Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog organization, served up its annual list of “Budget Turkeys,” naming almost $178 million in line-item projects part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. For the Tampa Bay region, Florida TaxWatch targeted more than $33 million in local projects as individual line […]

Phil AmmannMay 26, 2017

Thanksgiving is six months away, but Friday is “turkey” day for Gov. Rick Scott. Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog group, released its annual “Budget Turkey List,” of almost $178 million in line-item projects that are part of the $82.4 billion budget passed May 8 by the Florida House and Senate. Budget Turkeys are individual […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

It’s been a long contentious year in Tampa Bay, from Pinellas County’s “Failure Factories” and Beth Leytham in Tampa City Hall to the evolving political landscape that has drawn Charlie Crist for another bid for elected office. Good or bad, 2015 offered a little something for everyone (to cheer or argue about). Now that the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

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Just in time for Tuesday night’s GOP presidential debate from Las Vegas, the Florida Democratic Party is mocking Marco Rubio with the release of a new web video called, “The Rubio Card” that mocks the Florida Senator’s variously reported financial problems over the years. Questions of Rubio’s spending on a Republican Party of Florida charge card […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

With Puerto Rico facing $72 billion in debt and not able to pay off its creditors, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has joined a group of over a dozen mayors in the U.S. calling on Congress to restore the commonwealth its bankruptcy protections in the omnibus appropriations funding bill being debated in the House of Representatives. Interestingly, Buckhorn is the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2015

Gosh it’s hot out there. That’s what went through my mind this morning when I went running at 5 a.m. Seriously, this felt like the warmest morning yet of what has been a very warm December in the Tampa Bay area. Maybe it’s the El Niño affect, but this unseasonably warm winter weather isn’t relegated to […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2015

Despite the support from more major donors and the so-called GOP establishment, Marco Rubio‘s campaign doesn’t appear to be doing much in Iowa, site of the first caucuses next year. The Florida senator remains in fourth place in Iowa, according a poll released Sunday. The big story in the Des Moines Register is the rise of Texas Sen. […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2015

Joe Negron, the Stuart-based state Senator who recently survived a marathon battle with Jack Latvala to become Senate President in 2017, has signed on as a co-sponsor Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture bill (SB 1044) in the Legislature’s upper chamber. The legislation would stipulate assets or property may only be seized under the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act after a criminal defendant […]

Mitch PerryDecember 11, 2015

Earlier this week, Pinellas County Congressman David Jolly made national news by calling on Donald Trump to leave the Republican presidential race, after the real estate mogul’s controversial comments about temporarily banning Muslims from the U.S. “I rise today to call on Donald trump to withdraw his candidacy for the White House,” Jolly said on the House floor […]

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Tampa Bay region marked for $33M in Florida TaxWatch ‘turkeys’

Rick Scott gets $178M serving of Florida TaxWatch ‘budget turkeys’

Mitch Perry’s 5 people to watch in Tampa Bay politics in 2016

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

FDP releases ad for mock Marco Rubio credit card

Bob Buckhorn calls on Congress to give Puerto Rico bankruptcy protection, while Buddy Dyer sits it out

Mitch Perry Report for 12.14.15 – Warming up for a Tampa Bay Winter

Marco Rubio in 4th place in Iowa in new poll

Joe Negron signs on to Jeff Brandes civil asset forfeiture reform bill

David Jolly Senate campaign now boasting of Donald Trump backing his legislation