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In a newly released ad, the Republican National Committee compares candidate Obama's promises in Nevada to President Obama's record in the state.
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The head of the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy blasted corporate influence on environmentalists in the wake of reports that the Sierra Club accepted $25 million from a gas drilling and fracking company.
"This is an example of the lateral influence that corporations can exert," said FARE executive director Mike Antheil.
"As if direct influence on our lawmakers isn’t enough, the fossil fuel and utility industries have found an even more effective way to silence their opponents. By donating small fortunes to every nonprofit group on the street, the special interests put muzzles on groups that would otherwise vehemently protest their actions," Antheil said.
But Antheil wasn't ready to throw Florida's Sierra clubbers under the bus just yet.
"The members of the local Florida Sierra club chapters are about the purist, most incorruptible advocates I have ever met," he said.
See the full story here.
The sometimes controversial Bennett, term-limited in the Florida Legislature in 2012, will run in a primary against at least five Republicans. Only one Democrat has registered so far to run for the office. Annual salary for the job is $112,851.
Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat is retiring after 28 years in the office.
Bennett's opposition so far is Edward Anthony Bailey, Richard G. Bedford, Eric R. Hanson, Rodney P. Smithley and Jane W. von Hahmann. The Democrat seeking the office is Charles Napoleon Williams Jr.
Voter rolls in Manatee County show 87,672 Republicans, 66,677 Democrats and 48,701 independents.
A clerk in Bennett's Tallahassee office said Friday the senator is unavailable and has not yet issued a statement announcing his move.
Carol Bowen, vice president of government affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter, released the following statement on behalf of the Jobs 4 Florida coalition Friday.
“Although this year we will not see the job creation and revenue generation resulting from destination resorts in Florida, we are encouraged and thankful that the bill sponsors brought forth this opportunity and many Floridians spoke out in support.
“We remain confident in the fact that destination resorts would have provided a significant boost to our economy and employment for the hundreds of construction industry workers out of a job. Private investment is critical to the health of our industry and our state’s economy, and we firmly believe that this great opportunity should not be put to the wayside.
“It’s important that the conversation continues on this issue and the job-creating efforts in Florida never rest.”
The coalition includes Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors South Florida and Florida East Coast Chapters, Building Association of South Florida, Construction Association of South Florida, Engineering Contractors of South Florida, and the Underground Contractors Association.
“Although this year we will not see the job creation and revenue generation resulting from destination resorts in Florida, we are encouraged and thankful that the bill sponsors brought forth this opportunity and many Floridians spoke out in support.
“We remain confident in the fact that destination resorts would have provided a significant boost to our economy and employment for the hundreds of construction industry workers out of a job. Private investment is critical to the health of our industry and our state’s economy, and we firmly believe that this great opportunity should not be put to the wayside.
“It’s important that the conversation continues on this issue and the job-creating efforts in Florida never rest.”
The coalition includes Associated Builders and Contractors, Associated General Contractors South Florida and Florida East Coast Chapters, Building Association of South Florida, Construction Association of South Florida, Engineering Contractors of South Florida, and the Underground Contractors Association.
At a media event in Coral Gables on Friday, Republican Senate hopeful Congressman Connie Mack won the endorsement of Jeb Bush Jr.
"I am delighted to have the support of Jeb Bush Jr. as my new statewide co-chairman for our campaign for U.S. Senate,” Mack said on Friday. “Jeb has proven himself as a leader amongst this region's young professionals when it comes to the issues important to South Florida, and his advice and counsel to this campaign will be important in our efforts to expose the liberal voting record of Bill Nelson, a record which is in 98 percent lockstep with Barack Obama."
Bush, the son of the former governor who has been working on reaching out to Hispanic voters on behalf of the Republicans, pointed to Mack’s record as chairman of the U.S. House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee.
"Connie has a career of doing the right thing,” said Bush, who had been very active with the presidential campaign of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. “It was the right thing to stand up to Hugo Chavez and promote freedom in Latin America. It was the right thing to stand up to his own leadership to not raise the debt ceiling. It was the right thing to do to secure the border while preserving the rights of all Americans. And it was the right thing to do when he decided to enter the Senate race against liberal Bill Nelson when it was so clear no one else could defeat him. Today I proudly stand with Connie Mack and will work hard with him to advance the freedom of Floridians against the lockstep liberal agenda of Bill Nelson and Barack Obama."
The Kinsey Institute -- the folks who brought you "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male" in 1948 and "Sexual Behavior in the Human Female" in 1953 -- now brings you a study that might be called "Sexual Behavior of the Body Politic."
And the results, as you might expect, are pretty interesting -- if not entirely surprising.
Who has more one-night stands, Democrats or Republicans? Raise your hands if you guessed our friends on the Left.
Who brings their sexual experience to a, shall we say "satisfactory" conclusion more often?
Our conservative Republican comrades, of course.
For an overview of the study, sponsored by the website Match.com and first reported on the Daily Beast, go here.
(Thanks to the Daily Caller for the tip.)
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Bernie Navarro, president of the Latin Builders Association, proponents of the destination gaming bill that died in the state House Friday, released the following statement:
“The Latin Builders Association would like to thank the bill sponsor, Representative Erik Fresen, for supporting a bill that would create thousands of new jobs, bring billions of dollars in private investment and promote a much-needed economic boost to our community.
“The gaming aspect is a very small part of the project and this legislation will further regulate the out-of-control gaming Florida currently has.
“The opponents of this bill continue to confuse the issue by bringing up counterpoints regarding the effects of gaming on the community. We already have gaming and therefore any community with gaming would currently be experiencing such effects.
“Today, House bill 487 was temporarily postponed. However, we look forward to continuing our efforts in working with the lawmakers to ensure stability for Florida’s economic future by allowing this legislation to become a reality.”
“The Latin Builders Association would like to thank the bill sponsor, Representative Erik Fresen, for supporting a bill that would create thousands of new jobs, bring billions of dollars in private investment and promote a much-needed economic boost to our community.
“The gaming aspect is a very small part of the project and this legislation will further regulate the out-of-control gaming Florida currently has.
“The opponents of this bill continue to confuse the issue by bringing up counterpoints regarding the effects of gaming on the community. We already have gaming and therefore any community with gaming would currently be experiencing such effects.
“Today, House bill 487 was temporarily postponed. However, we look forward to continuing our efforts in working with the lawmakers to ensure stability for Florida’s economic future by allowing this legislation to become a reality.”
Vice President Joe Biden will be speaking at Florida State University in Tallahassee on Monday on college costs -- and the Republicans are already taking aim at him.
“Vice President Biden’s taxpayer-funded campaign stop on Monday won’t change the fact that President Obama has failed to make college more affordable for Florida’s students for the past three years of his administration,” said Matt Connelly, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, in a statement on Friday. “College costs are at an all-time high and the average Florida student now graduates college with $21,184 in student loan debt. President Obama ran on ‘change’ in 2008 and it’s clear that Florida’s students have experienced nothing but change for the worse as a result of his failed policies.”
Keep an eye on Sunshine State News this weekend for a look at whether Biden will be on the Democratic ticket in 2012.
It's one from the "no good deed goes unpunished" department.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation, established in 1982 to raise funds for breast cancer research -- as notable a goal as any ever undertaken -- has run afoul of liberals supporting Planned Parenthood -- established in 1921 (as the American Birth Control League) by racist eugenicist Margaret Sanger to promote contraception and abortion -- as dubious, to put it mildly, a goal as ever undertaken.
The Komen Foundation's sin? Announcing it would no longer provide grants to Planned Parenthood, for the ostensible reason that the organization is under investigation by Florida U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, for possibly using federal funds to pay for abortions.
The liberal outcry -- from politicians, the press and cyber criminals -- was as phony as it was predictable.
Now, leave aside whether you think abortion is a woman's exercise of individual liberty -- as many conservative libertarians do -- or an unspeakable evil condoned by law -- as the rest of the conservative population does. The real issue here is a combination of money and mob rule -- a combination that rarely produces a good result.
The Komen Foundation, as many others have already noted, is a private charity, entitled to spend the money it raises any way its directors choose -- and presumably in a way its own donors would approve of.
If those directors decide Planned Parenthood is not a worthy -- or, more importantly, worthwhile -- recipient of those funds, it's the foundation's right to act accordingly.
By what right does the liberal mob dictate otherwise?
The fact that that liberal mob includes federal lawmakers -- predictably enough, all Democrats but one -- is as disturbing as it is distasteful.
Friday's outcome of the phony controversy is also disturbing, and predictable.
The Komen Foundation has announced Planned Parenthood -- founded in 1921, once again, by a racist eugenicist named Margaret Sanger -- is eligible for grants from its charitable funds once again.
Remember, Komen wasn't forced to give its money to Planned Parenthood in the first place. It did so only because it considered it a good deed.
And now it's being punished -- forced to give money to an organization it chose not to.
Money and mob rule: rarely a good result.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation, established in 1982 to raise funds for breast cancer research -- as notable a goal as any ever undertaken -- has run afoul of liberals supporting Planned Parenthood -- established in 1921 (as the American Birth Control League) by racist eugenicist Margaret Sanger to promote contraception and abortion -- as dubious, to put it mildly, a goal as ever undertaken.
The Komen Foundation's sin? Announcing it would no longer provide grants to Planned Parenthood, for the ostensible reason that the organization is under investigation by Florida U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, for possibly using federal funds to pay for abortions.
The liberal outcry -- from politicians, the press and cyber criminals -- was as phony as it was predictable.
Now, leave aside whether you think abortion is a woman's exercise of individual liberty -- as many conservative libertarians do -- or an unspeakable evil condoned by law -- as the rest of the conservative population does. The real issue here is a combination of money and mob rule -- a combination that rarely produces a good result.
The Komen Foundation, as many others have already noted, is a private charity, entitled to spend the money it raises any way its directors choose -- and presumably in a way its own donors would approve of.
If those directors decide Planned Parenthood is not a worthy -- or, more importantly, worthwhile -- recipient of those funds, it's the foundation's right to act accordingly.
By what right does the liberal mob dictate otherwise?
The fact that that liberal mob includes federal lawmakers -- predictably enough, all Democrats but one -- is as disturbing as it is distasteful.
Friday's outcome of the phony controversy is also disturbing, and predictable.
The Komen Foundation has announced Planned Parenthood -- founded in 1921, once again, by a racist eugenicist named Margaret Sanger -- is eligible for grants from its charitable funds once again.
Remember, Komen wasn't forced to give its money to Planned Parenthood in the first place. It did so only because it considered it a good deed.
And now it's being punished -- forced to give money to an organization it chose not to.
Money and mob rule: rarely a good result.
Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich made his final pitch to Nevada voters on Friday -- a day before Republicans caucus in the Silver State -- with an attack on rival Mitt Romney.
“Tomorrow's caucuses in Nevada are incredibly important,” Michael Krull, Gingrich’s campaign manager wrote to supporters on Friday. “As we continue to move toward the convention, it's important for us to turn out Newt's supporters, win delegates, and win states. This race is as important a nomination process as the Republican Party has ever seen. Will we unite behind a Reagan conservative with bold solutions to the problems facing America? Or will we once again allow a liberal Republican to be the standard bearer for our party? The first thing I'm going to ask you to do is view and share this video highlighting Mitt Romney's record, because America cannot afford a choice between two George Soros-approved candidates in the fall.”
Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, released the following statement following the decision by state Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, to postpone the destination gaming bill:
“The Florida Chamber of Commerce would like to commend Rep. Eric Fresen, Chairman Doug Holder and the members of the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee for effectively closing the books on this year’s distracting mega-casino debate. For all intents and purposes, today’s decision to postpone consideration of the gambling legislation is a decision to let what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas and frees up the Florida Legislature to address critical issues facing our state.
“We are pleased House members are putting the mega-casino question on the back burner. Now, lawmakers can intensify their focus on the pressing issues that are critical to Florida’s business community, including lowering unemployment insurance rates, reducing workers’ compensation costs, closing the Internet sales tax loophole, continuing to improve education and helping small businesses grow
“With a few more weeks left in the legislative session, with the mega-casino issue quickly moving into the rearview mirror, we look forward to working hand-in-hand with lawmakers to pass the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2012 business agenda.”
Ronald Reagan used to say his right hand didn't know what his "far-right" hand was doing.
What would he say if he had eight of them?
An affable marine biologist at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea is trying to replicate the success of the famous German octopus named Paul, who predicted the results of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Jack Rudloe is using his octopus' feeding habits to predict the winner of Sunday's Super Bowl -- crab dinners in two containers, one decorated with a New York Giants logo, the other with New England Patriots colors. The crab the animal eats should indicate the winner of the game. (The crab being the loser.)
So far, the octopus appears to be favoring the Giants.
But don't look for Rudloe to be doing the same with either the Republican presidential nomination race or the general election.
The political atmosphere, he said, is too poisonous for an octopus.
"We talked about it, and we thought it would raise the temperature in the tank too much," he said Friday.
On the other hand(s), that could change if the right candidate comes up.
"We might find an octopus that can handle it," Rudloe said.
What would he say if he had eight of them?
An affable marine biologist at Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea is trying to replicate the success of the famous German octopus named Paul, who predicted the results of the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Jack Rudloe is using his octopus' feeding habits to predict the winner of Sunday's Super Bowl -- crab dinners in two containers, one decorated with a New York Giants logo, the other with New England Patriots colors. The crab the animal eats should indicate the winner of the game. (The crab being the loser.)
So far, the octopus appears to be favoring the Giants.
But don't look for Rudloe to be doing the same with either the Republican presidential nomination race or the general election.
The political atmosphere, he said, is too poisonous for an octopus.
"We talked about it, and we thought it would raise the temperature in the tank too much," he said Friday.
On the other hand(s), that could change if the right candidate comes up.
"We might find an octopus that can handle it," Rudloe said.
What a surprise. Another deep-pockets eco-hypocrite.
We've identified Everglades Foundation benefactor Paul Tudor Jones and Nathaniel Reed here in Florida as hypocrites of the highest order; now joining that exclusive club of environmental giants is another name generally only whispered in reverent tones -- the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club disclosed Thursday that between 2007 and 2010 it received more than $26 million from natural-gas giant Chesapeake Energy Corp. to help the group’s campaign against coal-fired power plants.
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said he learned of the funding shortly after he took the job in 2010.
He discussed the funding on the Sierra Club’s blog Thursday after Time magazine broke the news of the Chesapeake-Sierra relationship earlier in the day.
Brune said the funding came from “individuals or subsidiaries” of Chesapeake, one of the nation’s biggest natural-gas producers. Time’s story points out that the funding came “mostly” from Chesapeake CEO Aubrey McClendon.
Unfortunately, none of the Florida Sierra officials contacted Friday morning by Sunshine State News were available to comment.
Stay tuned through the weekend for a closer look at the story.
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Associated Industries of Florida, a proponent of the destination gaming bill that died in the state House Friday, pushed for the Senate to continue moving foward the similar proposal -- SB 710 -- now before its members.
The following release is from Brewster Bevis, AIF's vice president of external relations:
“Since its founding, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has advocated for policies that are in the best interest of Florida’s businesses. And, since this economic downturn began, our focus has been on helping the business community create jobs so more Floridians can get back to work.
“The construction and operation of three Florida destination resorts will open up employment opportunities for nearly 100,000 Floridians, helping us move almost 10 percent of the state’s jobless off the unemployment rolls. Destination resorts will also bring a minimum $6 billion in upfront, private-sector investment that will help jump-start our economy. Additionally, this proposal will add strong regulation to Florida’s gaming structure and result in a net reduction in slot operations in the state.
“Today, the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee heard testimony from people across the state who support the jobs and economic opportunity the destination resort industry will bring Florida. We appreciate the subcommittee’s time and thoughtful consideration of the views shared today. On behalf of Florida’s business community, we encourage the Legislature and Florida Senate, which still has a destination resorts bill in motion, to continue the dialogue on this important proposal.
“AIF believes destination resorts can be part of the solution to creating the high-quality, well-paying jobs Floridians need now. We look forward to working with the Legislature on this proposal, and others, which will bring more jobs to Florida.”
The following release is from Brewster Bevis, AIF's vice president of external relations:
“Since its founding, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has advocated for policies that are in the best interest of Florida’s businesses. And, since this economic downturn began, our focus has been on helping the business community create jobs so more Floridians can get back to work.
“The construction and operation of three Florida destination resorts will open up employment opportunities for nearly 100,000 Floridians, helping us move almost 10 percent of the state’s jobless off the unemployment rolls. Destination resorts will also bring a minimum $6 billion in upfront, private-sector investment that will help jump-start our economy. Additionally, this proposal will add strong regulation to Florida’s gaming structure and result in a net reduction in slot operations in the state.
“Today, the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee heard testimony from people across the state who support the jobs and economic opportunity the destination resort industry will bring Florida. We appreciate the subcommittee’s time and thoughtful consideration of the views shared today. On behalf of Florida’s business community, we encourage the Legislature and Florida Senate, which still has a destination resorts bill in motion, to continue the dialogue on this important proposal.
“AIF believes destination resorts can be part of the solution to creating the high-quality, well-paying jobs Floridians need now. We look forward to working with the Legislature on this proposal, and others, which will bring more jobs to Florida.”
Rick Santorum is taking aim at Republican presidential rival Newt Gingrich in a new radio ad. Santorum slams Gingrich in the ad for proposing increased money on space exploration, including his comment that he would be open to seeing the moon colonized.
“Reckless spending has led to a 15 trillion-dollar national debt,” the narrator of Santorum’s ad says. “That's $50,000 of debt for every person in America ... and it's crushing our economic recovery. And what's does Newt Gingrich suggest? Spending half a trillion dollars on a moon colony.”
The ad then quotes Gingrich. “'By the end of my second term we will have the first permanent base on the moon,'” Gingrich says in the ad. “'When we have 13,000 living on the moon, they can petition to become a state.'”
The narrator returns and continues to attack Gingrich. “Gingrich's idea is fiscal insanity,” the narrator says. “And another reason true conservatives are uniting behind Rick Santorum. Unlike Gingrich, Santorum opposed all the bailouts. And Rick Santorum successfully reformed welfare, and has fought tirelessly for a balanced budget amendment. Rick Santorum ... he doesn't just talk a good conservative game ... he lives it.”
Florida state Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, announced on Friday that he was backing former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux for the Republican nomination to take on Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
"I am honored to have the endorsement of State Representative Pat Rooney. Representative Rooney is a proven leader in both business and public service," said LeMieux in a statement. "His endorsement adds to the growing momentum of our campaign to defeat Bill Nelson and save America from career politicians."
“George has shown his commitment to undo the unnecessary regulations facing small business and industries created by the Obama administration,” said Rooney, who represents parts of Palm Beach County. “He understands the need to create an environment that allows for growth and expansion to get our economy headed in the right direction. His prior experience in the Senate, battling the Democrats, has made him the best candidate to take on Senator Nelson and his continual support of the failed Obama agenda.
“As a family man, he knows the challenges we face to ensure our children grow up and have the tools to be successful in this great country,” Rooney added. “He also understands the need to ensure our elderly and more vulnerable populations are properly taken care of. This compassion, along with his fiscal conservative outlook, is the type of leadership we desperately need in Washington, D.C., fighting for us.”
Earlier this week, former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner jumped out of the Republican primary to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and into a run for Congress -- and he reeled in a big endorsement for his new campaign on Friday when U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., announced that he is backing Hasner.
"I have known Adam Hasner and his wife, Jillian, for many years and I am delighted to endorse his campaign for Florida's 22nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Cantor said in a statement. “During his time in the Florida Legislature, as House majority leader, Adam built a strong record of legislative success on critical issues such as economic growth, balanced budgets and fiscal restraint.
“Adam shares my passion for the vital U.S.-Israel relationship and he has consistently distinguished himself as a vocal advocate for Israel's security,” added Cantor, who said he would campaign with Hasner. “Adam is a tireless campaigner and has a proven record of winning elections in the coastal communities of Palm Beach and Broward counties.”
At a meeting on Friday of the Florida House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, moved to temporarily postpone his bill to expand casino gambling in the Sunshine State -- killing the legislation for the session.
“Casino bill is dying,” posted Rep. Michael Bileca, R-West Miami, on his Twitter account. “Great news for our community. The process continues.”
A moment later, Bileca added on Twitter, “Bill officially dead.”
Rep. Rachel Bugrin, R-Tampa, also added her thoughts via Twitter. “Destination Casino legislation is now dead for the 2012 session,” she posted.
While the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent in January, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday, Republicans responded that the economy continued to face severe problems.
“While today’s jobs report brings welcome news of lower unemployment, far too many Americans are still without work. Our economy remains unacceptably weak, and families across the country are still struggling to make ends meet,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus in a statement released on Friday. “Three years ago yesterday, President Obama said that if he didn’t have the economy fixed ‘in three years,’ his presidency would ‘be a one-term proposition.’ Today’s unemployment numbers remind us that our economy is far from fixed. That, by the president’s own standard, should make him a one-term president.
“After three years in office, Barack Obama has failed to produce the economic recovery he promised. His endless pursuit of regulations, mandates, taxes and deficits made economic recovery significantly more difficult,” Preibus added. “Our country desperately needs a change in direction. We need a president who will fight for hard-working taxpayers, not just campaign donors and his own job. As the campaigner-in-chief travels around the country, he’s making countless promises for a second term. Today’s jobs report reminds us that he could not even keep the promises from his first term.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, praised job creators for helping to bring the national unemployment rate to 8.3 percent in January, down 0.2 of a percentage point from December.
However, in a release, he urged the White House to do more to push the Democratic-led Senate to support 27 bills focused on reducing regulations that have been approved by the House.
The following release is from Rooney:
“America’s job creators and our workforce deserve tremendous credit for the job gains they’ve produced in recent months, despite policies from Washington -- like a broken tax code, a deluge of costly regulations, and a crushing debt burden -- that have made economic growth and job creation significantly more difficult.
“Any growth in jobs is a positive step, but 8.3 percent unemployment is not nearly good enough, especially with the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projecting unemployment to climb steadily over the next year.
“If President Obama is as serious about creating jobs for the American people as he is about protecting his own, he’ll take a short break from campaigning to demand that the Senate take up and pass the 27 bipartisan jobs bills that have passed the House but can’t even get a vote in the Democratic Senate.
“President Obama should listen to his own jobs council, which has endorsed the ideas in my jobs plan – reform the tax code, reduce costly regulations, and expand American energy production.”
However, in a release, he urged the White House to do more to push the Democratic-led Senate to support 27 bills focused on reducing regulations that have been approved by the House.
The following release is from Rooney:
“America’s job creators and our workforce deserve tremendous credit for the job gains they’ve produced in recent months, despite policies from Washington -- like a broken tax code, a deluge of costly regulations, and a crushing debt burden -- that have made economic growth and job creation significantly more difficult.
“Any growth in jobs is a positive step, but 8.3 percent unemployment is not nearly good enough, especially with the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projecting unemployment to climb steadily over the next year.
“If President Obama is as serious about creating jobs for the American people as he is about protecting his own, he’ll take a short break from campaigning to demand that the Senate take up and pass the 27 bipartisan jobs bills that have passed the House but can’t even get a vote in the Democratic Senate.
“President Obama should listen to his own jobs council, which has endorsed the ideas in my jobs plan – reform the tax code, reduce costly regulations, and expand American energy production.”
After his big win in the Florida primary on Tuesday, Republican hopeful Mitt Romney is looking to focus his fire on President Barack Obama -- though, of course, there are still three GOP candidates standing in the way of him and the party’s nomination.
The Romney team fired away at Obama as they unveiled a new website hammering the president on a number of fronts.
“You won't hear the White House talk about it, but three years ago today, President Obama told the American people that if he couldn't turn our economy around, he would be looking at a one-term proposition. To honor the anniversary, we created OneTermFund.com for Americans like you to hold the president accountable for his failed leadership and broken promises,” wrote Matt Rhoades, Romney’s campaign manager, in an email to supporters sent out late on Thursday.
“Obama's billion-dollar re-election machine wasn't too thrilled about OneTermFund.com. Shortly after the site was launched, the president did what he does best -- distracting voters from his failed record and focusing on his re-election,” Rhoades added. “In a series of emails and tweets, the Obama team launched the president's ‘Two-Term Fund’ with a fundraising goal of $2 million.While most Americans would rather the president focus on creating jobs, he'll say and do anything to save his own. We've seen what three years of an Obama presidency look like -- we're not about to sign up for four more.”
The Romney team claims the new site has already raised around $1 million for their campaign.
With all the media chatter about the GOP super PACs’ assault on the airwaves, Sen. Marco Rubio predicts the Obama campaign will take negative ads to the next level.
The Republican senator of Florida told Newsmax.TV that, void of a successful record for the president to run on, “what you’re going to see is a fight and [an Obama] campaign that’s going to do two things: absolutely eviscerate and smear on a personal level the people he’s running against, basically attempt to disqualify them as people. And the second thing I think you will see him do is, he will run a campaign of dividing Americans against each other, trying to get 51 percent of Americans to buy into the notion that they’ll be better off if they give him the power to make other people worse off.”
Rubio said the most important characteristic needed in the GOP presidential candidate is someone who can draw a clear contrast with the current president and show a blueprint that takes the country in a better direction than Obama's policies.
Contrary to what some analysts and pundits have theorized, Rubio believes the primary fight has strengthened, not weakened, the GOP field, saying, “All of these candidates bring particular strengths. The one thing I’ve been saying is that this field is underrated, and I think if you look at the candidates that remain, they are all so much better today than they were 12 months ago."
The Florida Alliance for Main Street Fairness -- which includes the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida -- released the following statement in support of a pair of Senate bills that would seek to capture sales taxes from online purchases made by Floridians through companies outside the state:
"Top business leaders today thanked lawmakers for advancing E-Fairness legislation through two key Senate committees.
"Chaired by Senator Jim Norman, R-Tampa, the Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee introduced SB 2098. The bill, which was championed by Senator Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach, would expand the definition of “physical nexus” and “affiliate nexus” to include online-only sellers, such as Amazon.
"Governor Rick Scott has voiced his support for closing the online sales tax loophole so long as any legislation remains revenue-neutral. Notably, SB 2098 contains a provision that would render it revenue-neutral. The bill is set to be voted out of committee at an upcoming meeting."
SB 1514, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, was also heard in the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday. As amended, the bill passed.
“Members of the Florida Senate have taken an important step toward closing a loophole that has been hurting Florida’s businesses for too long,” said Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “The government should not be picking winners and losers. We commend the members of the Florida Senate for their commitment to a level playing field for Florida businesses.”
“This is a major step forward,” said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud lawmakers for advancing revenue-neutral E-Fairness legislation in the Senate. It represents a lifeline to struggling small businesses and Senate leaders deserve a lot of credit for their timely efforts in support of Main Street.”
“This is a very encouraging sign,” said new AIF CEO Tom Feeney. “In these tough economic times, nothing is more important than restoring a level playing field for Florida's small businesses. We commend lawmakers for advancing two pieces of landmark legislation to do just that.”
The Florida Alliance for Main Street Fairness is a coalition of small businesses, trade associations and civic groups, which includes the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida. The group is supporting E-Fairness legislation that would help level the playing field for Florida-based businesses, which are at a government-sponsored competitive disadvantage to out-of-state, online-only sellers.
In addition to SB 2098 and SB 1514, Rep. Mike Horner (R-Kissimmee) has filed HB 861 in the Florida House to address the online sales tax loophole. Click here to read HB 861. Other E-Fairness bills include HB 1085, filed by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota.
"Top business leaders today thanked lawmakers for advancing E-Fairness legislation through two key Senate committees.
"Chaired by Senator Jim Norman, R-Tampa, the Florida Senate Finance and Tax Committee introduced SB 2098. The bill, which was championed by Senator Evelyn Lynn, R-Daytona Beach, would expand the definition of “physical nexus” and “affiliate nexus” to include online-only sellers, such as Amazon.
"Governor Rick Scott has voiced his support for closing the online sales tax loophole so long as any legislation remains revenue-neutral. Notably, SB 2098 contains a provision that would render it revenue-neutral. The bill is set to be voted out of committee at an upcoming meeting."
SB 1514, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, was also heard in the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday. As amended, the bill passed.
“Members of the Florida Senate have taken an important step toward closing a loophole that has been hurting Florida’s businesses for too long,” said Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation. “The government should not be picking winners and losers. We commend the members of the Florida Senate for their commitment to a level playing field for Florida businesses.”
“This is a major step forward,” said Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud lawmakers for advancing revenue-neutral E-Fairness legislation in the Senate. It represents a lifeline to struggling small businesses and Senate leaders deserve a lot of credit for their timely efforts in support of Main Street.”
“This is a very encouraging sign,” said new AIF CEO Tom Feeney. “In these tough economic times, nothing is more important than restoring a level playing field for Florida's small businesses. We commend lawmakers for advancing two pieces of landmark legislation to do just that.”
The Florida Alliance for Main Street Fairness is a coalition of small businesses, trade associations and civic groups, which includes the Florida Retail Federation, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida. The group is supporting E-Fairness legislation that would help level the playing field for Florida-based businesses, which are at a government-sponsored competitive disadvantage to out-of-state, online-only sellers.
In addition to SB 2098 and SB 1514, Rep. Mike Horner (R-Kissimmee) has filed HB 861 in the Florida House to address the online sales tax loophole. Click here to read HB 861. Other E-Fairness bills include HB 1085, filed by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota.
U.S. unemployment dropped 0.2 of a percentage point in January from December, according to the national estimate by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today.
"Job growth was widespread in the private sector in January, with the largest gains occurring in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing," John M. Galvin, Bureau of Labor Statistics acting commissioner stated in a release.
The national unemployment stood at 8.3 percent last month, with the overall number of unemployed now at 12.8 million.
But even with 243,000 new jobs created in the first month of the year, the nation has seen little change in the number of people -- 1.1 million -- that for the past year have given up looking for work, the bureau reported.
The latest figures also include 5.5 million that had been out of work at least 27 weeks and 1.7 that have not sought work for four weeks as they attended school or to family responsibilities.
In Florida, where unemployment stood at 9.9 percent in December, the latest number available, there were 913,000 listed as unemployed during the holiday season out of a potential labor force of 9.23 million.
"Job growth was widespread in the private sector in January, with the largest gains occurring in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing," John M. Galvin, Bureau of Labor Statistics acting commissioner stated in a release.
The national unemployment stood at 8.3 percent last month, with the overall number of unemployed now at 12.8 million.
But even with 243,000 new jobs created in the first month of the year, the nation has seen little change in the number of people -- 1.1 million -- that for the past year have given up looking for work, the bureau reported.
The latest figures also include 5.5 million that had been out of work at least 27 weeks and 1.7 that have not sought work for four weeks as they attended school or to family responsibilities.
In Florida, where unemployment stood at 9.9 percent in December, the latest number available, there were 913,000 listed as unemployed during the holiday season out of a potential labor force of 9.23 million.
The Urban Institute, a group that's generally no friend to conservative causes, released a report Thursday on the state of race relations in different cities in the U.S., ranked from one to 100 in descending order of cordiality.
You'll be shocked, shocked to learn that of the 10 worst cities for equity between blacks and whites (my native Philadelphia came in at 90, and frankly from what I recall that's probably too high) a Democrat is in the mayor's office in eight of them. Of the two who weren't Democrats, one was independent and one was New York's Michael Bloomberg, who's (literally) in a class by himself.
For the worst equity between whites and Hispanics, it was even worse for our liberal compatriots, since nine out of 10 mayors are Democrats.
The good news is, Florida's Palm Bay (Democrat mayor) and Lakeland (Republican) were in the top 10 for black-white equity.
Palm Bay and Jacksonville scored in the top 10 for Hispanic-white equity.
So tell me again, which is the party of opportunity for all?
You'll be shocked, shocked to learn that of the 10 worst cities for equity between blacks and whites (my native Philadelphia came in at 90, and frankly from what I recall that's probably too high) a Democrat is in the mayor's office in eight of them. Of the two who weren't Democrats, one was independent and one was New York's Michael Bloomberg, who's (literally) in a class by himself.
For the worst equity between whites and Hispanics, it was even worse for our liberal compatriots, since nine out of 10 mayors are Democrats.
The good news is, Florida's Palm Bay (Democrat mayor) and Lakeland (Republican) were in the top 10 for black-white equity.
Palm Bay and Jacksonville scored in the top 10 for Hispanic-white equity.
So tell me again, which is the party of opportunity for all?
In the "in case you didn't know" department ...
Charter school champion Frank Biden is pushing education reform that promotes the growth of public charter schools -- a bipartisan initiative that has advanced in recent years in the GOP-led Florida Legislature.
And, yes, this is the brother of Vice President Joe Biden.
Biden works with Maverick Schools, whose public charter schools cater to disadvantaged and special needs students.
State insurance regulators have finalized a settlement with Prudential Financial over its handling of death benefits from life insurance policies.
According to a release from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Prudential has agreed to improve its practice of identifying deceased policyholders in order to pay beneficiaries.
“Under this agreement, Prudential has committed to building a system to match inexact data, to search for beneficiaries if they find a match, and to do these matches more often,” a release from the Office of Insurance Regulation stated.
Florida was joined by California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Dakota in signing the agreement. At least 20 states must sign the agreement. States have until March 31 to sign the agreement to become eligible to receive the distribution of the $17 million settlement.
As part of the agreement, Prudential agreed to:
• Overhaul its computer system and revise its business practices to better utilize the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to identify life insurance beneficiaries.
• Pay a national $17 million settlement payment.
• Return monies promptly to beneficiaries when located through revised search efforts.
• If a beneficiary cannot be identified, the amount due will be reported to the Unclaimed Property Bureau of the Florida DFS or the appropriate state unclaimed property office in accordance with state laws.
• Provide quarterly reports for the next three years to the Office, DFS and the AG with updates on information specific to Prudential’s implementation of the agreement.
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty:
“I appreciate the cooperation of Prudential’s senior officers and regulatory compliance professionals for their work to help regulators identify beneficiaries, and to take steps proactively to implement procedures to more effectively pay claims and remit funds to the Division of Unclaimed Property.
“Based on hearings conducted in May 2011, we know that the failure to search for beneficiaries even though the company has access to death information is a pervasive industry practice. The Office will move vigorously to ensure that other companies also revise their business practices to ensure beneficiaries are given all the life insurance proceeds to which they are entitled.”
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater:
“As a public official, I have a deep responsibility to ensure that companies doing business in our state are playing by the rules and honoring the contractual obligations they have made with their customers.
"As such, this landmark settlement with Prudential will make certain that Floridians get the dollars they are owed plus interest earned for the time the insurer held the payment. It will also require the company to improve its policies to protect policyholders from being systematically defrauded out of the dollars they’ve set aside to prepare for the loss of a loved one.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi:
"Life insurance companies should devote the resources necessary to find beneficiaries and make payments in a timely manner, and this settlement is one more advance in changing industry practices to protect rightful beneficiaries."
According to a release from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Prudential has agreed to improve its practice of identifying deceased policyholders in order to pay beneficiaries.
“Under this agreement, Prudential has committed to building a system to match inexact data, to search for beneficiaries if they find a match, and to do these matches more often,” a release from the Office of Insurance Regulation stated.
Florida was joined by California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Dakota in signing the agreement. At least 20 states must sign the agreement. States have until March 31 to sign the agreement to become eligible to receive the distribution of the $17 million settlement.
As part of the agreement, Prudential agreed to:
• Overhaul its computer system and revise its business practices to better utilize the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File to identify life insurance beneficiaries.
• Pay a national $17 million settlement payment.
• Return monies promptly to beneficiaries when located through revised search efforts.
• If a beneficiary cannot be identified, the amount due will be reported to the Unclaimed Property Bureau of the Florida DFS or the appropriate state unclaimed property office in accordance with state laws.
• Provide quarterly reports for the next three years to the Office, DFS and the AG with updates on information specific to Prudential’s implementation of the agreement.
Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty:
“I appreciate the cooperation of Prudential’s senior officers and regulatory compliance professionals for their work to help regulators identify beneficiaries, and to take steps proactively to implement procedures to more effectively pay claims and remit funds to the Division of Unclaimed Property.
“Based on hearings conducted in May 2011, we know that the failure to search for beneficiaries even though the company has access to death information is a pervasive industry practice. The Office will move vigorously to ensure that other companies also revise their business practices to ensure beneficiaries are given all the life insurance proceeds to which they are entitled.”
Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater:
“As a public official, I have a deep responsibility to ensure that companies doing business in our state are playing by the rules and honoring the contractual obligations they have made with their customers.
"As such, this landmark settlement with Prudential will make certain that Floridians get the dollars they are owed plus interest earned for the time the insurer held the payment. It will also require the company to improve its policies to protect policyholders from being systematically defrauded out of the dollars they’ve set aside to prepare for the loss of a loved one.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi:
"Life insurance companies should devote the resources necessary to find beneficiaries and make payments in a timely manner, and this settlement is one more advance in changing industry practices to protect rightful beneficiaries."
U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, has requested that the $250,000 that remains unspent from his office budget be directed immediately toward the national debt.
“Families in my South Florida district are tightening their belts and making sacrifices every day during these tough economic times,” Rivera stated in a release.
“I understand the difficulties they are facing. That is why I am making every effort to reduce our national debt, including transferring unused funds from my congressional office budget to the Treasury immediately, so that future generations of Americans do not have to shoulder such a heavy burden and our nation’s economy can get moving again.”
For 2011, the average congressional member representational allowance was $1.45 million.
The money is to cover expenses of district offices and the representative’s Washington, D.C., office.
Unspent money is usually set into a shared account for two years before it is moved to the U.S. Treasury.
“Families in my South Florida district are tightening their belts and making sacrifices every day during these tough economic times,” Rivera stated in a release.
“I understand the difficulties they are facing. That is why I am making every effort to reduce our national debt, including transferring unused funds from my congressional office budget to the Treasury immediately, so that future generations of Americans do not have to shoulder such a heavy burden and our nation’s economy can get moving again.”
For 2011, the average congressional member representational allowance was $1.45 million.
The money is to cover expenses of district offices and the representative’s Washington, D.C., office.
Unspent money is usually set into a shared account for two years before it is moved to the U.S. Treasury.
If you're waiting for another Newt Gingrich comeback, don't hold your breath. Women have this one covered, and they're not -- repeat, not -- hot for the Newtster.
Women voters proved in Florida they don't want him. Period. Exit polls in Tuesday's GOP primary revealed a landslide victory among women for family man Mitt Romney over thrice-married Gingrich -- 52 percent to 28 percent. Obviously, when they got to the polls, women voters didn't forget his philandering. They don't admire it, they don't forgive it and they don't want it in their president.
I hate to say I told you so but two months ago, I called it.
South Carolina was an anomaly.
Watch Gingrich's numbers bottom out among women in upcoming caucuses and primaries in Nevada, Feb. 4; Maine, Feb. 4-11; Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, Feb. 7; and Arizona and Michigan, Feb. 28.
Women voters proved in Florida they don't want him. Period. Exit polls in Tuesday's GOP primary revealed a landslide victory among women for family man Mitt Romney over thrice-married Gingrich -- 52 percent to 28 percent. Obviously, when they got to the polls, women voters didn't forget his philandering. They don't admire it, they don't forgive it and they don't want it in their president.
I hate to say I told you so but two months ago, I called it.
South Carolina was an anomaly.
Watch Gingrich's numbers bottom out among women in upcoming caucuses and primaries in Nevada, Feb. 4; Maine, Feb. 4-11; Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, Feb. 7; and Arizona and Michigan, Feb. 28.
With Arizona holding its Republican presidential primary on Feb. 28, a Rasmussen Reports poll released on Thursday finds Mitt Romney holds a commanding lead there.
Romney leads the poll of likely primary voters with 48 percent, followed by Newt Gingrich with 24 percent. Rick Santorum stands in third with 13 percent while Ron Paul lags with 6 percent. Six percent remain undecided and 2 percent are for other candidates.
The poll of 750 likely Arizona Republican primary voters was taken Feb. 1 and had a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
