Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 26, 2016

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba announced by President Obama in December 2014, the idea of removing the more than 50-year-old economic embargo against the communist island doesn’t appear to be any closer to fading away. The Republican-led Congress would have to repeal both the 1996 Helms-Burton Act and the Trading With The Enemy Act […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 23, 2016

Saturday afternoon saw Sen. Marco Rubio hosting a town hall on Jacksonville’s Southbank as part of a two-day swing through the city that included a fundraising event. The turnout? Maybe 150 people. But for Rubio, this tour of the last week was a re-introduction to the grassroots as a U.S. Senate incumbent, rather than a presidential candidate, and […]

Associated PressJuly 7, 2016

The U.S. government on Thursday tentatively approved scheduled commercial airline service to Havana from 10 American cities, further bridging the gulf between countries as close as an hour flight but long kept at a greater distance by the Cold War. The decision is another long stride in President Barack Obama‘s effort to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations. […]

Associated PressJune 13, 2016

Six airlines won permission Friday to resume scheduled commercial air service from the U.S. to Cuba for the first time in more than five decades, another milestone in President Barack Obama‘s campaign to normalize relations between Cold War foes. The airlines — American, Frontier, JetBlue, Silver Airways, Southwest and Sun Country — were approved by […]

Mitch PerryJune 8, 2016

There are now calls for an independent investigation into Pam Bondi‘s decision not to investigate consumer complaints against Trump University, the for-profit education company created by Donald Trump that ran a real estate training program from 2005 until at least 2010 — and not just from Democrats. “Attorney General Pam Bondi owes Floridians a full accounting of […]

Mitch PerryJune 7, 2016

Carlos Beruff takes a tough line on President Barack Obama’s rapprochement with the Cuban government, but just a few years ago appeared to be a strong advocate that just such a diplomatic breakthrough was desperately needed. On the day the two nations announced they were resuming relations, the Bradenton Herald reported the Manatee County home developer and now Republican U.S. […]

Scott PowersMay 20, 2016

If companies want to know who to trust to do business in civil-war-torn Ukraine, they might contact Maitland-based Strategic Risk Management LLC for privately researched background intelligence reports. Companies that need to move goods through the dicier parts of Afghanistan might call on Winter Park-based Innovative Logistics LLC to handle the planes, warehouses, trucks and security. And if the […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2016

Let’s talk about somebody I assiduously generally eschew writing about in this space, Donald Trump. (That’s not to make any editorial point at all. It’s just that there’s so much going on in news and politics right now, and you can get your fill of Trump a thousand other places on the internet). On Tuesday, […]

Associated PressApril 18, 2016

A new customs checkpoint is opening at Florida Keys airport in preparation for more traffic involving the island chain and Cuba and other international destinations. According to a statement from the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, the new Customs and Border Protection facility opens April 20 at The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport. The airport […]

Associated PressApril 10, 2016

Ferry operators interested in carrying cargo and passengers to Cuba have opened discussions with officials at several Florida ports. Such service has not yet begun because the Cuban government has not approved a U.S. ferry to use one of its ports, but ferries are expected to be a popular way to travel and ship cargo […]

Tag: Cuba

California Democrat wants to work with Kathy Castor on ending sanctions against Cuba

In Jacksonville, Marco Rubio reiterates support for Donald Trump

U.S. gives tentative OK to flights to Cuba from 10 U.S. cities

Tampa bypassed in approved U.S. flights to Cuba

Mitch Perry Report for 6.8.16 — Common Cause Florida calls for Pam Bondi to come clean

Carlos Beruff visited Cuba with group dedicated to ending sanctions in 2011

Todd Wilcox brings ground-level view of foreign affairs to U.S. Senate race

Mitch Perry Report for 5.19.16 — The yin and yang of Donald J. Trump

U.S. customs prepares for more international flights in Keys

Ferry operators discuss connecting Cuba with Florida ports