Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonSeptember 21, 2017

The medical school and heart institute being built by the University of South Florida in downtown Tampa is ambitious and more than a little bold. It can be major step in the ongoing re-invention of the city’s urban core. Speaking of bold, though, that’s the word that came to mind after reading the News Service […]

Joe HendersonMay 8, 2017

Florida State Senate President Joe Negron continues to insist there was no dark conspiracy to deny pre-eminent status to the University of South Florida. He swears on a stack of legal briefs that state graduation guidelines weren’t changed at the last minute just to make sure USF wouldn’t qualify. As we now know, this is […]

Mitch PerryMay 8, 2017

Florida Senate President Joe Negron is firing back at University of South Florida supporters who claim the Legislature “moved the goal posts” when they reverted language in an education conforming bill. The bill, they say, would prevent USF from reaching the 11th of 12 pre-assigned benchmarks which would qualify them for “pre-eminence,” a status that would have qualified […]

Peter SchorschMay 6, 2017

Officials associated with the University of South Florida this weekend are fervently seeking to change the language in an education conforming bill that will keep the university from achieving ‘pre-eminent’ status next year. A loss of the pre-eminent status for USF could result in losing much as $15 million in state funding. “The amount of people who are upset about […]

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2016

For the first time time since September of 2011, the University of South Florida’s football program is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. This comes after the Bulls defeated cross I-4 rival UCF at Raymond James Stadium. They’re tied at 24, and have finished their regular season at 10-2, their most impressive record since […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2016

If it were up to Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Caucus would be voting for their leadership later today, where she would win another term as House minority leader, since there is no opposition to her leadership role. Not yet, anyway. In an ominous note for the 76-year-old representative from San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, dozens of rank-and-file […]

Mitch PerryOctober 11, 2016

Bill Clinton comes to Pinellas County tonight, after two earlier scheduled events in Palm Beach County and Fort Myers, and the question is: will he make news? The 42nd president of the United States got himself and his wife’s campaign into all types of hot water when he “blasted” the Affordable Care Act last week, though a […]

Mitch PerryOctober 10, 2016

Cecile Richards paid a visit to the University of South Florida campus Monday, where she told an audience consisting of mostly female students, that people like themselves — especially those living in Florida’s Interstate 4 corridor — will help decide the presidential election next month. “Millennial voters are going to determine who the next president is,” […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 23, 2016

Welcome to the first full day of fall, Florida style. Now maybe it will actually start to feel like a different season in say, about a month from now? Speaking of the weather, good luck to the student-athletes at USF and Florida State University who will be playing in the excessively hot and humid conditions […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 8, 2016

Hillary Clinton’s endorsement of Patrick Murphy in his U.S. Senate contest in Florida against Marco Rubio shouldn’t qualify as news … except when it comes just two hours after a published report asked why it hadn’t come yet, less than nine weeks before Election Day. “I am proud to endorse Patrick Murphy to be Florida’s next U.S. senator,” said Clinton. “Patrick […]

Tag: USF
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Joe Henderson: Bad timing for USF money request

Joe Henderson: Bottom line for USF — Close, but no pre-eminence status

Senate President denies ‘moving goal posts’ regarding USF’s drive for pre-eminence

USF community outraged after last-minute budget language is inserted to keep it from achieving ‘pre-eminent’ status

Mitch Perry Report for 11.28.16 -While USF football soars, attendance doesn’t

Mitch Perry Report for 11.17.16 — Will there be a Democrat ready to challenge Nancy Pelosi?

Mitch Perry Report for 10.11.12 — Bill Clinton comes back to Tampa Bay

Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards to USF students: Millennials will decide this election

Mitch Perry Report for 9.23.16 – Fall follies

Hillary Clinton (finally) endorses Patrick Murphy for U.S. Senate