Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJanuary 29, 2018

Two Pinellas County Republicans want reassurance that students at the University of South Florida’s two smaller sister campuses will receive “significant benefits” under a proposed plan to consolidate the three-campus system into a single university. Citing “years of distrust between campuses” in a letter to USF Board of Trustees Chair Brian Lamb, state Rep. Chris […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 26, 2018

The state university system’s Board of Governors said Thursday it was fully behind a plan to combine the three USF campuses, but the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce said lawmakers need to “hit pause” on the consolidation plan. Republican Rep. Chris Sprowls added a provision to the House higher education bill, HB 423, that would […]

Mitch PerryOctober 18, 2017

While Washington is filled with talk about cutting taxes and possibly health care benefits, Tampa Representative Kathy Castor sat down with current and former students from the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Tampa (UT) at the Attic in downtown Tampa on Wednesday to ask them about two of her potential proposals […]

Mitch PerryOctober 13, 2017

One could reasonably approach the David Jolly-Patrick Murphy roadshow hitting Tampa Thursday night with a healthy dose of cynicism. Here are two former politicians decrying problems of Washington D.C. when, if things had turned the way they hoped they would, both would have been ensconced in the belly of the beast they were now criticizing. Nevertheless, […]

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 […]

Tag: USF

Legislative leaders seek reassurance as USF consolidation plan moves ahead

University system says unified USF ‘just makes sense,’; St. Pete Chamber says ‘slow down’

Kathy Castor pushes bills to help with student loan debt

David Jolly, Patrick Murphy discuss fixing Washington — it was (sort of) interesting

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?