Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2016

The news yesterday that the Tampa Bay Times bought and absorbed the assets of the crosstown rival Tampa Tribune marks the end of rumors which I can recount starting back in 2008. That’s when stories surfaced that the paper would fold after the 2009 Super Bowl. That didn’t come to pass. Then the rumor was the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2016

In a major announcement, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Inc. said Thursday it will stop breeding captive killer whales. On the company’s blog, the company said it’s phasing out over the next three years theatrical performances featuring orcas. “We will introduce new, inspiring, natural orca encounters rather than theatrical shows, as part of our ongoing commitment to education, marine […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 7, 2016

James Tracy was fired last month, though the Florida Atlantic University communications professor still can file a grievance to maintain his job. Although he would certainly dispute being labeled a conspiracy theorist, that’s essentially how I learned about him when I wrote a story about conspiracy theories in Creative Loafing. Tracy claimed the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2015

If you don’t know of anyone who is caught up in the Florida corrections system, stories about the care of prisoners may not matter much to you at all. But they have been disturbing, particularly regarding the state of health care for those who incarcerated. Rick Scott ran for office in 2010 promising to privatize […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 23, 2015

Welcome to the the autumn equinox, Yom Kippur, Pope Francis’ first full day in the U.S., and……the unveiling of Creative Loafing’s annual Best-of-the-Bay issue. Tonight, the folks associated with the local alternative weekly will publish their BOTB issue, literally and figuratively the biggest paper that the company will produce this year. As some of you may know, […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2015

Happy Monday, which, if you live or work in Tampa, means another perilous morning for actually driving your car, as it’s raining hard once again as I write this (6:18 a.m.). This weekend’s storms and floods indicate that Tampa may never become the major city it aspires to; though there are plans to raise taxes to pay […]

Mitch PerryJuly 19, 2015

After Florida CFO Jeff Atwater surprised most political observers in Florida this spring and said he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio next year, people began calling David Jolly, inquiring whether he might run for the seat. “I would be happy to see the field develop in a […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

Rick Scott has a week to sign the just-passed $78.7 billion Florida budget, and he’s promising taxpayers that “I’m going to watch your money” as he reviews projects with his veto pen. The Legislature’s last-minute addition of $300 million in pet local projects (including for a USF medical facility moving to downtown Tampa) has caused outrage in […]

Mitch PerryMay 18, 2015

In a letter published on Sunday in The Tampa Tribune’s editorial section, Tampa House District 63 Republican Shawn Harrison writes that he is “open to a plan for private health coverage that draws down federal dollars with reasonable review, opt-out and sunset provisions included. Perhaps that can be some trial version of the Senate plan. “ […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2015

Alan Clendenin, who nearly became chairman of the Florida Democratic Party two years ago, is considering a run for elected office for the first time. The 55-year-old State and Democratic National Committeeman from Tampa says he is considering a run for the open Hillsborough County Commission District 6 race, but says it could be another office. […]

Tag: Creative Loafing

Mitch Perry Report for 5.4.16 — Trib out

Mitch Perry Report for 3.17.16 – SeaWorld takes seminal step for animal rights

Mitch Perry Report for 1.7.16 – Florida academic fired for unpopular (and um, questionable) views?

Mitch Perry Report for 12.1.15 – Corizon Health Care terminates contract with Florida prisons. That’s not a bad thing

Mitch Perry Report for 9.23.15 – The Best of Tampa Bay, mostly

Mitch Perry Report for 8.3.15 – Forget Thursday – 14 GOP prez candidates debate tonight in NH

David Jolly’s journey to U.S. Senate candidate

Mitch Perry Report for 6.23.15 — Will Rick Scott veto IMG Academy funding?

Shawn Harrison a rare GOP House member “open” to Medicaid expansion plan

Tampa DNC Committeeman Alan Clendenin contemplating a run for office