Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 11, 2016

On the final day of the 2016 Legislative Session, a landmark deal addressing the ridesharing issue in Florida has died. According to lobbyists working for Uber and Lyft, as well as Orlando-based Mears Transportation, a compromise was brokered that includes the thorny aspects of insurance and preemption. However, the time constraints of the legislative session […]

Ryan RayMarch 10, 2016

A representative of Uber personally delivered what he said were 32,588 petitions to Senate President Andy Gardiner on Thursday morning, continuing the intensifying fight between Senate leadership and the ride-hailing industry. They have sparred for months over insurance regulations and the preemption of local ordinances. The two parties are locked in a heated debate over whether the Senate should […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

While watching the Florida Legislature debate regulation of services like Uber and Lyft statewide, I couldn’t help but think of a pair of quotes discovered as I was looking up something else. The first quote, from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, came as the House displayed leadership and vision in approving its version of a bill […]

Ryan RayFebruary 18, 2016

The ride-hailing company Uber continued its legislative push at a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday. Backers brandished new economic impact numbers indicating growth and told reporters it’s time for lawmakers to finally make good on a pledge to enact a uniform statewide law governing so-called transportation network companies, or TNCs. An Uber lobbyist said nearly […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 9, 2016

Stare business and transportation leaders along with officials pushing comprehensive ride-hailing legislation launched the Floridians for Ridesharing Coalition Tuesday ahead of discussion slated for the Senate Judiciary committee. State Sen. Jeff Brandes and Rep. Matt Gaetz both back legislation in their respective chambers that would regulate the industry through rules on insurance requirements for drivers. […]

Ryan RayDecember 3, 2015

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued a final order Thursday afternoon ruling that drivers for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are “independent contractors” rather than employees per se. As such, drivers for the transportation network companies do not qualify for unemployment benefits, which are paid in part by former employers of laid off workers. “The Department finds […]

Phil AmmannNovember 15, 2015

Uber is taking the next big step in trying to break Miami-Dade’s growing traffic congestion. On Thursday, the San Francisco-based ride-sharing tech company launches uberPOOL, a next-generation carpool service that matches passengers going in the same direction, while allowing them to split the cost of the ride. Ryan Graves, Uber’s Senior Vice President and Head of […]

Phil AmmannOctober 29, 2015

As Uber continues its expansion across the globe, a new company-sponsored public policy blog will touch on several issues facing the popular ridesharing service, such as car insurance and company benefits. Uber Under the Hood, launched Wednesday, is the latest effort by the San Francisco-based company to garner more support as it deals with lawmakers […]

Melissa RossSeptember 10, 2015

As the war between taxicab companies and app-based transportation services such as Uber and Lyft heats up, it’s always fascinating to get the take of one of the foot soldiers in the conflict. After all, the grunts on the front lines are the ones trudging through mud (actually it’s drunk passengers’ vomit), dodging shrapnel (traffic […]

Peter SchorschAugust 12, 2015

Last session, “transportation network services” like Uber and Lyft were one of myriad issues where the House and Senate diverged — the House position was enthusiastically pro-Uber, while the Senate was more reticent. But state Rep. Ritch Workman has taken his support for ridesharing to a whole new level. FloridaPolitics.com has learned — and Uber Florida’s Public Policy Representative Cesar Fernandez has confirmed — that […]

Tag: ridesharing

Legislative deal between ridesharing companies and taxis dies

Uber drops off thousands of pro-ridesharing petitions to Andy Gardiner

The case for why there should be a legislative deal for Uber & Lyft

Uber advocates call for Senate to pass pro-TNC legislation

Pro-business groups, lawmakers form ridesharing coalition

DEO rules Uber drivers are independent contractors for employment purposes

Miami-Dade to get #uberPOOL, new Uber carpool service

Uber tackles public policy issues with newly launched “Under the Hood” blog

Uber driver tells all

Oh, Florida House — Ritch Workman moonlighting as an Uber driver