Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Joe HendersonNovember 25, 2016

Pat Kemp officially joined the Hillsborough County Commission when she was sworn into office Wednesday. If she stays true to her nature – and there is no to believe she won’t – Kemp might just turn the Commission on its ear. I hope she does. Most politicians like to play it safe and tell voters […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

A change in government in Washington has been preceded by a changing of the guard at one of the Tampa Bay area’s most troubled government agencies, the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission. On the same day the PTC finally approved rules legalizing ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft to operate in the county, the agency lost […]

Mitch PerryOctober 26, 2016

The announcement this week that premiums for “silver” health care plans in the state-based exchanges will rise by an average of 22 percent next year has received maximum news coverage, including by political reporters who think it could an “October surprise” that benefits the Republican Party. It is a gift to Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 29, 2016

An official with Uber said Thursday the San Francisco-based ridesharing company has come to an agreement regarding background checks and other new rules proposed by outgoing Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission Chair Victor Crist to have them finally operate legally in the county. Whether they will be approved by the rest of the PTC remains uncertain […]

Mitch PerryAugust 9, 2016

Last week (perhaps coincidentally as his poll numbers began dropping precipitously), Donald Trump suggested the general presidential election this fall could be “rigged.” In Ohio last week, Trump said he has heard “more and more” that the November election will be rigged — suggesting to his supporters the outcome of the election is out of the hands of voters. That […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman said Wednesday she doesn’t want the Public Transportation Commission to raise the penalties on ridesharing drivers from $700 to $900. “I think their fines are high enough,” she told her colleagues on the county commission at the end of their regular meeting. “If the fines are being raised to control a certain […]

Tom JacksonAugust 3, 2016

They’d reached closing statements at a recent forum for Hillsborough County Commission District 6 Democratic hopefuls in Bealsville, near Plant City, and Pat Kemp, the Tampa lawyer and serial candidate, was feeling magnanimous. The town center was a thing of beauty, she said, praising the town hall, expanded library, a roundabout with a flag at […]

Mitch PerryJuly 11, 2016

The Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission is poised to begin increasing fines on Uber and Lyft drivers soon, and that’s not going down well with one of the agency’s biggest critics, state Sen. Jeff Brandes. The St. Petersburg Republican has frequently criticized the PTC over the years for their confrontational stance towards the two ridesharing companies, […]

Mitch PerryJune 24, 2016

I was driving to a dental appointment yesterday when I heard via Sirius/XM’s POTUS channel that CNN had hired former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski as a “contributor” to their network’s political team. The motivation for hiring such a prominent surrogate, obviously, is to get somebody on set who can get into the candidate’s head, if […]

Tag: Victor Crist

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

Joe Henderson: Look for Pat Kemp to turn Hillsborough Commission on its ear

Kyle Cockream to step down from Hillsborough County PTC at the end of the year

Mitch Perry Report for 10.26.16 — Can Donald Trump exploit ACA premium increases?

Uber agrees to proposed new rules — but will Hillsborough’s PTC follow suit?

Mitch Perry Report for 8.9.16 — On a ‘rigged’ election

Sandy Murman doesn’t want Hillsborough PTC to raise penalties on ridesharing drivers

Tom Jackson: Old-school Democrat hopes Hillsborough can make a deal

Hillsborough County PTC is raising fines on ridesharing drivers, and Jeff Brandes doesn’t like it

Mitch Perry Report for 6.24.16 — CNN’s questionable move