Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJanuary 25, 2016

A bill that requires gas stations to toughen up security and increases penalties for fuel pump fraudsters cleared its first Senate panel Monday. Senate Bill 912 would require gas stations to secure fuel pump credit card readers to defend against data theft devices, known as “skimmers,” that capture credit and debit card information. The bill also ups the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2016

It’s not likely that anyone would actually know this, but Florida state law requires that any restaurant that serves alcohol must be at least 2,500 square feet in size. In Hillsborough County, however, state law says that restaurants that sell booze must be at least 4,000 square feet. Attempting to rectify that anomaly, Tampa Republican Dana Young is pushing a local bill […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2016

Tampa state House Democrat Janet Cruz will not run for the newly created state Senate seat in Hillsborough County, POLITICO Florida is reporting. “It would cost $4 million,” Cruz tells POLITICO’s Matt Dixon. “I could win it this year, but it’s a two-year seat I would have to raise $4 million for again and probably not hold.” Cruz has served […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 22, 2016

Who says that Donald Trump doesn’t bring people together? In what could very well be something The Nation magazine might publish next January if Trump runs the table to become our 45th president, the National Review’s newest edition contains a scathing editorial blasting the GOP front-runner, calling him a “menace to conservatism,” and contains short essays by […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

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House Majority Leader Dana Young has officially entered the race to win the newly created Senate District 18 seat. “This morning, I officially filed to run in the newly created Senate District 18, serving the citizens of Tampa and western Hillsborough County,” the Tampa Republican told FloridaPolitics.com. “While I am excited about this new opportunity to continue to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 14, 2016

A bill that would that would reform the driver’s license and revocation process in Florida passed unanimously Thursday in the Senate Transportation Commission. The legislation (SB 7046) sponsored by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes would revise requirements relating to the payment of court-related fines or other monetary penalties, fees, charges, and costs. It would also require traffic […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2016

Good morning, everyone. What a weekend it’s been. On Saturday, I saw “The Revenant,” the quasi-true story of Mountain Man Hugh Glass, who was part of an expedition attacked by Indians in 1823. He was nearly torn to pieces by a bear near present-day Lemmon, S.D., and left for dead by two companions. Then there […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2016

This is one of two gambling stories in advance of the 2016 Legislative Session. For a separate preview of gambling issues besides the Seminole Compact, click here. The back-and-forth and backroom dealing is over, and lawmakers soon will publicly comb through the new blackjack deal between the state and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The 63-page document […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2016

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman, currently running for re-election to her District 1 seat this fall, acknowledged Friday she’s considering a run at the newly created state Senate District 18 seat. “I am looking at it,” the Davis Island Republican told Florida Politics late Friday afternoon. “I’m very happy on the County Commission. I love […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 7, 2016

James Tracy was fired last month, though the Florida Atlantic University communications professor still can file a grievance to maintain his job. Although he would certainly dispute being labeled a conspiracy theorist, that’s essentially how I learned about him when I wrote a story about conspiracy theories in Creative Loafing. Tracy claimed the Sandy Hook elementary school massacre […]

Tag: Dana Young
The NFLT bought more land for conservation in Clay County. Image via NFLT.

Bill to combat gas pump “skimmers” passes Senate panel

House advances bill that would OK smaller restaurants in Hillsborough to serve alcohol

Janet Cruz won’t run for new Tampa state Senate seat

Mitch Perry Report for 1.22.16 – Conservative intelligentsia makes last-ditch effort to dump Trump

Dana Young files to run in newly created state Senate seat in Hillsborough County

Jeff Brandes driver’s license suspension reform bill passes unanimously in committee

Mitch Perry Report for 1.11.16 – R.I.P. , David Bowie

2016 Legislative Food Fights: Seminole Compact faces skeptical Legislature

Sandy Murman thinking of running for state Senate

Mitch Perry Report for 1.7.16 – Florida academic fired for unpopular (and um, questionable) views?