Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2016

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A leading state senator Thursday yanked his bill that would have benefited ride-booking services such as Uber and Lyft, saying there was no compromise that pleased everyone involved, including the House. State Sen. David Simmons, the chamber’s Rules chairman, had worked on the bill (SB 1118) for months. It would have mandated minimum commercial insurance requirements […]

Ryan RayMarch 10, 2016

A representative of Uber personally delivered what he said were 32,588 petitions to Senate President Andy Gardiner on Thursday morning, continuing the intensifying fight between Senate leadership and the ride-hailing industry. They have sparred for months over insurance regulations and the preemption of local ordinances. The two parties are locked in a heated debate over whether the Senate should […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 10, 2016

The Florida Taxicab Association is calling on Sen. Jeff Brandes to withdrawn a pro-Uber amendment and “respect the legislative process.” In an email Thursday, the association said Brandes has pushed “model legislation” written by the ride-sharing company Uber “as a solution for any regulatory impediment the company may encounter in Florida now or in the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 10, 2016

It’s the last call for ride-hailing legislation. A bill (SB 1118) to set minimum insurance requirements for ride-hailing companies, like Uber, is once again on the Senate’s special order calendar. So is a similar House proposal (HB 509) that addresses insurance requirements and deals with preemption concerns. With just days left in the legislative session, […]

Peter SchorschMarch 9, 2016

Constituents of Andy Gardiner on Wednesday will receive mail from Uber Florida criticizing the Senate President for blocking any kind of vote on a heavily lobbied proposal involving app-based transportation services. Uber wants the Senate to approve legislation that has already passed the House preventing local governments from banning or regulating it and other ridesharing companies such […]

Scott PowersMarch 9, 2016

Uber is hitting Senate President Andy Gardiner and Mears Transportation in their home turf Wednesday with a mailer accusing him of thwarting ride-sharing legislation in order to help old friends and patrons at a taxi company. The mailer, called “Connect The Dots,” is being sent to homes in Gardiner’s home district in Orlando. It follows […]

Mitch PerryMarch 9, 2016

Although Bernie Sanders and his supporters have to be feeling great after the Vermont senator stunned everyone Tuesday night by defeating Hillary Clinton in Michigan, Clinton’s victory in the richer delegate state of Mississippi won her more delegates for the night, 86-69. Nevertheless, it’s certainly a stunning rebuke to the pollsters and pundits, some predicting Clinton […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2016

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With just days to go before Sine Die in the Florida Legislature, frustrations are boiling over the issue of whether there will finally be bill regulating TNCs (Transportation Network Companies) in Tallahassee. Uber is unhappy with Senate President Andy Gardiner, who they say has failed to bring up to a vote in the Senate a […]

Drew WilsonMarch 7, 2016

The Florida Taxicab Association announced in a Monday email that it had released its second ad attacking ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft for their “lax driver background check procedures.” “The release comes just hours after a bombshell news report by BuzzFeed that leaked internal documents from Uber show the company may have over 6,000 rape complaints, 5,827 […]

Drew WilsonMarch 7, 2016

Uber has had a tough time getting legislation passed this session, and the ridesharing company is focusing its efforts on changing one lawmaker’s mind: Republican Senate President Andy Gardiner. Starting Monday, Florida users of the ridesharing app will be prompted to “vote for Uber” the next time they call for a car. The “VOTE” app […]

Tag: Uber

Uber bill makes last stand in Senate

Uber drops off thousands of pro-ridesharing petitions to Andy Gardiner

Email Insights: Taxicab Association calls on Jeff Brandes to ‘respect the legislative process’

Email Insights: Uber calls on customers to demand a Senate vote

Not to be a skunk at Andy Gardiner’s picnic, but …

Uber taking its fight with Andy Gardiner, Mears Transportation, home to Orlando

Mitch Perry Report for 3.9.16 – Sanders stuns in Midwest

Uber targets Senate President Andy Gardiner in new ad

Email insights: Taxi association ad targets Uber, Lyft for “lax background checks”

Uber Florida uses app to call out Andy Gardiner on ride-sharing legislation delay