Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2016

Former Gov. Charlie Crist heard many messages from Pinellas educators during a roundtable discussion Thursday. But one message stood out: There’s a “disconnect” between schools, upper-level administrators and policymakers. Policymakers and administrators have created a rigid, one-size-fits-all system that prevents teachers and schools from being flexible enough to meet the needs of individual students and […]

Mitch PerryAugust 22, 2016

With nearly seven out of every 10 college graduates contending with a student debt topping more than $35,000, the immediate economic future of our best and brightest has never been hazier. But they’re not the only ones hurting. Take Realtors, for example. That was the message that came out of a news conference held Monday at the Greater Realtors […]

Mitch PerryAugust 2, 2016

Let’s stipulate at the top that the results in last night’s Hillsborough County Hob Nob hosted by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce isn’t indicative of much of anything, except what several hundred well-heeled folks who mostly live in Tampa think about the various races that will be on the ballot later this month and in November. It’s […]

Mitch PerryAugust 1, 2016

Nearly three-quarters of voters believe the nation has gone off on the wrong track, the highest mark of pessimism in three years. Some 73 percent say in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released two weeks ago that things gone off-course, with only 18 percent saying the country is headed in the right direction. Yet at the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 1, 2016

Florida is one of only three states in the nation where felons and ex-felons permanently lose their right to vote, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. So on the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 30 primary election, advocates throughout the Sunshine State called for a repeal of that law Monday. “The voting […]

Mitch PerryJuly 27, 2016

I think there are some specific reasons why Bernie Sanders‘ supporters aren’t ready to embrace Hillary Clinton like Clinton folks rallied around Barack Obama in 2008. I wasn’t at the Denver DNC, but no way was there the intense opposition to the nominee in ’08 like there is the streets and in some parts of the convention hall this week. Part […]

Mitch PerryJuly 26, 2016

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough with Cuba announced by President Obama in December 2014, the idea of removing the more than 50-year-old economic embargo against the communist island doesn’t appear to be any closer to fading away. The Republican-led Congress would have to repeal both the 1996 Helms-Burton Act and the Trading With The Enemy Act […]

Mitch PerryJuly 26, 2016

Bernie Sanders made an impromptu appearance before the Florida Democratic delegation in Philadelphia Tuesday, less than eleven hours after he closed out the Democratic National Convention’s first night of the week. Accompanied by a phalanx of reporters, cameramen and devout fans, Sanders swiftly moved up along the right side of the ballroom before Kathy Castor, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2016

(UPDATE: Hillary Clinton chose Tim Kaine to be her VP nominee. That occurred shortly after this post was originally written). Hillary Clinton did not name her running mate at a rally in Tampa on Friday afternoon. Although that nonevent was probably the most newsworthy part of her campaign appearance late Friday afternoon at the Florida State Fairgrounds, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 15, 2016

Bad news for folks who were psyched that Tim Tebow was announced on Thursday to be a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Like Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady before him, Tebow became the latest (former) pro quarterback who has disavowed any intentions that he would be speaking at Donald Trump‘s party next […]

Tag: Kathy Castor

Pinellas schools need greater flexibility to meet needs of students, Charlie Crist says

Realtors join up with Kathy Castor to push for student debt reduction legislation

Mitch Perry Report for 8.2.16 — Hob Nob vote indicative of Jim Norman’s vulnerabilities?

Kathy Castor says DNC message of optimism is in tune with where America is at

Advocates call for repeal of Florida’s ban on automatic restoration of voting rights for ex-felons

Mitch Perry Report for 7.27.16 — Bernie supporters aren’t all uniting yet

California Democrat wants to work with Kathy Castor on ending sanctions against Cuba

Bernie Sanders jolts Florida Democratic delegates with surprise visit

Hillary Clinton ridicules Donald Trump’s “dark and divisive division” in Tampa speech

Mitch Perry Report for 7.15.16 — No Tebowing in Cleveland