Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2015

It’s Election Day in St. Petersburg and in several other places in Florida, as well across the nation today. Let’s stay local for a moment. In St. Pete, there are three city council races on the ballot. The fourth was already won by Ed Montanari when a would-be opponent failed to qualify against him in […]

Peter SchorschOctober 22, 2015

I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting with Andy Gardiner at his home, but, based on his tenure as president of the Florida Senate, I have to wonder whether his house has working electricity, much less cable or Wi-Fi. That’s because Gardiner hates technology. To employ one of Daniel Ruth‘s gimmicks, Gardiner apparently represents the […]

Associated PressOctober 6, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio is warning of too much government meddling with Internet-based “on-demand companies.” Speaking Tuesday in New York, the Florida senator praised Uber and Airbnb. He says such “disruptive” companies and the people who work for them are unfairly burdened by government regulation. He decried the federal government as “out of touch” […]

Mitch PerryOctober 6, 2015

Marco Rubio‘s second book, “American Dream: Restoring Economic Opportunity for Everyone,“ it being published in paperback Tuesday. To mark the occasion, the rising GOP presidential candidate will give a speech at Civic Hall in New York City and will engage in a short Q&A with members of the New York tech community. The appearance is being promoted […]

Ryan RayJuly 8, 2015

In its vigorous crusade to legalize “ridesharing,” Uber has made some enemies among decision makers. Two days after the firm announced a pointed withdrawal from all operations in Broward County, officials in Key West are now saying they may arrest drivers who run afoul of local ordinances banning electronic ride-hailing. Meanwhile in Paris, French officials recently detained top Uber executives for […]

Mitch PerryJune 13, 2015

More than 1,200 Florida Democratic Party activists gathered Saturday night at The Diplomat hotel in Hollywood to get fired up about an election that takes place in 541 days. It’s better for FDP members to took ahead to 2016, though, since their hopes of removing Rick Scott from the governors mansion fell agonizingly short in November. Things […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

It’s not often Marco Rubio gets chastised by Barbara Boxer about being anti-business, but when it comes to the volatile issue of Cuba, traditional ideologies seem to collapse. The exchange between the Florida Republican and California Democrat took place Wednesday morning during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Cuba, where U.S. diplomats are to […]

Ryan RayApril 22, 2015

With a newfound emphasis on a ridesharing scourge sponsor Sen. David Simmons called “rogue drivers,” a bill to require greater insurance coverage for Uber and Lyft continued along its road to this afternoon in the Senate. Simmons’ SB 1298 – which also deals with short-term property rental companies like Airbnb, another facet of the emerging “sharing economy” – […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Though ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft are getting most of the ink these days, you’d be a fool to sleep on the short-term rental aspect of the new so-called sharing economy. Companies like industry leader Airbnb are challenging zoning rules, raising the ire of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and raising questions about fundamental property rights. Such a complex issue […]

Ryan RayMarch 23, 2015

A bill creating insurance requirements for short-term rental and transportation network companies — bywords for industry leaders Airbnb and Uber, respectively — passed the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee Monday afternoon, though not without an airing of grievances about some practices within the “disruptive” ride-sharing business. Altamonte Sen. David Simmons, an influential member of the Republican majority […]

Tag: Airbnb

Mitch Perry Report for 11.3.15 – Election Day calls for election day reform

Senate President Andy Gardiner hates technology

Marco Rubio criticizes government regulation of on-demand economy

Marco Rubio sets sharing economy speech in NYC

Should Uber, like Airbnb, employ lighter touch with regulators?

Florida Democrats celebrate themselves in Hollywood

Barbara Boxer takes Marco Rubio to task about where Americans stay in Cuba

Senate Uber insurance bill advances with new tweaks amid debate

Southern Strategy Group lands short-term rentals giant Airbnb

Uber, Airbnb insurance requirements OK’d by Senate panel