Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 16, 2015

Rick Scott‘s request to congressional leaders that they find a way to stop the funding of several hundreds of Syrian refugees may be playing well with in some quarters on Monday, but the ACLU and the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) are blasting him over it. “In these moments of pain and escalated fear, we should […]

Melissa RossNovember 13, 2015

Just as a closely watched U.S. Supreme Court case may strike down Florida’s death penalty sentencing laws, ACLU staff attorney Adam Tebrugge of Bradenton is discussing the death penalty Monday night in St. Augustine at an event sponsored in part by Amnesty International. The high court is reviewing what the New York Times calls Florida’s […]

Melissa RossNovember 6, 2015

A bipartisan summit on criminal justice reform is expected to draw local and national thought leaders to Jacksonville this month. Operation Reform, sponsored by #Cut50, the Ford Foundation and Operation New Hope, will focus on re-entry solutions for people leaving incarceration, and reducing recidivism through employment. This was a major focus of the Jacksonville Journey, […]

Guest AuthorNovember 3, 2015

What in the world is going on? As if our political world isn’t enough to drive us crazy, we seem to be bombarded by a constant barrage of bizarre events that are difficult to comprehend. Nonetheless, the news media insists on producing stories testing our common sense. They would be funny if we knew they […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2015

For several years, it’s been a given that Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn would try to take his brand of leadership to a new level in 2018 by seeking the Democratic nomination for governor. Facing just token opposition in his re-election bid, Buckhorn won with nearly 96 percent of the vote in March, setting himself up […]

Mitch PerryOctober 9, 2015

The activists went home unhappy Thursday night, but their goals were never the same as the majority on the Tampa City Council regarding the creation of a citizens review board to watchdog the Tampa Police Department. City Council voted 5-2 Thursday evening to a compromise proposal on who gets to select the members of the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 24, 2015

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Florida is one of only three states that require a governor’s order to restore civil rights to ex-felons. As the law stands, men and women released from the prison system must wait five years before applying for full citizenship rights. Then they must petition the governor and Cabinet for clemency, a process that can take 10 […]

Mitch PerryJune 25, 2015

Bob Buckhorn travels to Tallahassee Friday in what is being seen as his first overt move to broaden his statewide appeal in advance of 2018, when he’ll likely take a run at the Democratic nomination for governor. The Tampa mayor speaks to the Tallahassee Tiger Bay Club on Friday, as well as tape an appearance […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2015

Criminal justice reform has become a hot topic this year, and Rand Paul isn’t the only Republican talking about such efforts on the GOP campaign trail. Crime rates have been dropping across the country over the past decade, but in Florida the state’s incarceration rates have continued to rise. The ACLU will soon pick three […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

Thirty-eights years after Anita Bryant, Florida no longer officially bans gays from adopting children. Although it’s been legal for such couples to adopt since 2010, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Thursday night that now makes that official. The issue roiled social conservatives in and outside of the Legislature this spring. The inclusion of […]

Tag: ACLU
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

CAIR, ACLU blast Rick Scott for requesting Syrian refugees not be allowed to settle in Florida

Florida’s death penalty reviewed by U.S. Supreme Court, discussed in St. Augustine

Operation Reform Summit seeks bipartisan approach to criminal justice reform

Tim Bryce: It's getting strange out there

Bob Buckhorn still considering 2018 run for governor

Mitch Perry Report for 10.9.15 – First chapter in Tampa citizens review board saga ends

Bid for constitutional amendment to restore ex-felons’ rights not looking good for 2016 ballot

Bob Buckhorn takes his act to Tallahassee

Florida under consideration for ACLU push on sentencing reform?

Mitch Perry Report for 6.12.15 — On this LGBT issue, Florida and Rick Scott resist social conservative pressures