Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

Good morning, everyone. I’m getting off to a slightly later start than usual today because I stayed up near midnight last night to see the Golden State Warriors defeat the Houston Rockets in a very exciting opening game of the Western Conference NBA Finals. As was the case while watching another Warrior playoff game Friday night, […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2015

Tampa icon Helen Gordon Davis passed away yesterday after being in poor health for awhile. She was 88. Reading about her life and political history again last night, I realized how much this woman kicked some ass working for positive change in Florida. “She was a phenomenal spokesperson for women and human rights,” former USF President and […]

Mitch PerryMay 18, 2015

Last week, a delegation of Tampa area officials visited Cuba in a trip organized by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. It was the third excursion to the communist island led by the Chamber in the past few years. It was “certainly the most productive and most historic,” Ronald Christaldi, a partner with the Tampa law firm of Shumaker, Loop […]

Melissa RossMay 13, 2015

As the U.S. and Cuba edge closer to an agreement to restore full diplomatic ties, a retired State Department official who served as the senior diplomat in Cuba says Florida is well-positioned to take advantage of the historic changes. “There is this tremendous yearning in Cuba for changes to happen to allow people to have […]

Associated PressMay 6, 2015

Big businesses and politicians from both sides of the ideological spectrum are putting their muscle into new Washington lobbying efforts to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba as the two countries press ahead to re-establish diplomatic relations. A new bi-partisan lobbying group called Engage Cuba is launching operations this month with the backing of more […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2015

Monday night in Miami, Alan Gross, an American citizen held in Cuba by the Castro-led government for five years, spoke at the inaugural fundraiser for New Cuba PAC, a political action committee created to push for the end of the 53-year U.S. economic embargo against the communist island nation. “It was a magical night,” said […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2015

As he rolls out his candidacy for president, Marco Rubio has been positioning himself as somewhat of an expert on foreign policy. “Governors can certainly read about foreign policy in briefings, and meet with experts, but there is no way they’ll be ready on Day One to manage U.S. foreign policy because the learning curve […]

Associated PressMay 2, 2015

Some of Florida’s agriculture experts say normalizing relations with Cuba could threaten the state’s citrus and vegetable crops. The Lakeland Ledger reported on Saturday that Florida growers fear lax inspections at U.S. Department of Agriculture border checkpoints will allow the importation of pests and fungal disease that would harm Florida crops. Members of the Florida […]

Associated PressApril 30, 2015

The Florida Board of Governors says the state’s ban on educational travel to Cuba will stay in place until U.S. and Cuba re-establish full diplomatic relations. The Miami Herald reports that the board overseeing the State University System recently told Florida International University that once diplomatic relations are restored, requests “to conduct scholarly activities located in […]

Mitch PerryApril 22, 2015

Although not even the most optimistic entrepreneur who wants to have the U.S. reengage with Cuba thinks there’s any possibility of the economic sanctions going bye-bye anytime soon, Rick Scott decided today to issue a statement warning President Obama not to even think about doing that. “Agriculture is a vital part of our economy in Florida, and […]

Tag: Cuba

Mitch Perry Report for 5.20.15 — End of an era

Mitch Perry Report 5.19.15 – RIP, Helen Gordon Davis

Tampa Chamber of Commerce positioning area to prosper with post-sanctions Cuba

“Tremendous yearning for change” in Cuba means business opportunities for Florida

Anti-Cuban embargo movement picks up steam in U.S.

Engage Cuba group starts effort to end U.S. sanctions

Marco Rubio foreign policy moves receive greater scrutiny

Florida growers worry about Cuban imports

State keeps ban on educational travel to Cuba

Rick Scott warns President Obama not to lift sanctions on Cuba