Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannJuly 2, 2015

Florida, the federal government and other Gulf Coast states on Thursday came to an agreement with oil producer BP to resolve years of legal claims over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The historic resolution, tentatively set at $18.7 billion, will be the largest environmental settlement ever. Payments, to be split among Mississippi, Alabama, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 1, 2015

Although much of the Florida Congressional delegation is critical, Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor hails President Barack Obama‘s announcement that the U.S. and Cuba are ready to reopen embassies in each other’s capitals. “Today we turn the page on 50 years of acrimony between our two countries with the intent to empower the […]

Mitch PerryJune 28, 2015

Until last week, Democrat Eric Lynn had keep an extremely low-profile since announcing this spring that he was aiming to defeat David Jolly in the CD 13 contest in 2016. Sources close to the 36-year-old former Defense Department adviser under President Barack Obama said he was initially intent on establishing his bona fides as a serious candidate by […]

Mitch PerryJune 23, 2015

Rick Scott has a week to sign the just-passed $78.7 billion Florida budget, and he’s promising taxpayers that “I’m going to watch your money” as he reviews projects with his veto pen. The Legislature’s last-minute addition of $300 million in pet local projects (including for a USF medical facility moving to downtown Tampa) has caused outrage in […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2015

In the wake of the racist terrorist attack on nine black people at a historic church in Charleston, South Carolina last week, there has been a renewed focus on the divisiveness of the Confederate flag,which currently flies on the grounds of the South Carolina Capitol. Meanwhile the biggest Confederate flag in the world (according to its […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2015

While advocates for the U.S. liberalizing relations with Cuba have hailed President Barack Obama‘s overture to the Castro-led government, they say there is still much to be done, such as liberalizing travel restrictions. Engage Cuba, a group created to push for the end of the 53-year trade embargo, has a new ad that will begin airing Tuesday […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2015

Good morning from the Parkway Inn Motel in Miami Springs, where I’m in place for Jeb Bush’s announcement that he’s officially a candidate for president. His announcement follows Hillary Clinton’s big speech over the weekend in New York City, which was actually her second “official announcement,” following an extremely low-key “soft opening” back in April. […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

In what is being depicted as a devastating blow to President Barack Obama, the House of Representatives on Friday resoundingly rejected a proposal that would grant financial aid to displaced workers by a vote of 302 to 126. That damages the possibility that Congress will grant the president fast-track trade authority to complete the Trans Pacific Partnership, […]

Peter SchorschMay 28, 2015

U.S. Rep. David Jolly caught fire from progressives Thursday over a vote this month on HR 2353, the short-term Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015. The Indian Rocks Republican was one of the 387 members of Congress to support a two-month extension of the highway trust fund. But singling out Jolly – who represents the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorMay 27, 2015

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is calling on Florida House Republicans to approve a plan to extend subsidized health coverage to 800,000 uninsured Floridians. A couple of House Democrats, a union vice president and a hospital representative joined Castor at a news conference Wednesday at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. They rallied in an attempt […]

Tag: Kathy Castor
Linda McMahon. Image via AP.

Kathy Castor: BP settlement “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for economic recovery

Kathy Castor hails Obama announcement on opening an embassy in Havana

Eric Lynn off to hot start in Democratic CD 13 primary contest

Mitch Perry Report for 6.23.15 — Will Rick Scott veto IMG Academy funding?

Kathy Castor says she hates Tampa’s Confederate flag

“Engage Cuba” launches with TV ad, urges travel easing

Mitch Perry Report for 6.15.15 – Hillary (sort of) takes a stand on TPP

Kathy Castor explains why she opposed Obama on trade bill

DCCC singles out David Jolly on highway trust fund vote — even though Nancy Pelosi, other Fla. Dems did the same

Kathy Castor rallies support for Senate Medicaid plan