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Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

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The Florida House Judiciary Committee today passed a controversial “conscience protection” bill (HB 7111) that would allow private adoption agencies to refuse child placements with gay couples. Conscience protection legislation grants a person or an entity the ability to refuse to perform an otherwise required duty, because the individual or entity violates their religious or […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Florida House Democrats intend to reject the House budget plan Thursday afternoon on three counts: • They will argue the spending plan does not include enough money for education; • Fails to comply with voter intent on Amendment 1, and; • Doesn’t cover a billion-dollar gap in the health care budget created by the end […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

It’s good news and bad news for Jeb Bush and his supporters in a new Quinnipiac survey of Republican primary voters in Florida. The former governor continues to lead the field of potential 2016 candidates with 24 percent. That’s 9 percentage points more than the next candidate in Florida, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who comes […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

e’s lot of stories in the news this week about the Republican Party and social issues. Both Mike Pence in Indiana (considered a 2016 presidential possibility) and Asa Hutchison in Arkansas have asked for tweaks in their Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills, after the firestorm it’s created nationally, particularly amongst business groups. Another issue that […]

James CallApril 2, 2015

Civil Rights groups are sounding the alarm about public records exemptions in a police body camera bill moving through the Senate. A coalition that includes the ACLU intend to argue Thursday the exemptions are so broad they prevent disclosure of evidence of police misconduct “even in the most egregious circumstances”. Groups including Latino Justice, Organize […]

James CallApril 1, 2015

This day at the state Capitol things began to happen. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was in the House and Senate warning lawmakers that Washington wasn’t bluffing about ending a federal reimbursement program for safety-net hospitals. Nelson met with both Senate President Andy Gardiner and Speaker Steve Crisafulli. Concerning the Low Income Pool question, Nelson said, […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

At an elaborate ceremony he acknowledged seemed as much a church revival as a political event, Bob Buckhorn was sworn in to his second term as Tampa’s mayor Wednesday. Buckhorn took office again with most people understanding that if things go his way, he won’t be be mayor four years from now. Instead, he would be […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

It was over in less than a minute. The much anticipated vote for Tampa City Council chairman was decided quickly Wednesday afternoon, as the newly sworn-in council picked Frank Reddick to be their chairman for the next year. As expected, it was a close vote, with Reddick defeating current chair Charlie Miranda on a 4-3 vote. […]

James CallApril 1, 2015

A Charlotte’s Web fix cleared its second Senate committee this week while drawing fire from patient advocates and black farmers for failing to increase permissible THC levels and discriminatory licensing requirements. Sen. Rob Bradley is asking his colleagues to keep the bill, SB 7066, moving while he continues discussions with stakeholders. Patient advocates’ concerns about the state’s inability […]

James CallApril 1, 2015

A Charlotte’s Web fix cleared its second Senate committee this week while drawing fire from patient advocates and black farmers for failing to increase permissible THC levels and discriminatory licensing requirements. Sen. Rob Bradley is asking his colleagues to keep the bill, SB 7066, moving while he continues discussions with stakeholders. Patient advocates’ concerns about the state’s inability […]

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House committee passes bill to allow private adoption agencies to deny gay adoption

House Democrats to reject budget, cite education, health-care, land-buying flaws

Jeb Bush losing ground in Florida, new Quinnipiac Poll finds

Mitch Perry Report for 4.2.15 — Florida Republicans and immigration

Civil rights groups oppose police body camera bill, alarmed by public records exemptions

The day that was in Florida politics — April 1

In inaugural speech, Bob Buckhorn hints at bigger things for Tampa, himself

Tampa City Council picks Frank Reddick to be new chairman

Charlotte’s Web at session halftime: New issues bloom while families wait

Charlotte's Web at session halftime: New issues bloom while families wait