Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2015

Joe Negron, the Stuart-based state Senator who recently survived a marathon battle with Jack Latvala to become Senate President in 2017, has signed on as a co-sponsor Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture bill (SB 1044) in the Legislature’s upper chamber. The legislation would stipulate assets or property may only be seized under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act after a criminal defendant […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2015

The Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation spent hours (and hours) on Tuesday discussing proposed legislation that would bring ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft into compliance with the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, but whether they actually moved the issue forward at the end of the day is dubious. The setting for the local group of state lawmakers […]

Guest AuthorDecember 7, 2015

I’ve been a member of the Florida Democratic Party since I first registered to vote at 18. I’ve never voted for, nor given money to, a Republican running for a partisan office. “Hyperpartisan” is an apt description of my political state of mind. But the other day, I contributed $1,000 – the maximum I could […]

Guest AuthorDecember 7, 2015

I’ve been a member of the Florida Democratic Party since I first registered to vote at 18. I’ve never voted for, nor given money to, a Republican running for a partisan office. “Hyperpartisan” is an apt description of my political state of mind. But the other day, I contributed $1,000 – the maximum I could […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2015

There’s a lot of angst in the country and political world about how we are dealing with domestic terrorism, five days after San Bernardino. Well, that’s what the media tells us. I’m not so sure. There were a lot of big football games over the weekend with sellout crowds. Restaurants and bars seemed to pretty […]

Phil AmmannDecember 4, 2015

As Florida lawmakers consider allowing computer coding as a high school foreign language requirements, one technology firm enthusiastically applauds the move toward giving students a leg up in the modern workplace. Strategic Digital Services (SDS), Florida’s leading digital firm specializing in data for political campaigns and causes, praised the passage Thursday of SB 468 through […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (PTC) Chairman Victor Crist says that Jeff Brandes’ recent inquiry on whether the PTC should be allowed to hire lobbyists was simply a ploy “to try to stir the pot” in advance of next week’s Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting. “This is a publicity stunt by Sen. Brandes to stir […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2015

First off, I want to wish the best for Brendan McLaughlin, who will be departing as a news anchor at ABC affiliate WFTS in a couple of weeks after 21 years in the market. Like yours truly, Brendan hails from the San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County, actually, I believe). Folks, there ain’t that many […]

Associated PressDecember 4, 2015

Two Republican lawmakers filed bills Thursday that would require a person be arrested before law enforcement agencies seize cash or property and a conviction before they can keep it – an idea the agencies strongly oppose. The bills are designed to prevent abuses of the current law, which doesn’t require an arrest or a conviction […]

Mitch PerryDecember 3, 2015

(UPDATED) The Florida Attorney General’s office has decided it’s up to the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission to decide whether it wants to hire lobbyists. The decision came at the request from St. Petersburg GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes for an opinion on the issue. In a letter to Brandes on Thursday, Assistant Attorney General […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
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Joe Negron signs on to Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture reform bill

Hillsborough Legislative Delegation OKs measure to regulate Uber and Lyft, but future unclear

Ben Pollara: Why I support Jeff Brandes for Florida Senate

Ben Pollara: Why I support Jeff Brandes for Florida Senate

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.15 – Obama speaks on threat of Islamic State, GOP reacts

Digital firm praises approval of computer coding as foreign language bill

Tensions about Hillsborough PTC build as legislative delegation meeting approaches

Mitch Perry Report for 12.4.15 – on Jeb, Ted and Kobe

Bills seek to set higher threshold for property seizure

Pam Bondi’s office says PTC can decide whether to hire lobbyists