Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-09-07-at-5.52.27-PM.png

The LIBRE initiative, a 501(c)4 non-partisan group formed in 2011 to advance “the principles and values of economic freedom to empower the U.S. Hispanic community,” has produced an ad in English and Spanish for Florida U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio. It’s not the group’s first foray into advocacy in the Sunshine State. In 2014, LIBRE […]

Mitch PerryJune 18, 2016

Cory Booker is being discussed as a potential running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but the New Jersey Senator doesn’t want to talk about it. “You know what? I’m focused on being the best New Jersey Senator I can possibly be,” he said Saturday afternoon. “And I’m leaving a lot of that […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2016

Hours before he was scheduled to speak about military issues at an event at the Cuban Club in Ybor City on Friday night, the Democratic opposition group American Bridge 21st Century, is blasting the group sponsoring the event featuring GOP U.S. Senate candidate Ron DeSantis. The event is being produced by the Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 27, 2016

The economist John Kenneth Galbraith memorably said that politics “consists of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.” But what if the only choice is between the disastrous and the disastrous? That’s the predicament of establishment Republican politicians who think John Kasich, the only decent human being who remains in their presidential primaries, is either […]

Dan GelberMarch 2, 2016

The “establishment” of the Republican Party is going nuts. Donald Trump is leading a hostile takeover of their party and they — the Koch brothers, Glen Beck, the National Review, George Will and every other self-professed conservative thinker — don’t know what do to about it. First, they ignored him. Then they laughed at him. […]

Bob SparksFebruary 25, 2016

Sometimes during legislative sessions some unusual partnerships develop. Unlikely alliances can form to pass or defeat a measure that fits a common goal. Florida has provided a prime example of such teamwork. The philosophy of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” syndrome has played out in the area of economic incentives. House Bill […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2016

Americans for Prosperity-Florida, a Koch brothers-affiliated group, has at times gotten under the nerves of Florida Republicans with their intense advocacy on issues. It’s taken a tight bead on Gov. Rick Scott‘s $250 million request for Enterprise Florida. Scott claims the agency is underfunded, making it unable to compete with Florida’s strongest competitors for job growth […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2016

U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis loves to travel. And travel he did this weekend, to Palm Springs for a Koch brothers retreat. The Freedom Partners event dealt with fundraising and fund expenditure. The hope is to funnel up to $900 million into this campaign, reports The Desert Sun. The Hill’s Jonathan Swan tweets that DeSantis was there, along […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 14, 2016

10841864_388224691382766_4351868135476803859_o-e1447289591829-1024x1024.jpg

The big money story in the House District 19 GOP race in December is Katherine Van Zant widening her fundraising lead. There was $21,907 of December money for Van Zant, wife of Charles Van Zant, the incumbent who’s one of the more powerful Republicans in the lower house. It brings her total to $109,910, against […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

The Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity organization has 36 state chapters across the nation, but none bigger than its operation in Florida, established in 2008. With 80 full- or part-time staff members, AFP has been aggressive in getting involved in legislative matters in recent years, sometimes to the consternation of Republicans who it ostensibly sides with ideologically. […]

Tag: Koch Brothers

LIBRE initiative produces campaign ad on behalf of Marco Rubio

Cory Booker doesn’t want to talk about being a possible VP

Group sponsoring Ron DeSantis appearance in Tampa denounced for associations with the Koch Brothers

Martin Dyckman: Cruzing to a police state?

Dan Gelber: Republicans have only themselves to blame for the popularity of Donald Trump

Bob Sparks: Battle over economic incentives features unlikely alliances

Enterprise Florida’s Bill Johnson unloads on AFP-Florida over anti-incentives ads

Ron DeSantis attends Koch Brothers’ big-money conclave in California

Katherine Van Zant expands fundraising advantage in HD 19

Americans for Prosperity says it’s ready for 2016 Legislative Session