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Congress sputters to end 2011

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:58:29 +0000

Congress ended a dismal year on Friday with more of a whimper than a bang, and nobody from South Florida in sight. In a matter of seconds, without debate or a roll call vote, the House approved a Senate bill to extend the payroll tax cut and extra unemployment benefits for another two months as a stopgap measure. Florida members, like most of Congress, had flown home or somewhere, anywhere, but Capitol Hill. Some, like Congressman Allen West, a Republican from Plantation, saw the stopgap measure as another example of the failure of Congress to get a grip on spending matters and resolve issues. Most were just relieved to end the dispute for now, though it means facing the same debate in the new year when Congress considers a longer extension through 2012. One big factor will be the reaction back home. Will constituents blame Republicans or Democrats for a year of gridlock in the midst of economic doldrums? And will the two-month extension be a turning point, or just another frustrating transaction? President Obama and Democrats won this round after refusing to back down from their insistence that House Republicans accept the two-month extension. Republicans caved, knowing they faced the wrath of voters if taxes rose and unemployment benefits expired in January. Next year, an election year, will show whether gridlock continues or either of the parties gains the upper hand.

Health-care law pitch comes to Fort Lauderdale

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:50:35 +0000

The Obama administration, which is aggressively promoting the controversial new health care law, with bring its pitch to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. Sol Ross, business outreach director of Health and Human Services, will join with business leaders and health-care policy experts to discuss the Affordable Care Act and how it will create jobs, improve care and save money. He also will discuss ways to protect senior citizens from Medicare fraud and discuss tools for small businesses to find and compare health insurance plans. Officials from Florida and some other states have challenged the constitutionality of the new law, which will be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. And Republicans in Congress and on the campaign trail have launched a political assault on what they call “Obamacare.” These attacks have prompted Health and Human Services to mount a vigorous defense. The meeting is set for 3 to 4 p.m. at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, 512 NE 3rd Avenue.

Obama Vactaion Haters

admin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:07:09 +0000

Dear ‘Obama Vactaion Haters’, The Presidency never takes a break, it’s just a matter of where the actions take place. FYI… by comparison, at this point in their presidencies (31 months in office), here are the number of vacation days:
Obama = 61 days
George W. Read More

Thursday Morning Reads: Pyschotropic drugs, clean water and Obama’s chance in Fla

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:15:21 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- Good morning and welcome to the Thursday edition of the morning reads. We're in Orlando for the Republican Governor's Association meeting today, so let's get started. Here are the top five stories you should be reading today. * The Orlando Sentinel writes that former Gov. Bob Graham has formed a coalition to protect the state's water supply. From the story: Fearing that government and industry are working to turn Florida's water supply into private property, a newly formed statewide coalition announced Wednesday in Tallahassee that it will work to ensure that aquifers and water bodies remain under public protection. The Florida Conservation Coalition was assembled by Bob Graham, a former Florida governor and U.S. senator, who said Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers earlier this year stripped away longstanding and critical protections of the state's watery environment. * Politico reports that former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink isn't confident about an Obama win in Florida. From the story: Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink says it will be "hard" for President Barack Obama to win the Sunshine State in 2012, though she predicts Obama will ultimately be reelected. * The Associated Press writes that a South Florida case is spurring a federal hearing on the use of psychotropic drugs on kids. From the story: Federal lawmakers will hold a hearing to examine a study on the high rates at which foster children are prescribed powerful psychotropic drugs. Sen. Tom Carper began investigating the issue after some studies show more than 20 percent of foster children will have taken psychotropic drugs at some point, compared to less than 5 percent of non-foster youth. The drugs can cause serious side effects including diabetes and suicidal behavior. * The News-Press reports on a panel's examination of gambling in Lee County. From the story: Expanded gambling is inevitable in the state, so Southwest Florida should be ready to accept it in a responsible way. That was the consensus of a four-person panel on Wednesday who spoke about the possibility of a destination resort casino someday being built in Lee County. The presentation was a one-time event sponsored by the Chamber of Southwest Florida as a way to air the pros and cons of the gambling issue. * The Florida Current writes that lawmakers are considering tougher unemployment compensation rules. From the story: A proposed committee bill filed late Tuesday by the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee seeks mandatory training for unemployment compensation beneficiaries who score below “minimum proficiency” on a skills test portion of the benefits application process. Bonus Blogs * PPP: Newt's on top -- and Perry is collapsing * Facing heated criticism, Rubio explains vote on Defense Authorization Act

Friday Morning Reads: Congress taking up veterans’ job bill

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:43:09 +0000

TALLAHASSEE -- Happy Friday and Happy Veterans' Day. Hope those of you with the day off are enjoying the day. For those at the office, here are the top five stories you should be reading this morning. * The Orlando Sentinel writes that public universities may look at lower tuition rates to attract students seeking high tech degrees. From the story: Over the next two months, Florida public universities will be discussing several controversial changes aimed at boosting the number of graduates in high-tech fields — graduates that state leaders have stressed Florida needs more of to help improve its economy. Universities will be debating, for example, boosting tuition for more popular programs such as the liberal arts and lowering tuition in areas such as engineering. * The Sun-Sentinel reports that Congress is looking at legislation to give tax breaks to companies who employ veterans. From the story: The Senate on Thursday voted 95-0 for a bill that bestows generous tax breaks to companies that hire unemployed veterans. The House also is expected to pass the bill — one of the few parts of President Barack Obama's jobs plan that Congress is likely to approve. The bill would give a tax credit of up to $5,600 to employers who hire veterans looking for a job more than six months, and $2,400 for hiring those unemployed more than four weeks. It would also provide tax credits of up to $9,600 for hiring disabled veterans job hunting for six months. * The House is out with a new PIP proposal, the Florida Current writes. From the story: Florida's no-fault auto insurance system will be eliminated in four years unless the Legislature reviews and agrees to re-enacts the law under a proposed committee substitute that will be "workshopped" by the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee next week. * The Miami Herald reports that a poll shows Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, leading his fellow GOPers in the Senate race. From the story: Congressman Connie Mack’s entrance into Florida's moribund Senate race has propelled him into instant-frontrunner status in the Republican field and threatens incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, according to a new poll. Mack garners 32 percent of the theoretical vote while his fellow Republicans are polling in the single digits, the Quinnipiac University poll shows. In a general-election matchup, Mack would get 40 percent of the vote and Nelson 42 percent. * The St. Petersburg Times writes that the Tea Party is frustrated with Gov. Rick Scott's record thus far on ethics. From the story: On Rick Scott's first day as governor, he declared ethics and integrity "essential to maintaining the public trust" and ordered his office to find ways to implement suggestions from a grand jury assembled to investigate public corruption. More than 10 months later, there appears to be no plan. That frustrates some tea party activists who propelled Scott to victory. They believed Scott was talking about ethics reform in all those campaign ads where he blasted "Tallahassee insiders." Bonus Blogs * Police union, cities take pension feud to court * More reshuffling at Corrections

Poll: Cain tops Romney in Fla. primary

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:36:42 +0000

Florida Republicans prefer Herman Cain over Mitt Romney in the presidential primary, but Romney does better in a matchup with President Barack Obama.

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Oil drilling to expand – but not near Florida

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:07:03 +0000

Offshore oil and gas drilling will remain off limits near Florida’s shores under a five-year plan released on Tuesday by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Interior is moving cautiously to allow more drilling in waters off Alaska and the central and western parts of the Gulf of Mexico. But the department -- despite pressure from oil interests and Republicans in Congress to significantly expand the drilling zone -- does not plan to open up most the eastern Gulf or south Atlantic waters. Salazar stressed that oil companies will have access to 75 percent of offshore tracts that appear to have recoverable oil and natural gas resources. But he was reluctant to allow drilling in most environmentally sensitive areas or to challenge a congressional moratorium on energy exploration near the west coast of Florida. “Offshore drilling will never be risk free,” Salazar said, citing the Deepwater Horizon explosion and massive oil spill in 2010. The new plan affects lease sales for drilling from summer 2012 to 2017. The government plans 15 potential lease sales during those five years – 12 in the Gulf and three off the coast of Alaska. Two of those sales will be for tracts in the eastern Gulf, but not in the no-drill zone, most of which extends more than 125 miles from Florida. Just three weeks before the Deepwater Horizon spill, the Obama administration had proposed to open a big tract to drilling in the eastern Gulf but abandoned the plan after the disaster fouled much of the Gulf Coast.

Rubio adds apps to connect with Floridians

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:15:33 +0000

Senator Marco Rubio Reflecting a younger generation of lawmakers, Senator Marco Rubio has added a full suite of mobile-device applications to connect with his constituents in Florida and fans across the country. The new apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices are available through mobile stores and Rubio’s Senate website, www.rubio.senate.gov . They make it easier to tap into his blog, social-media feeds and latest press releases. Rubio, 40, who took office in January, was quick to set up a website blog as well as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages on his website. The mobile apps were created by GSL Solutions in Tampa.

Obama to expand drilling off Alaska, in Gulf

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:56:00 +0000

The Obama administration will cautiously open up more areas in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska's coast to oil and gas drilling.

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Auction to raise funds for arts school in Miami

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:36:00 +0000

A boutique hotel in Miami Beach is hosting an art auction to help raise funds for the New World School of the Arts.

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