Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

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A modified bill to put additional limits on Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA) advanced Wednesday in the House Government Accountability Committee. Local governments use CRAs to promote affordable housing, economic development, health and safety in under-served neighborhoods. They hold a set percentage of property taxes paid by residents of a community, investing that money — also known as […]

Mitch PerryApril 18, 2017

A controversial bill placing stricter requirements on community redevelopment agencies (CRA’s) received a “no vote” in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development on Tuesday. Moments later, it was temporarily postponed, technically keeping it alive. Barely. The Community Redevelopment Act of 1969 authorized cities and counties to create agencies to direct money into slums […]

Associated PressFebruary 21, 2017

Florida Republicans are more determined than ever to pass bills expanding gun rights in the wake of the deadly Pulse nightclub and Fort Lauderdale airport shootings. They say law-abiding gun owners should be allowed to take their weapons to airports, government meetings and state universities, and would be in a better position to protect themselves […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2016

With Tallahassee a four-hour drive away, the annual meeting of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to be held in two weeks in Tampa could very possibly be the only time local residents can address their state representative(s). That meeting will take place on Friday, December 16 at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 29, 2016

Proposals to expand the rights of gun owners could fare better in the Florida Senate in the coming years. Senate President Joe Negron announced Tuesday that Sen. Greg Steube will serve as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2016-18 legislative term. The appointment now puts Steube in charge of the same committee that […]

Michael MolineNovember 28, 2016

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A Florida House member has reintroduced legislation that would allow people to carry firearms inside airport terminals. State Rep. Jake Raburn, a Lithia Republican, filed HB 6001 on Wednesday. The measure would eliminate the words “passenger terminal” of airports from a list of places where state law forbids people to carry guns. The measure also […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2016

On Friday, candidates released their final campaign finance reports before Election Day, and reports out of Senate District 18 show Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young pressing her fundraising advantage in the race with $1.2 million in spending. Young spent more than $500,000 of campaign’s war chest in between Oct. 22 and Nov. 3, most of […]

Peter SchorschOctober 25, 2016

With two weeks to go until Election Day, the Tampa Bay area’s Senate seats are pretty much decided. Welcome back Sens. Jack Latvala and Tom Lee and say hello to Darryl Rouson, who should cruise past John “Mr. Manners” Houman to win the SD 19 seat. Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young still has a race […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 13, 2016

Writing that “Hillsborough County is better than this,” Dana Young is the latest Tampa Bay area lawmaker calling for the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission to reject proposed new rules that ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft say would force them out of the local market. In a letter Tuesday to PTC Chair Victor Crist, Young says the current […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2016

A pair of Tampa Bay-area Republicans will return to Tallahassee in 2017, having ended the qualifying period without drawing an opponent. Plant City-based Rep. Jake Raburn has been re-elected to the House District 57 seat, while Hillsborough County Rep. Jamie Grant will continue in HD 64. The qualification period ended noon Friday. Raburn was a prime co-sponsor this past year a […]

Tag: Jake Raburn

House advances bill giving power to state legislators for CRAs

Stricter requirements on CRA’s gets ‘no vote’ in Senate committee

Florida looks to expand gun rights in wake of Pulse shooting

Hillsborough legislative delegation to meet December 16

Greg Steube picked to chair Senate Judiciary Committee

Guns-in-airports bill resurfaces for 2017 Legislative Session

Final round-up of the money chase in Tampa Bay’s legislative races

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay’s legislative races

Dana Young urges Hillsborough PTC to reject new rules for Uber, Lyft

Jake Raburn, Jamie Grant re-elected without opposition to Tampa Bay-area seats