Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 5, 2016

State Sen. Wilton Simpson is letting the “love flow” in his re-election bid to the Florida Senate. The Trilby Republican is hosting a special fundraising barbecue dinner and concert Thursday, April 21, featuring the Bellamy Brothers, the pop-country duo best known for their crossover 1976 hit “Let Your Love Flow.” Simpson is a highly regarded […]

Jim RosicaApril 1, 2016

Two legislative leaders are asking the state’s utility regulators to “follow the law” and deny a request by a water utility serving parts of Marion, Pasco and Seminole counties to increase its rates. State Rep. Richard Corcoran, the Land O’ Lakes Republican slated to become House Speaker after the 2016 elections, and Sen. Wilton Simpson, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

Back in 2009-2010, the folks behind the Moving Hillsborough Forward brought Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory to Tampa on three different occasions to advise local officials on how to pass the one-cent sales tax referendum for transit on the November 2010 ballot in Hillsborough County. As we all remember, the measure went down to a resounding […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2016

State Sen. Wilton Simpson is proud of what the Florida Legislature accomplished during its recently completed 2016 Session. However, he says the public wouldn’t be aware of that if they relied solely on the news media during the past two months. The GOP legislator spoke to about 40 (mostly senior) citizens at a town hall meeting […]

Staff ReportsMarch 24, 2016

With thousands of certified petition signatures, state Sen. Wilton Simpson has officially qualified for the 2016 ballot in Senate District 10. In the days after the final Florida Senate map was determined, the Trilby Republican registered for SD 10, a district that added Citrus County to the Pasco and Hernando County residents he already served. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 21, 2016

Kim McDougal is no stranger to Tallahassee. She’s spent years in the capital city, working for governors, the Legislature and the Department of Education. She’s been described as a policy wonk fiercely loyal to Gov. Rick Scott. And, after nearly 30 years in state government, she can add chief of staff to her long list […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

(Updated)In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, Florida Gov. Rick Scott joined more than two dozen other governors across the country to say he doesn’t want refugees fleeing war-torn Syria coming into his state. He also said that the federal government isn’t providing him any information about who was coming in, or where they […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2016

Orlando’s theme park behemoths – mostly Walt Disney companies – have already poured $2.77 million into campaign and political committees and parties for this election cycle so far, preferring Republicans by almost 3 to 1 over Democrats. Disney, as usual, leads the way, with a combination of cash and in-kind services (typically providing tickets or […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 9, 2016

A bill revamping the state’s process of public land acquisition and management passed its first Senate committee Tuesday. LobbyTools reports that SB 1290, filed by Trilby Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson is nearly identical to House equivalent, HB 1075, filed by Lehigh Acres Republican Rep. Matt Caldwell. Orlando Democratic Sen. Darren Soto submitted an amendment to strip language that […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 8, 2016

Monday saw the Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee pass the Discretionary Sales Surtax bill that would allow a referendum authorizing the half cent Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax to be extended until 2060, to pay off Jacksonville’s unfunded pension liability. Ahead of the committee meeting, Lenny Curry lobbied committee members, via private January meetings with Curry […]

Tag: Wilton Simpson
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Nice guy Wilton Simpson lets ‘love flow’ with Bellamy Brothers concert fundraiser April 21

Richard Corcoran, Wilton Simpson oppose water rate hike

Mitch Perry Report for 3.30.16 – What happened to the moderate, affable Pat McCrory?

Wilton Simpson tells Pasco crowd things he says media won’t

Wilton Simpson qualifies for 2016 ballot via petition

Capitol veteran Kim McDougal selected as Rick Scott’s next chief of staff

State House committee passes bill that aims to ban Syrian refugees

Orlando’s theme park companies pour at least $2.77 million into state politics

Senate committee passes bill restructuring public land acquisition and management

Jacksonville “pension tax” bill clears 2nd Senate committee