Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2016

A mentally ill inmate who was in protective custody was found dead at the Columbia Correctional Institution on Tuesday, a day after a corrections officer was hospitalized in an attack. It’s yet another black mark on Florida’s prison system, one that many say is overcrowded and underfunded. The Department of Corrections, though, insists those issues had nothing […]

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2016

There’s still two months to go before the final presidential primary elections take place, and more than three months before the Republican National Convention convenes in Cleveland. Yet it’s becoming clearer by the day that with neither Donald Trump, nor Ted Cruz will be able to secure the nomination before the four-day confab this summer. […]

Jim RosicaApril 7, 2016

The nonprofit entity created to promote a legislatively proposed constitutional amendment on solar power announced its team members in a Thursday news release. Florida for Solar Inc. is a 501(c)(4) organization under federal tax law, meaning its purpose is “civic betterment and social improvements.” It “may further its purposes through lobbying” and “may engage in some political […]

Mitch PerryApril 6, 2016

Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders won big-time in Wisconsin Tuesday night, but you already knew that. Did you know that the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team won their fourth straight NCAA championship Tuesday night, or that the Golden State Warriors stunningly lost in O.T. in Oakland, requiring them to sweep their remaining four games […]

Mitch PerryApril 5, 2016

The three legislators responsible for a statewide initiative concerning home and industrial solar power system tax breaks announced on Tuesday they’ll be launching a campaign to get the measure passed on the August ballot. “Because we’ve moved to the August primary, we have a really short window in order to really spin up a campaign,” […]

Ryan RayApril 4, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott gave his signature Monday to an omnibus transportation bill that makes about a dozen changes to state law regarding the Florida Department of Transportation. Scott’s final approval of HB 7027 means numerous sundry changes for FDOT, one of the largest aspects of the budget and a prominent area of policy for Floridians who travel the state’s […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday signed into law another 14 bills from the 2016 Legislative Session. He had a Saturday deadline to approve or veto the latest bills, all from the Senate. The latest bills include SB 1044, under which law enforcement will have to charge people with a crime before they can seize their money, cars, homes or other property. State Sen. Jeff […]

Mitch PerryMarch 31, 2016

You hear a lot in the news these days about how conservatives are poised to work with liberals on criminal justice. It actually happened a few times during this past Legislative Session in Tallahassee. At Wednesday’s Suncoast Tiger Bay meeting in St. Petersburg, the assembled lawmakers were asked to cite what they thought was the […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

With the 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in their rear view mirrors, the entire Pinellas County delegation – sans HD 65 Republican Chris Sprowls – discussed various aspects of what just went on in Tallahassee on Wednesday before a robust Suncoast Tiger Bay Club audience at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The delegation skews heavily Republican, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

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An activist group is running a radio ad in the Tampa Bay area questioning St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ ethics. The 60-second spot from Florida Strong is called “Let’s Make a (corrupt) Deal.” It attacks the Pinellas Republican for receiving campaign contributions from companies such as Duke Energy and insurance lobbyists, and then claims that he […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Image via AP.

Jeff Brandes say his next focus will be on reforming Florida prison system

Mitch Perry Report for 4.8.16 – Forget about Paul Ryan as GOP savior. How ’bout James Mattis?

“Florida for Solar” forms to back constitutional amendment

Mitch Perry Report for 4.6.16 – Alan Grayson and the hedge funds

Jeff Brandes, Lori Berman, Ray Rodrigues launching campaign for solar power tax breaks

Rick Scott signs omnibus FDOT bill into law

Rick Scott signs 14 more bills into law

Mitch Perry Report for 3.31.16 – Pinellas lawmakers reflect on bills likely positive for entire body politic

Pinellas lawmakers talk 2016 Session, advice for Rick Scott, and who they think will be president

Radio ad blasts Jeff Brandes on ethics