Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannSeptember 4, 2015

Akin Gump, the nation’s largest lobby firm, is looking to open a business unit in Cuba. First noted in The Washington Post, the move is the latest in expanding business and consumer operations after President Barack Obama announced in December that the U.S. would begin normalized diplomatic relations with the Caribbean island nation. Among the […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 2, 2015

Do people truly understand the power of the middle class? I think they’re starting to overseas. We may not have invented the concept of a middle class, but we perfected it and everyone wants to emulate it. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, countries around the world have been reconfiguring their economic policies to […]

Mitch PerryAugust 14, 2015

In New York City Friday morning, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio offered a three-point plan to deal with Iran and Cuba, and said if elected president, he will invite dissidents from those two nations and other countries with repressive governments to his inaugural address. Criticizing Secretary of State John Kerry because no Cuban dissidents were invited to Friday’s official flag-raising […]

Mitch PerryAugust 14, 2015

One legacy of Jimmy Carter‘s administration was his attempt to base a foreign policy on human rights. While in the end it resulted in mixed results, it was a central tenet of his outlook on the world. Human rights overseas is at the forefront today — or should be — as John Kerry becomes the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 12, 2015

Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the legendary Live-Aid concerts that took place in Philadelphia and London. One of the breakout stars of that historic occasion, Boy George, apparently will be in the Tampa Bay area this weekend. That’s right: Culture Club is headlining a group of ’80s and ’90s bands that will be […]

Phil AmmannAugust 11, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is urging Secretary of State John Kerry to demand freedom and respect for the Cuban people during an upcoming visit to Cuba. Kerry is traveling to Havana on Friday to raise the American flag over the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Cuba. He will be the first secretary of state to […]

Mitch PerryJuly 31, 2015

Orlando-based entrepreneur Todd Wilcox says that it was around April of last year that he first thought about the possibilities of running for U.S. Senate, a considerable feat to undertake for a lifelong nonpolitician in the nation’s third-largest state. He didn’t go into exploratory mode until this past April, though, after Marco Rubio made it […]

Mitch PerryJuly 29, 2015

Although it’s dubious whether legislation expanding travel opportunities for Americans to go to Cuba will get through the Congress this year, Kathy Castor is pushing even further. The Tampa Bay area Democrat said Tuesday that along with Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer, she is introducing the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 (HR3238). The bill would end the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2015

It hasn’t been a great week for Hillary Clinton. Forget all the hullabaloo regarding the emails she brought forward that have been found by the Inspector General to be classified, though she earlier claimed none were. That will or won’t be sorted out in due time. More troublesome are some of the numbers coming in from […]

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 […]

Tag: Cuba

Top U.S. lobbying firm to open Cuba practice

Tim Bryce: An argument for capitalism

Marco Rubio says he’ll invite dissidents around the world as guests to his inauguration

Mitch Perry Report for 8.14.15 — Cuba, China and human rights

Mitch Perry Report for 8.12.15 — Hot fun in the summertime?

Marco Rubio urges John Kerry to meet with democracy leaders during Cuba visit

Todd Wilcox says Republican voters in Florida (will) like what he has to offer

Mitch Perry Report for 7.29.15 — Kathy Castor goes all the way on Cuba

Mitch Perry Report for 7.28.15 — Hillary Clinton goes green

Kathy Castor hopes easing of Cuba travel ban survives Congressional debate