Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 25, 2017

Tampa International Airport’s chief executive officer welcomed the possibility of an audit as suggested by state Sen. Tom Lee last week. “We get audited all the time,” Joe Lopano said last week at a meeting of the St. Petersburg City Council. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reported Lopano was on hand to present the $543 […]

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2017

Sparks flew on the floor of the Florida Senate Wednesday between Tampa Bay-area Republicans after Tom Lee stated that “potential public corruption” is taking place at Tampa International Airport. The Brandon Republican then proposed inserting an amendment to the Senate budget calling for the Auditor General to review spending at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which is […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

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Gov. Rick Scott got a figurative swift kick in the pants Monday when the head of Tampa’s leading business group told him to get a move on in filling a vacancy on the local aviation authority’s board. “Possibly unlike any appointment you will make, this next appointment is both an opportunity and your responsibility to make […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2015

It was famed actor, celebrity and humanitarian George Clooney who once said that he doesn’t tweet. “Just because, I like to have a drink at night. I could easily say something stupid, and I also don’t think you need to be that available.” But there are lots of folks who just can’t help expressing themselves via the tools of […]

Mitch PerryMay 18, 2015

Last week, a delegation of Tampa area officials visited Cuba in a trip organized by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. It was the third excursion to the communist island led by the Chamber in the past few years. It was “certainly the most productive and most historic,” Ronald Christaldi, a partner with the Tampa law firm of Shumaker, Loop […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2015

U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker visited Tampa Monday, ostensibly to discuss the Obama administration’s new forays into diplomatic relations with Cuba. However, she used the majority of her speech to pump up the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That’s one of the biggest international trade agreements in modern history, which President Barack Obama hopes to have negotiated before […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 25, 2015

Hopping on a plane anytime soon? It might be a good idea to catch a flight out of Tampa International Airport. The airport was naimed North America’s second best airport by Airports Council International. TIA also nabbed the number five spot in the world for customer satisfaction among airports serving 15-25 million passengers. Airport Service […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2015

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed Presidents Day. What? You didn’t get the day off? Well, hey, it is a federal holiday, but other than students and government workers (and a few folks we know in the private sector), it was pretty much a working Monday for the rest of us. Not for Congress, though. As […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 6, 2015

After years of a struggling economy, Tampa’s “swagger” has returned, says the first digital ad for Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s re-election effort. The 60-second spot – appropriately called “Swagger” – will hit the airwaves starting Tuesday, offering some of Buckhorn’s successes, but also a few hints of something more. It is an energetic, boastful message from a […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2014

Oh yes he did. To the surprise of absolutely no one, President Obama last night announced his plan to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation and grant them work permits in a 15-prime time speech. Now what happens? That’s something that Congressional Republicans will have to decide in the coming weeks, and we’ve heard […]

Tag: Tampa International Airport

‘Join the club’ — Tampa Airport CEO welcomes Tom Lee’s proposed audit

Sparks fly with Tampa Bay GOP senators over Tom Lee’s call for Tampa International Airport audit

Tampa Chamber CEO to Rick Scott: “You owe us” after Sam Rashid fiasco

Mitch Perry Report for 9.4.15 – Sam Rashid is not backing down

Tampa Chamber of Commerce positioning area to prosper with post-sanctions Cuba

Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker pumps disputed trade agreement in Tampa

Tampa International Airport nabs another best of award

Mitch Perry Report for 2.17.15 — Will the GOP fold on DHS funding?

Bob Buckhorn’s first re-election campaign ad; glimpse of something more?

Mitch Perry Report 11.21.14