Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 30, 2015

Next week the Florida Cabinet meets in Tampa for the first time since they unanimously approved Rick Swearingen as the replacement for Gerald Bailey to lead the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement. Bailey announced his resignation in December, but told members of the media after Swearingen’s appointment in early January that in fact he had […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 28, 2015

A state regulatory agency says it will release specific information tomorrow about an upcoming workshop that the Florida Retail Federation says will provide “clarity” regarding a 50-year exception in alcohol beverage law in Florida. That exception has allowed the craft brewing industry to thrive over the past decade. Earlier this month the Florida Retail Federation and the […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2015

Florida appears ready to approve multi-million dollar deals to help several of the state’s high profile professional sports teams, but state officials now say they will not decide which team deserves the money. After years of high-profile defeats for teams such as the Miami Dolphins that are seeking taxpayer help, state legislators promised last year […]

Associated PressJanuary 26, 2015

Florida appears ready to approve multi-million dollar deals to help several of the state’s high profile professional sports teams, but state officials now say they will not decide which team deserves the money. After years of high-profile defeats for teams such as the Miami Dolphins that are seeking taxpayer help, state legislators promised last year […]

Ryan RayJanuary 23, 2015

The Florida House is poised to again consider legislation allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a license to do so during state-declared states of emergency. Fort Myers state Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen has filed a House companion bill to St. Pete state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ SB 290, filed earlier this month. A similar bill […]

Ryan RayJanuary 22, 2015

It was a boozy afternoon in Wednesday’s House Business & Professions Subcommittee meeting, led by Apalachicola Republican state Rep. Halsey Beshears and a cavalcade of stakeholders offering public testimony about the current state of affairs within Florida’s alcohol rules and regulations regime. The two hottest issues were by far and away proposed changes regarding 64-ounce […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2015

As with any majority-party legislative leadership race, the Senate presidency battle between Clearwater state Sen. Jack Latvala and state Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart is going to cost a lot of money. Neither hopeful has been a slouch raising it, according to end-of-year finance reports. Latvala’s Florida Leadership Committee took in about $75,000 in December […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 12, 2015

The legislative war between the craft brewing industry and “Big Beer” over the past couple of years appeared to be fading out going into the 2015 legislative session. But it might be back on, now that the Florida Retail Federation and the Florida Independent Spirits Association have filed petitions to intervene in an administrative lawsuit against the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2015

The Democratic Party of Florida’s nomination of former Republican Charlie Crist as its gubernatorial candidate last year was seen by most observers as a glaring example of the weakness of the party overall If U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio were to declare sometime this year that he wasn’t running for re-election for the U.S. Senate next year, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2015

Last fall in Largo they promised such legislation, and today in Tallahassee that same group of Pinellas County Republicans – state Senator Jack Latvala and Representatives Kathleen Peters, Chris Latvala and Chris Sprowls -followed through with an official bill that would establish tougher regulations for investor-owned electric utility companies in the state and more accountability for the […]

Tag: Jack Latvala

Jack Latvala blasts Cabinet members in Gerald Bailey affair

State agency to rule on craft brewery tasting rooms exception

State won’t say which sports team should get taxpayer money

State won't say which sports team should get taxpayer money

House to take up guns-during-evacuations bill

Lawmakers drink in grocery store spirits, growlers in legislative hearing

Political committees for Joe Negron, Jack Latvala rake in campaign cash

Craft breweries fear lawsuit could threaten tasting rooms

Mitch Perry Report for 1.9.15 — California Dreaming

Pinellas Republicans vow to crack down on Duke & the PSC