Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 3, 2017

Less than three years after Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation providing for state revenues to go toward constructing or improving professional sports franchise facilities, state Sen. Tom Lee wants to eliminate the program created to distribute those funds. “The Sports Development Program was ill-conceived and based on the false premise that these capital improvements are a boon for economic development,” the Brandon Republican said […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 3, 2017

The number of lawmakers prepping for another run keeps on growing. State elections records show dozens of members of the state House and Senate have filed to run for re-election in 2018. Many of those are incumbents who faced little-to-no opposition in 2016, while others ran hard fought battles to win their spot in the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 16, 2016

The troubled Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission received a terminal diagnosis Friday after members of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation voted unanimously for a local bill that would eliminate the agency on December 31, 2017. After that, the County Commission would pick up its regulatory duties. “The public has lost complete faith in the ability of this […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2016

With Tallahassee a four-hour drive away, the annual meeting of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to be held in two weeks in Tampa could very possibly be the only time local residents can address their state representative(s). That meeting will take place on Friday, December 16 at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water […]

Mitch PerryNovember 29, 2016

Dana Young has been named as chair of Health Care policy in the Florida state Senate. The South Tampa Republican, who was elected to the Legislature’s upper chamber earlier this month in SD 18, will also serve as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education Senate President Joe Negron handed out such assignments to his charges in the […]

Staff ReportsNovember 29, 2016

State Sen. Tom Lee has filed a proposed constitutional amendment to keep “dramatic increases in annual property tax assessments” in check on vacation homes and other properties. Lee, a Brandon Republican, filed SJR 76 on Monday. “Failure to pass this joint resolution will result in one of the largest tax increases in the history of our state,” […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2016

On Friday, candidates released their final campaign finance reports before Election Day, and reports out of Senate District 18 show Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young pressing her fundraising advantage in the race with $1.2 million in spending. Young spent more than $500,000 of campaign’s war chest in between Oct. 22 and Nov. 3, most of […]

Peter SchorschOctober 25, 2016

With two weeks to go until Election Day, the Tampa Bay area’s Senate seats are pretty much decided. Welcome back Sens. Jack Latvala and Tom Lee and say hello to Darryl Rouson, who should cruise past John “Mr. Manners” Houman to win the SD 19 seat. Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young still has a race […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 12, 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-05-23-at-4.16.08-PM-3500x5000.png

Florida is likely to basically break even next year in terms of its state budget, lawmakers heard Monday. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission met in the Capitol to hear the latest financial outlook for 2017-18: Present income and outgo estimates leave Florida with a relatively scant $7.5 million left over out of about $32.2 billion in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 27, 2016

The political committee formed to help Republican state Senate candidates raised more than $5 million since April. State records show the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee raised nearly $5.2 million between April 1 and Aug. 25. The committee is led by Senate President Designate Joe Negron, and was set up by Senate leaders to raise money for […]

Tag: Tom Lee

Tom Lee wants to eliminate program designed to use taxpayers funds on sports facilities

More than a dozen lawmakers file for re-election in 2018

Hillsborough County PTC may be on way out after local delegation approves bill to kill it

Hillsborough legislative delegation to meet December 16

Dana Young to chair Health Care policy committee

Tom Lee files constitutional amendment on property taxes

Final round-up of the money chase in Tampa Bay’s legislative races

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay’s legislative races

Lawmakers get grim budget news for next year

Florida Republicans state Senate campaign arm raises more than $5M ahead of primaries