Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 3, 2017

With Republicans in control of all branches of state government for what is approaching nearly two decades, one check on their levers of power has been the Florida Supreme Court, which has at times has served as a safeguard to what some would call the Legislature’s worst excesses, such as redistricting and the death penalty. Until […]

Associated PressDecember 31, 2016

Fed up with Europe’s union across borders? Reject it. Disgusted with the U.S. political establishment? Can it. The news in 2016 was filled with battles over culture and territory that exposed divisions far deeper than many realized. But people confronting those divides repeatedly rejected the prospect of middle-ground solutions and the institutions put in place […]

Joe HendersonDecember 27, 2016

When the news came on Christmas Day that singer George Michael had died, well … can we get this year completed, please? Just this month alone, we have lost actor Alan Thicke, astronaut/hero John Glenn, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, former Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jim Williams, broadcaster Craig Sager and musician Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake […]

Associated PressDecember 21, 2016

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The turbulent U.S. election, featuring Donald Trump‘s unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, was the overwhelming pick for the top news story of 2016, according to The Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors. The No. 2 story also was a dramatic upset — Britons’ vote to leave the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2016

There are just days left before Congress concludes its lame duck session and heads home for the holidays, but that isn’t stopping a coalition of progressive organizations in Florida from urging Senator Marco Rubio to act when it comes to the logjam of judicial nominees. The Florida Why Courts Matter coalition on Thursday delivered a letter to the Miami Republican, calling […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

Where do you begin? One of the biggest political upsets in U.S. history, to start with, in Donald J. Trump beating Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States of America. Lots of analysis there, including about the Democratic nominee, who for the second time in eight years, thought she had the […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 23, 2016

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Former lawmaker and current Florida Supreme Court Justice Charles Canady now is on the final list of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump‘s “potential Supreme Court picks.” Canady, one of two conservatives on the state’s highest court, and 20 others are jurists that Trump on Friday said “he would consider as potential replacements” for the late […]

Mary Jo MeloneJune 23, 2016

Social etiquette requires that I not speak ill of the dead, but when the dead man was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice — namely, Antonin Scalia — speaking ill (civilly, although that is not in fashion) is an absolute necessity. Especially now. After Orlando. Scalia defended criminalizing gay sex because many people don’t like gays. […]

Mark FerruloJune 8, 2016

Before the ink on newspaper headlines had even dried about the Feb. 13 passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said that the Senate should not consider any U.S. Supreme Court nominee until 2017, after a new President is sworn in. Since then, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has joined McConnell in […]

Mitch PerryJune 7, 2016

A Florida-based activist group is blasting Marco Rubio for blocking a former Miami-Dade judge from a federal judgeship, especially after the fact that he initially supported her. In February of 2015, the White House announced that Mary Barzee Flores had been chosen as a district court judge in South Florida. The lifetime post requires Senates […]

Tag: Antonin Scalia

Mitch Perry Report for 1.3.17 — Remembering Justice Perry’s words

Year’s top news filled with division — and no middle ground

Can we just get 2016 over with, please?

U.S. election voted top news story of 2016

In waning days of 114th Congress, progressive coalition presses Marco Rubio to push for voting on judicial nominees

Mitch Perry Report for 11.9.16 — GOP dominance

Charles Canady on Donald Trump’s Supreme Court wish list

Mary Jo Melone: What a guy — Antonin Scalia on hate, guns and gridlock

Mark Ferrulo: Crippling the Supreme Court

Activist group blasts Marco Rubio for opposing a federal judge after he initially supported her