Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 25, 2015

Since being elected in 2010, Rick Scott has never been shy about traveling across the country aiming to recruit companies to do business in the Sunshine State, regardless of whether he’s been invited. Already this year he went cold-calling CEOs in California and Pennsylvania, and Thursday he visits another blue state: Connecticut. In advance of […]

Mitch PerryJune 25, 2015

It’s been widely assumed that Jacksonville area Congressman Ron DeSantis won’t be the only Republican running for the Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio next year, but he’s the only official candidate as of Thursday morning, some 14 months before Republicans will make that choice. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera made an announcement Saturday that […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

Most agricultural producers in the U.S. do not receive subsidies, as they compete in the open market on the basis of efficiency. Sugar producers, on the other hand, would probably be hard pressed to operate without the high prices guaranteed by government limitations on imports. The result is that the American consumer pays two to three times […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

One of the most interesting citizen generated political development in Florida this year is the coalition attempting to get a ballot measure on the 2016 ballot that would give businesses and property owners the ability to sell a limited amount of solar energy. Florida is one of only four states in the union that prohibit citizens from […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

epa_usa_media_vanity_fair_jenner_73503656-e1433339088805-1024x1024.jpg

Floridians have somewhat ambivalent feelings about Bruce Jenner‘s transition to Caitlyn Jenner, but most adults in the Sunshine State as well as in Ohio and Pennsylvania say there is “a lot” or “some” social acceptance of transgender people in the nation today, according to a Quinnipiac University Swing State Poll released Wednesday. The former Olympian’s transition has […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

Although he’s been in politics for a long time now, Joe Gruters has just became a political candidate for the first time in 15 years. The 38-year-old Republican Party chairman of Sarasota County and vice chair and head of fundraising for the Republican Party of Florida recently announced his candidacy for the House District 73 […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2015

Jeb Bush likes to boast on the campaign trail that he used to be called “Veto Corleone,” so paramount was his mission to stamp out what he considered excessive and unnecessary government spending from the annual state budget while he was Florida’s governor. Bush has nothing on Rick Scott. The current Florida governor on Tuesday […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

Mary Mulhern said Tuesday she will soon file to run for the Florida Congressional District 13 seat in Pinellas County occupied by Republican incumbent David Jolly. The former Tampa city councilwoman floated the idea 11 days ago of a possible run for the seat, held more than 42 years by C.W. Bill Young, until his death […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

There were some local projects of note in the Tampa Bay area that escaped Rick Scott’s veto pen Tuesday morning, but there were plenty of other local projects and programs that did not, all part of a record breaking $461 million in vetoes announced by the governor’s office. Winners included USF, which received $17 million for its […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

One of the annual rites of spring in Tallahassee is for Florida TaxWatch to release their Turkey Watch Report, which traditionally is released in May shortly after the Legislature finishes their work and before the governor signs the budget. The report spotlights legislative projects placed in the budget without proper opportunity for public review and debate, which […]

Rick Scott tells Morning Joe audience that “Florida is on fire” as he attempts to woo Connecticut CEO’s

Mitch Perry Report 6.25.15 — Jeff Miller now in for GOP Senate bid?

Are Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio out of step with GOP on maintaining sugar subsidies?

Solar amendment proposal continues to roil Florida conservatives

Majority of Floridians say Caitlyn Jenner’s transition won’t change society’s feelings

Joe Gruters begins transition from party insider to political candidate

Mitch Perry Report for 6.24.15 — Rick Scott wins again

Mary Mulhern says she’s running for CD 13 seat in Pinellas County

Tampa Bay area sees number of projects cut by Rick Scott in his budget

Rick Scott’s budget signing preempts impact of Florida TaxWatch turkey list