Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 26, 2017

When the history of the 2025-26 Legislative Sessions is written — undoubtedly Tallahassee Democrat reporter Bill Cottrell will be on his sixth retirement by then — what transpired July 25, 2017, may play a definitive role.

Staff ReportsJuly 25, 2017

Dan Raulerson is resigning from the Florida House. The Tampa Bay Times reported Tuesday that the Plant City Republican has announced he will resign his seat effective Aug. 15. The announcement, according to the report, comes about a month after he made public comments critical of House leadership. Raulerson had back surgery, which kept him […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2017

The attempted assassination Wednesday morning of Louisiana Republican Congressman Steve Scalise in suburban Washington D.C. has shaken the nation. Certainly, lawmakers now realize how vulnerable they are to mentally unstable people with access to firearms who disagree with them politically. At Friday’s Tampa Tiger Bay Club, five members of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation were asked their […]

Mitch PerryMay 24, 2017

As a member of an alternative third party, Shawn Gilliam’s worldview and ideology are not easily explained; it could make it hard to break through with voters in House District 58. The 32-year-old Plant City resident recently filed to run for the seat currently held by Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson. A recent convert to the Green Party, he […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2017

By a vote of 117-0, the Florida House passed a bill to revamp the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). With the Senate approving the bill last week, it now goes to Gov. Rick Scott‘s desk. Although Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson sponsored it in the House, that chamber actually substituted his bill with the Senate version, sponsored by Clearwater […]

Mitch PerryMay 2, 2017

Legislation to revamp the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) by reducing its footprint passed Tuesday a second reading on the Florida House floor. One more vote in the House, and the bill goes to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. Sponsored in the House by Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson, HB 1243 would downsize TBARTA from seven counties to five (Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2017

Officials had high hopes for a bill to reconfigure Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). Those same officials are now expressing some contentment following an amendment from the bill’s original sponsor, Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala. The legislation would change TBARTA’s name from the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority to the Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority, and […]

Mitch PerryApril 17, 2017

Legislation to reconfigure the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) was approved Monday by the Florida Senate Commerce Committee. However, the bill passed with changes taking some power from the agency and giving it to the state. Sponsored by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, SB 1672 would change TBARTA to a transit agency (no longer transportation) and would encompass […]

Joe HendersonMarch 27, 2017

Short of hitting yourself in the head with a hammer, the surest way to get a headache is to wade deep into Tampa Bay area transportation problems. You encounter a mishmash of competing agencies and agendas that has resulted in legislative and automotive gridlock for frustrated commuters for years. Given that, I’m encouraged by what […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2017

Legislation that would create a regional transit agency connecting four Tampa Bay-area counties breezed through committees in both the House and Senate last week. The proposed agency would be created in advance of a much anticipated Florida Dept. of Transportation transit study scheduled to be completed next year. “It’s a real project. It’s not just talk. […]

Tag: Dan Raulerson

Tuesday could be one of the important days of the 2025 Legislative Session

Report: Dan Raulerson resigning from Florida House in August

House Republican Dan Raulerson wants everyone to own a gun

Unconventional Green Party candidate Shawn Mathis Gilliam files for HD 58 race

TBARTA bill passes unanimously — now goes to Rick Scott for signature

TBARTA revamp one step closer to Rick Scott’s desk

Tampa Bay officials OK with TBARTA bill, now before full Senate

Senate advances plan for new Tampa Bay-area transit agency

Joe Henderson: Proposed new transportation agency a good start toward solving an old problem

Tampa Bay Partnership on board with Jack Latvala-Dan Raulerson bill creating regional transit agency