Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 7, 2015

Last week, the Senate Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 742. As Sen. Nancy Detert pointed out, “ticket wars” happen session after session. The battle has traditionally been viewed as a power struggle between Ticketmaster and StubHub. This year, things have changed. Sen. Wilton Simpson amended his bill in committee and stated that with the changes, this […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

The St. Petersburg City Council won’t be voting on that newly revised agreement that Mayor Rick Kriseman worked out with the Tampa Bay Rays last week that seemed to resolve the main conflict in why the Council didn’t approve the deal last December: the redevelopment rights to Tropicana Field. The new deal the mayor negotiated […]

Phil AmmannMarch 30, 2015

Extensive Enterprises Media is proud to announce that award-winning sports columnist Gary Shelton has joined the new media group to provide his unique insight into the intersection of sports and politics. The Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium saga; the Legislature’s debate over subsidizing sports stadiums; progress on new soccer teams in the state; referendums to attract […]

Mitch PerryMarch 27, 2015

Loretta Lynch, President Barack Obama‘s choice to replace Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General, was in Tampa Thursday for the swearing-in ceremony of Lee Bentley, the new U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Lynch is the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, and would be come the first black female AG in U.S. history if […]

Mitch PerryMarch 26, 2015

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With a Republican governor and overwhelmingly GOP-led Legislature, Florida is being well served by its legislators in Tallahassee, right? Not exactly. A new Public Policy Polling survey released Thursday shows that 58 percent of Florida voters want Medicaid expansion. Independents support it by 57 percent, while there is a 12-point difference among Republicans (33/45). Despite […]

Mitch PerryMarch 9, 2015

Florida lawmakers last year approved a plan to set aside $7 million in sales-tax revenue to help pay for building or renovating sports stadiums. Last month, though, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission punted on the decision on whether or not to fund the four stadium projects before them: EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Daytona International Speedway, Sun […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 19, 2015

To its supporters, it was a case of justice delayed but not denied, when on Thursday the Florida Board of Governor in Tallahassee unanimously recommended the state provide $57 million to USF to move its medical center to downtown Tampa. The next step in the process for the $153 million center to house the Morsani […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 26, 2015

There were a lot of good things happening in St. Petersburg in 2013, yet city voters overwhelmingly rejected incumbent Mayor Bill Foster, instead choosing Rick Kriseman to lead the city for the next four years. The former City Councilman and state Representative was seen as someone more in synch with where the city was going […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 23, 2015

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Unlike four years ago, there isn’t that much buzz about the upcoming Tampa City Council elections scheduled to take place in March. The lack of a competitive mayoral contest is the main culprit for the lack of interest, which trickled down to two City Council contests last week, where incumbents Frank Reddick (in District 5) […]

Bob SparksDecember 22, 2014

The 2008 American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays may be on their way out of Florida. A move is not imminent, but recent events increase the odds that Miami may eventually be the only remaining Major League Baseball team in the long term. Last week in a 5-3 vote, the St. Petersburg City Council voted […]

Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

Peter Schorsch: Florida ticket-buyers need consumer protection

Mitch Perry Report for 4.1.15 — TBT slams city council members over Rays impasse

Award-winning sportswriter Gary Shelton joins Extensive Enterprises Media

Mitch Perry Report for 3.27.15 — Could Bob Menendez fate affect Loretta Lynch as AG?

New survey: Most Floridians like Medicaid expansion, medical marijuana, same-sex marriage

Obama budget would bar tax-exempt bonds to finance stadiums

State BOG all in for USF med school move to downtown Tampa

Mitch Perry Report for 1.26.15 – Rick Kriseman strides forward into 2015

Tiger Bay forum kicks off 2015 Tampa City Council debate season

Bob Sparks: St. Pete plays hardball. Could Rays be on way out of Florida?