Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

Bob Buckhorn announced last month that he won’t run for governor next year, saying it wasn’t worth separating himself from his family over the next couple of years. It’s certainly not for lack of how he would run his campaign, based on remarks he made on Monday in Tampa. Appearing with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, the two […]

Les NeuhausMarch 10, 2017

When the Florida House of Representatives voted Friday to do away with the much-embattled Florida Enterprise – the program Gov. Rick Scott loyally supported and, oppositely, Speaker Richard Corcoran virulently chided – special interest groups who had worked tirelessly for its eradication jumped for joy. None celebrated more than the Florida branch of Americans for […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 8, 2017

Marketing is a contest for people’s attention, and state tourism marketing is no different. However, the detrimental impacts of removing a powerful marketing mechanism mean a world of difference when your state budget revenue depends on your share of the market. The proposed bill spearheaded by the House Careers & Competition Subcommittee that eliminates VISIT […]

Mitch PerryDecember 19, 2016

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Americans for Prosperity-Florida is getting in the holiday spirit, playing off a classic Christmas poem to highlight the organization’s 2017 priorities. The statewide organization launched a new web ad Monday that is meant to target Florida lawmakers over the holiday season. The AFP-FL ad — called “A Holiday poem to FL lawmakers” — asks Floridians […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2016

Florida’s new legislative class of 2017 is presumably back home for the holidays today after spending the first part of this week in Tallahassee. House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron welcomed their troops by discussing their respective goals for the 2017 session. In the case of Corcoran, his proposals for lobbying reform have been well publicized […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 22, 2016

Tuesday saw senior staff from the city of Jacksonville locked in negotiations with representatives from the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters. Spoiler alert: those negotiations won’t be wrapped up in time for Thanksgiving. The fire union seems to prefer switching to the Florida Retirement System’s pension plan; the city likes defined contribution. That is a huge gap. […]

Scott PowersOctober 11, 2016

Outside groups have poured nearly $25 million into the general election for Florida’s U.S. Senate race, helping Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio by more than a three-to-one rate over Democratic challenger U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. The latest campaign finance reports available through the Federal Election Commission covering the general election through Tuesday show groups such as […]

Scott PowersSeptember 2, 2016

The liberal American Bridge super PAC has released a voluminous new report contending that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Florida Gov. Rick Scott have become “puppets” of the rival conservative Americans For Prosperity. American Bridge’s 144-page report, entitled “Florida Man Buys State: Koch Impacts In the Sunshine State,” was released Friday to coincide with Americans […]

Scott PowersSeptember 2, 2016

Americans For Prosperity, the conservative organization founded by the Koch brothers that deluged television with electioneering commercials the past two cycles is pushing its grassroots efforts now. At its annual “Defending the American Dream” summit in Orlando Friday, AFP leaders stressed their ground-level organization in states like Florida to push business-friendly candidates in U.S. Senate […]

Mitch PerryAugust 31, 2016

Good morning, everyone. Florida’s primary election is history. So, where to begin? Patrick Murphy will face Marco Rubio in November. Murphy crushed Alan Grayson, 59 to 18 percent, with Pam Keith a close third at 15 percent. Rubio gets credit for honesty, saying that he can’t say for sure that he’ll fulfill all six years of his term if elected, […]

Tag: Americans for Prosperity

At economic lunch, Bob Buckhorn blasts ‘Koch Brothers led ideology’ in Tallahassee

Special-interest groups rejoice Enterprise Florida House vote; call for Senate death knell

Carol Dover: Florida’s future depends on tourism

AFP Florida conveys to lawmakers their holiday wish list for 2017

Mitch Perry Report for 11.23.16 – Real reform in Tallahassee

Jacksonville pension proposal: A ‘shock’ to firefighters

Outside groups pour $24 million into Florida U.S. Senate race, mostly aiding Marco Rubio

“Florida Man buys state” — American Bridge PAC says Americans for Prosperity buys Florida

Americans For Prosperity focusing on Florida Senate race and on grassroots efforts

Mitch Perry Report for 8.31.16 — Moving on to November