Powerful Tampa Bay interests campaign for local light rail funding

With plans for a federally funded high-speed rail line linking Tampa and Orlando on the fast track, some of the Tampa Bay area’s most powerful political and business interests are pushing to secure funding for a connecting light rail system. But with local and state governments facing continued budget deficits across the board, those hopes rest on Hillsborough County citizens footing the bill.

That means legions of taxpayers and anti-tax groups need convincing.

State Sen. Bennett will move ahead with his immigration enforcement proposal despite Ariz. ruling

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, who recently said he has a bill in the works based on Arizona’s S.B. 1070, tells The Florida Independent that he will move forward with his legislation, despite a judge’s decision…

Mixed reaction to S.B. 1070 ruling among Florida immigrant groups

Several Florida immigrant rights groups do not consider Judge Susan Bolton’s Wednesday decision blocking certain provisions of Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070 immigration law a victory.
“A split decision only serves to split our communities. There is no partial…

Longtime Republican allies face off in bitter state Senate primary

The political alliance and friendship between two stalwarts of the Republican Party in the Tampa Bay area is a thing of the past: For now, they are bitter rivals for a state Senate seat.

State Rep. Kevin Ambler and Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman have been political allies for 20 years, but now they are not on speaking terms, as they battle with bruising rhetoric for the Senate District 12 seat being vacated by retiring state Sen. Victor Crist. The winner of the Aug. 24 primary is almost assured the seat; no Democrat has entered the fray, and only two politically unknown write-ins will be on the ballot.

State Rep. Ambler critical of Cretul over curtailed special session

A failed effort to fast-track Arizona-style immigration bills by state Rep. Kevin Ambler during this week’s special session has the legislator critical of his colleagues and House leadership.
Ambler — who is also a candidate for the District 12…

Palm Beach activists seek meeting with Atwater to dissuade him from importing S.B. 1070 (Updated)

Florida immigration activists from Palm Beach County were very worried about plans by Florida legislators to introduce a law that mimics Arizona’s S.B. 1070 during the legislature’s most recent special session in Tallahassee.
Isabel Vinent of

Jim Norman, Kevin Ambler feud over family assets in state Senate race

Hillsborough County Commissioner and Republican Florida Senate candidate Jim Norman has found himself on the defensive with the Tampa media over a home in his wife’s name in Arkansas.
A Tampa ABC affiliate reported that Norman is not required to list…

Rick Scott: ‘Bring Arizona’s immigration law to Florida. Now.’

In a new radio ad released Tuesday, GOP Gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott makes the claim that Charlie Crist’s special legislative session, slated to run July 20-23 and focus on an offshore oil drilling ban, should take up the…

State Rep. Ambler files immigration bills for special session

A Republican state representative has filed three immigration bills amid Florida’s brewing debate about which issues should be heard during next week’s special session. Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist called the special session for legislators to debate a ban on offshore drilling in the wake…