Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 27, 2015

Advocates for liberalizing relations between Cuba and the U.S. cheered last week after the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted three amendments to the fiscal 2016 Financial Services spending bill related to the communist island nation. They include a provision allowing Americans to travel to Cuba under any circumstances and two others that would open up trade […]

Phil AmmannJuly 22, 2015

As America improves trade and cultural relations with Cuba, one of the ways U.S. tourists will soon be able to visit the Caribbean island is by ferry via luxury vessels offering entertainment, gambling and restaurants. One Florida company — Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale – has been granted U.S. government approval to begin commercial service to […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2015

Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced his presidential candidacy at Ohio State University on Tuesday. When you look at his résumé and his center-right political persona, he could/should be a top-tier contender. But nobody seems to be talking about that today. Instead, the focus is on the fact that he’s entering the race some seven months […]

Mitch PerryJuly 20, 2015

For the first time since severing ties in 1961, the U.S. and Cuba reopened embassies in each other’s capitals Monday. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla traveled to the Cuban Embassy in Washington to raise his country’s flag, an event that was broadcast live on the island’s state-run TV. Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2015

Although President Barack Obama‘s diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba hasn’t received much support on Capitol Hill, there are Americans — and Cuban-Americans — enthusiastic about normalizing relations with the Castro-led government. The New Cuba PAC has released its first fundraising report with the Federal Election Commission, and it reports raising $178,140.77 between its launch in Miami on […]

Mitch PerryJuly 9, 2015

You’ve gotta love Tom Lambdon. Well, let me take that back. You don’t have to love anybody. In fact, there are many people in St. Petersburg who would hope to never hear this man’s name mentioned in polite company ever again. But civic activists like Lambdon wouldn’t get anywhere if they weren’t representing others who need someone to lead […]

Mitch PerryJuly 8, 2015

On Wednesday, The New York Times gave Florida Senator and Republican presidential contender Marco Rubio prime time real estate in its op-ed section to denounce the Obama administration’s diplomatic overtures to the Cuban government. It’s nothing new from Rubio, who has been critical of any type of engagement with Cuba, going back to a few […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2015

In an interview with the conservative Daily Caller regarding his foreign policy views, Jeb Bush says that unlike when the U.S. re-established relations with communist governments in China and Vietnam, the U.S. is getting “nothing” out of its rapprochement with Cuba. “The difference between, say, China or Vietnam is we got something in return when we […]

Mitch PerryJuly 1, 2015

Although much of the Florida Congressional delegation is critical, Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor hails President Barack Obama‘s announcement that the U.S. and Cuba are ready to reopen embassies in each other’s capitals. “Today we turn the page on 50 years of acrimony between our two countries with the intent to empower the […]

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 […]

Tag: Cuba
Image via TCEC.

Kathy Castor hopes easing of Cuba travel ban survives Congressional debate

Capitol Alliance Group to lobby for Havana Ferry Partners in planned Florida-Cuba ferry

Mitch Perry Report for 7.22.15 — Stop saying John Kasich needs to be in first debate

Kathy Castor says economic sanctions on Cuba must go

Pro Cuba normalization PAC raises more than $178,000

Mitch Perry Report for 7.9.15 — Pier politics returns yet again in St. Pete

Marco Rubio gets no love from NY Times readers regarding his op-ed on Cuba

Jeb Bush says U.S. getting “nothing” out of restored relations with Cuba

Kathy Castor hails Obama announcement on opening an embassy in Havana

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