Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorAugust 14, 2015

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has responded to State Sen. Jeff Brandes’ request to study the methods used to determine National Flood Insurance Program policy rates. The group agrees that with the limited information available to regulators, the rates may be “unfairly discriminatory.” According to a letter from OIR commissioner Kevin McCarty, his NFIP […]

Mitch PerryAugust 13, 2015

Jeff Brandes says he’s mad as hell, and doesn’t want to take it anymore. The St. Petersburg-based Republican state senator wrote on his Facebook page Thursday that he will propose legislation next year to eliminate the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. His statement comes a day after the controversial agency said that although a Hillsborough […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorAugust 12, 2015

Florida Senator Jeff Brandes wants FEMA to release data from flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program to determine whether or not the premiums assessed for policies are excessive or arbitrarily assigned. In a letter to Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation Commissioner Kevin McCarty Wednesday, Brandes argued there were 100,000 fewer flood insurance […]

Phil AmmannAugust 11, 2015

Caitlin Murray has been tapped as director of government affairs for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Murray, picked as one of the “30 under 30″ rising stars in Florida politics by SaintPetersBlog, began her new role effective Monday. According to OIR Commissioner Kevin McCarty, Murray will handle oversight of the agency’s government affairs initiatives […]

Ryan RayAugust 3, 2015

The Florida arm of the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity has issued its annual legislative scorecard, which ranks state legislators based on their propensity to vote “pro-economic freedom.” The group graded all 160 state lawmakers based on their votes on economic issues. Votes considered in favor of deregulation were rewarded, whereas votes that reined in industry […]

Ryan RayJuly 28, 2015

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If things break as the Florida Supreme Court has foreshadowed, House Majority Leader Dana Young might be headed to the state Senate. While sources are conflicted as to whether a likely re-drawing of the upper chamber’s district boundaries will leave Young with a viable district, there is broad agreement on one thing: if she runs, she’ll certainly be competitive. “If a […]

Melissa RossJuly 20, 2015

News that the FDLE will investigate red light camera firm Redflex is getting a major green light from activists lobbying against the company. “I’m ecstatic,” said Paul Henry, a retired Florida state trooper who has been lobbying against red light cameras in the state via the Liberty First Network. Henry made his remarks during an appearance […]

Mitch PerryJuly 17, 2015

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has begun to look into the request by Senate Transportation Chairman Jeff Brandes for a state investigation into red-light camera contracts held by an Arizona company whose chief executive has pleaded guilty to bribery charges related to camera contracts in Chicago. Brandes, a St. Petersburg Republican, is well known for […]

Ryan RayJuly 16, 2015

Little-known political novice Joseph Wilkinson was never much of a threat to the incumbency of Republican Rep. Jamie Grant of Tampa, but now he has completely removed himself from consideration by voters in HD 64 altogether. Wilkinson, also a Republican, had not reported raising any contributions. Grant, for his part, has raised $25 ahead of his 2016 reelection campaign. […]

Mitch PerryJuly 16, 2015

Jeb Bush is in San Francisco today, where he plans to hail an Uber to show support for the ride-sharing company. His appearance comes a day after California regulators required the company to pay a $7.3 million fine and hand over required information about safety and accessibility — or be shut down in their home state. The California […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Florida Office of Insurance Regulation says flood rates in Florida may be unfair

Fed-up Jeff Brandes to propose killing Hillsborough transportation board

Jeff Brandes wants transparency in National Flood Insurance Program rates

Personnel note: Caitlin Murray named Government Affairs Director for Office of Insurance Regulation

Americans for Prosperity picks annual “Champions of Economic Freedom” of 2015 Session

Dana Young for Florida Senate?

Foes of red light cameras “ecstatic” at FDLE investigation

FDLE to do preliminary review of complaint on red-light camera vendor

Joseph Wilkinson, Jamie Grant’s sole opponent, drops out in HD 64

Mitch Perry Report for 7.16.15 — Jeb Bush goes to Uber