Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJanuary 3, 2017

Florida’s Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has picked up a seat on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee in the 115th Congress to go along with his appointments to the foreign relations and intelligence committees while Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s remained unchanged from the previous Congress. Rubio also received a seat on the Special Committee […]

Larry GriffinDecember 30, 2016

Senator Marco Rubio supports the sanctions President Barack Obama is imposing on Russia in the wake of their possible hacking of the U.S. election earlier this year. In fact, he thinks they should’ve happened sooner. The sanctions are in response to U.S. government allegations that Russian hackers meddled in the election and tried to tip it […]

Joe HendersonDecember 27, 2016

When the news came on Christmas Day that singer George Michael had died, well … can we get this year completed, please? Just this month alone, we have lost actor Alan Thicke, astronaut/hero John Glenn, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, former Florida Lieutenant Gov. Jim Williams, broadcaster Craig Sager and musician Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake […]

Tom JacksonDecember 23, 2016

Like comedy, politics is most often all about timing. No one knows this better than Will Weatherford, who at the age of 26 rocketed from obscure legislative aide to Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives because of unanticipated, but perfectly placed, events (more about which in a moment). Now, arguably, this once-rising star of […]

Joe HendersonDecember 22, 2016

I think Will Weatherford’s just-announced decision not to run for governor in 2018 merely delays the inevitable. I believe he will be Florida’s governor eventually, and that will be a good thing. Weatherford, the Land O’Lakes Republican, is a smart, articulate, center-right conservative in the Jeb Bush tradition. He has a strong legislative resume, including […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2016

Two familiar names will have shifting roles in the office of Sen. Marco Rubio, as the Florida Republican prepares for his second term. Alberto Martinez, who had been chief of staff, will become a senior adviser to the senator. And Rubio’s 2016 campaign manager, Clint Reed, will take the chief of staff position. Rubio offered comment on […]

Mitch PerryDecember 19, 2016

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Americans for Prosperity-Florida is getting in the holiday spirit, playing off a classic Christmas poem to highlight the organization’s 2017 priorities. The statewide organization launched a new web ad Monday that is meant to target Florida lawmakers over the holiday season. The AFP-FL ad — called “A Holiday poem to FL lawmakers” — asks Floridians […]

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2016

November 8 was a pretty great night for Florida Republicans. For the first time since 2004, the Sunshine State went red in the presidential race; Marco Rubio easily won re-election in his race for the U.S. Senate. And despite the redistricting of every state Senate seat, the GOP lost no seats in the Legislature’s upper chamber. One not so […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2016

Over the summer, a hacker who went by the nom de guerre of Guccifer 2.0 began distributing internal documents from the Democratic National Committee to a variety of reporters and bloggers here in Florida. I was one of those recipients. I bring that up this morning because of the story in Wednesday’s NY Times , which revisits […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2016

Marco Rubio had already weighed in negatively about Exxon Mobile CEO Rex Tillerson being floated as Donald Trump‘s possible choice for Secretary of State, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that now that it’s official, Rubio is still expressing his doubts. “While Rex Tillerson is a respected businessman, I have serious concerns about his nomination,” Rubio said in a statement released Tuesday […]

Tag: Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio picks up appropriations, aging panels; Nelson’s committees unchanged

Marco Rubio supports U.S. sanctions on Russia and condemns Vladimir Putin’s crimes

Can we just get 2016 over with, please?

Will Weatherford’s timing off, but only for the moment

Will Weatherford’s decision enhances, not removes, future options

Marco Rubio rolls out staff changes

AFP Florida conveys to lawmakers their holiday wish list for 2017

Deb Tamargo battles Jonny Torres for future control of Hillsborough County Republican Party

Mitch Perry Report for 12.14.16 – Fun with Guccifer 2.0

Marco Rubio says he has “serious concerns” about Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State