Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A task force formed to study severe racial disparities in discipline and graduation rates for black and Latino teen boys in Hillsborough County presented its recommendations to the school board Tuesday. The recommendations include revisions to the school handbook’s code of conduct, a student bill of rights, and sustainability, said task force member Manny Rivero, executive […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

The Hillsborough County School Board on Tuesday approved a two-year contract for new superintendent Jeff Eakins that will pay him $225,000 annually beginning July 1. It then must be approved by the board on an annual basis beginning in 2018. The audience at the school board meeting erupted in cheers after his contract was unanimously OK’d […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

Tampa’s Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor says she is leaning against giving “fast track” authority to President Obama for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal involving the U.S. and 11 South American and Pacific Rim nations that if enacted would be the largest trade deal since the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

President Barack Obama is scheduled to host congressional leaders of both parties at the White House Tuesday to cheer on a recently passed bill that makes reforms to Medicare. The bill eliminated Congress’s two-decade-old Medicare payment problems known as the “doc fix,” and has been hailed as a rare form of bipartisanship in Washington. “If this bill had […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A week ago I spoke with someone close to David Jolly about the Pinellas County congressman taking time to consider a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2016. The still-newbie Republican U.S. Representative has a number of pros and cons to contemplate before making such a momentous career decision. The biggest downside is the real […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

In Tallahassee on Monday, a state Senate committee postponed a vote on a controversial bill that would allow private adoption agencies in Florida to turn away same-sex couples based on religious and moral beliefs. The fate of the legislation is now in question. Senate Rules Committee Chairman David Simmons said he would confer with Senate President […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

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Before the 2015 Legislative Session commenced last month, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) Board Chairman Mike Suarez wrote to Pasco County area legislator Richard Corcoran, chairman of the Tampa Bay area legislative delegation, with a list of priorities that the transit agency hoped the state could fund this year. But with just two weeks to […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

Fresh off their visits to New Hampshire this past weekend, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush have hit the road to raise money this week. Rubio is in the Lone Star State the next two days, including a Tuesday night fundraiser in Dallas hosted by George Seay, a well-connected grandson of former Texas Gov. William Clements and who was Rick […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

Although he’s hardly breaking away, Jeb Bush leads the GOP 2016 presidential field in a new CNN/ORC International Poll released Monday morning. And Marco Rubio appears to finally be gaining traction. However, both would be crushed by Hillary Clinton if the election were to be held now. Bush tops the GOP field with 17 percent, followed by […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

Happy 420 Day. There have been some interesting stories being produced by our friends over at the Tampa Bay Times over the past week. The paper returned to their coverage of Doug Hughes yesterday. Hughes is the Ruskin postal worker who hoped to raise awareness about the influence of big money in politics by violating […]

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Hillsborough School Board hears minority task force report

Hillsborough County schools hire new superintendent

Kathy Castor leans toward voting no on Trans-Pacific Partnership

Kathy Castor, Tampa health officials hail “doc fix” Medicare bill

Mitch Perry Report for 4.21.15 — Senate in ’16 odds looking better for David Jolly?

Senate panel postpones vote on gay adoption ban

HART still hopes for funding from Tallahassee

Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio hit road to raise campaign cash

Jeb Bush tops new GOP poll, trails Hillary Clinton by 17 points

Mitch Perry Report for 4.20.15 – Tampa’s Bicycle Blitzkrieg