Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2015

Marco Rubio may or may not make a full fledged run at the presidency, but he’s certainly flirting with the possibility, and like some other GOP candidates, has been talking more about economic inequality than ever before as he touts his new book, “American Dream.” But Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant says that while […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 20, 2015

For Daytona, Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando, it’s hurry up and wait. The highly anticipated decision on how the state will spend $7 million in tax dollars on stadium upgrades this year is now in the hands of the full Florida Legislature. With it, comes more than a little doubt as to whether it will happen in 2015 […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2015

Happy Friday to y’all. So much to talk about in the news this morning … The Tampa Bay Times’ flooded the zone in December with a series of disturbing stories about New Beginnings of Tampa, one of the city’s largest homeless charities, which for years has made money off its residents through its controversial “work therapy” program. The […]

Christine Jordan SextonFebruary 20, 2015

Amid a looming legislative food fight, fliers are being mailed to voters in select state House districts urging them to push their local legislator to support a contentious bill backed by the Florida Medical Association. The flyers are drawing the ire of House Speaker Steve Crisafulli because he’s among legislators targeted by them. They have also reached […]

Associated PressFebruary 20, 2015

A South Florida legislator wants to make it officially legal for unmarried men and women to live together. Sen. Eleanor Sobel filed a bill Thursday that repeals a long-standing law that makes it a second-degree misdemeanor for men and women to cohabit if they are not married. Sobel’s bill (SB 1078) would also remove a […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 20, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli are beginning their first legislative session as their chambers’ leaders with a unified front and much in common. Both are conservative Republicans with business backgrounds who list faith and family among their highest values. Gardiner is considered “old Orlando” — where his family has lived since […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says New Hampshire voters can expect many opportunities to engage with him directly in town hall-style events if he makes a bid for the White House. “If I run for president, we’re going to do as many of those as we possibly can; I enjoy that forum,” Rubio told The Associated […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 19, 2015

The Auditor General’s Office and staff from the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee selected Thursday 26 lobbying firms for the first-ever audits of lobbyists’ compensation forms. Fourteen firms that seek to influence the Legislature in the making of policy and 12 firms focused on the executive branch are the first group subjected to audits mandated by a measure signed […]

Bob SparksFebruary 19, 2015

Bill Clinton is known to use the term “dead bang loser” to deride the policies or actions of political opponents. One of his more recent targets was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for the latter’s epic fights with the state teachers’ union. Clinton described Walker’s success in those fights as a dead bang loser for Wisconsin. […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 19, 2015

So we’ve got this Sunshine Law in Florida. It’s supposed to be all about “open” government decision-making and freedom of information, including unrestricted access to public records. As many of us now know more than ever before, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet have made a farce of the law. And they’ve had plenty […]

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FDP Chair criticizes Marco Rubio, but says needs more time to review his current statements

Jacksonville Jaguars threaten ending (profitable) upgrades without state subsidy

Mitch Perry Report for 2.20.15 — On Rudy, Rick and DWS

FMA-backed group targets lawmakers over looming fight with insurance companies

Eleanor Sobel wants to repeal cohabitation law

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senate President Andy Gardiner reveal softer sides

Marco Rubio plans public meeting, book signing in New Hampshire

Thoughts on selection process of which lobbying firms will have their compensation reports audited

Bob Sparks: Tax credit scholarship lawsuit a ‘dead bang loser’

Daniel Tilson: Ain’t no sunshine: Make our legislators clean the mud off Florida government ‘transparency’