom Lee’s proposed audit

Business leaders lobby Tampa Bay-area lawmakers on regional transit

Enviro group fronting Florida’s ‘ban the bag’ effort spends next to nothing, accused of skirting lobbying rules

Emily Slosberg’s personal, uphill battle for tougher texting laws

Former employee sued by Tampa activist Sam Rashid ‘won’t back down,’ lawyer says

Business rent tax cuts still in play in House, Senate

Marco Rubio: With ‘higher standard’ for lawmakers, Frank Artiles was right to resign

Jacksonville Bold for 4.21.17 — Political capital, boldfaced

Another Clearwater competitive bid error proves devil is truly in details