Michael Ray Smith

Jan 17, 2025 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Michael Ray Smith |Michaël Smith

Florida tomato grower Tony DiMare is all for President-elect Donald Trump slapping tariffs on the Mexican farmers who undercut him by paying workers a fraction of what he does. He wants to stop illegal border crossings and likes the idea of deporting migrants convicted of serious crimes. But when it comes to Trump’s broader promises to expel all 11 million undocumented people living in the country, DiMare thinks it would be a disaster for American farmers.

Nov 6, 2024 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Michael Ray Smith |Michaël Smith |Anna J Kaiser

Florida voters rejected a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana, dealing a blow to the cannabis industry and a giving a bigwin to the leading opponents: Governor Ron DeSantis and the billionaire financier of his anti-weed campaign, Ken Griffin. The measure, known as Amendment 3, got 55.9%support —or almost 6 millionvotes— with 44.1% opposed with 99% of the vote counted, according the Associated Press. But that failed to clear the 60% threshold for approval required by Florida law.

Nov 4, 2024 | news.bloomberglaw.com | Michael Ray Smith |Michaël Smith |Anna J Kaiser

In Florida’s weed wars, the big money is going against Governor Ron DeSantis and the financier of his anti-cannabis crusade, billionaire Ken Griffin. The Citadel founder has funded about half of the campaign against a referendum on legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida — or $12 million. DeSantis’ efforts to secure more money have fizzled. That total pales in comparison with the $153 million the cannabis industry has poured into the ballot initiative, known as Amendment 3.

Nov 4, 2024 | news.bloombergtax.com | Michael Ray Smith |Michaël Smith |Anna J Kaiser

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Jul 30, 2024 | news.bloombergtax.com | Michael Ray Smith |Michaël Smith |Bill Allison

Billionaire financier Ken Griffin is spending tens of millions of dollars to back Republican primary candidates across the US, but records show he has so far resisted contributing to Donald Trump — the former president leading an ideological overhaul of the GOP. Griffin’s position as an established force in Republican fundraising has sometimes put him at odds with Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, who have promoted policies that were long anathema to conservatives.