Mitch Perry, Author at Creative Loafing Tampa - Page 12 of 318

Florida bill allowing some workers to make less than minimum wage advances to House floor

South Florida Democratic Rep. Felicia Robinson said that in the current economic climate, ‘I cannot see someone working for less than the minimum wage. Period.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 8, 2025June 15, 2025

Inmate advocates work to air-condition some Florida prisons this session

The idea started with prison rights advocate Connie Edson, who has worked for five years to try to give inmates relief from the scorching Florida temperatures.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 7, 2025April 10, 2025

Florida is poised to have even tighter restrictions on citizen-led ballot amendments

“Who are the legislators listening to? It appears when you look at these bills to limit citizen’s constitutional amendment process, they’re listening to big companies…”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 4, 2025April 15, 2025

‘At the end of the day, we’re practically begging’: Florida Dreamers aren’t giving up just yet

This week, the group TheDream.US trekked to the Capitol to resume the fight.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 4, 2025April 9, 2025

Elections, News & Views

‘They had to call Daddy’: Florida Democrats find positives in Tuesday’s special election losses

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 3, 2025

Democrats Gay Valimont and Josh Weil swept in Florida’s two congressional special elections

Sen. Randy Fine and former Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis are headed to Washington D.C.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix April 1, 2025June 15, 2025

Polk County Republican’s crackdown on Florida hemp heads to Senate floor

This year’s bill is similar to last year’s—with more restrictions.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 30, 2025June 29, 2025

Woman in a blue suit holding a microphone inside Florida' legislative chamber.

Tampa Rep. Dianne Hart continues her fight for reform of Florida’s prison system

She and other Democrats are again pushing for an ‘inmate bill of rights.’

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 30, 2025July 11, 2025

Bill making it harder for Florida citizens to put amendments on the ballot heads to house floor

Critics said HB125 would effectively kill the citizen-led amendment process.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 27, 2025April 3, 2025

Florida Senate committee OKs proposal banning flags that represent a political ideology

A similar measure has failed in the past two legislative sessions.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 26, 2025May 1, 2025

Florida Senate committee advances proposal prohibiting use of prefered pronouns in government jobs

Republican Sen. Randy Fine limited public comments to just 30 seconds.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 26, 2025April 26, 2025

Former Pinellas Congressman David Jolly is considering running for governor as a Democrat

He’s a former Republican, and current MSNBC analyst.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 26, 2025April 24, 2025

Republicans propose 2026 constitutional amendment that would create ‘COGE’ a Florida version of ‘DOGE’

That officer would be elected by the voters to investigate and report on fraud, waste, and abuse in state government.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 25, 2025April 5, 2025

Democrats are raising a lot of money for special elections that Republicans are favored to win

Democrats’ favorability rankings are in the tank, according to recent surveys.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 25, 2025April 1, 2025

Mason-Dixon survey shows 52 percent of Floridians approve of Trump’s performance

Out of 625 Floridians, 44% disapprove of the president and 4% are unsure.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 25, 2025April 1, 2025

Florida remains ‘ground zero’ for attacks on LGBTQ+ community, advocates and lawmakers say

‘We’ve been the canary in the coal mine, and that canary is dead,’ said Orlando area Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 21, 2025April 20, 2025

‘Unconstitutional’: Florida Democrats blast Republican efforts to eliminate Department of Education

Republicans, meanwhile, praise progress toward a long-held goal.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 21, 2025March 28, 2025

Human Rights, News & Views

In Tallahassee, activists and lawmakers remind voters that Florida has been ‘ground zero’ for attacks on LGBTQ+ community

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 19, 2025

Bipartisan support helps ‘chemtrail’ bill advance in Florida Senate

A statute already on the books bans individuals from attempting to affect the weather without a license from the state.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 19, 2025April 8, 2025

Proposed legislation from Polk county Republican seeks to regulate hemp-infused drinks

SB 438 would restrict the amount of THC per bottle or cans to no more than 5 milligrams.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix March 18, 2025March 28, 2025