U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continues to look to amend his immigration reform bill and, on Wednesday, he turned to one of the chamber’s long serving Republicans for help. U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah teamed with Rubio to offer amendments ensuring newly legalized immigrants will have paid outstanding taxes and prevents them from using tax credits and subsidies related from the federal health-care law for five years after becoming a citizen. The amendments also ensure that unauthorized workers do not receive Social Security benefits.
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the first Hispanic woman ever elected to Congress, announced on Wednesday that she would support a bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment. This regiment of soldiers from Puerto Rico, which was popularly known as the “Borinqueneers,” was one of the most decorated units during the Korean War.
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., who serves on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, voted to back the Fiscal Year 2014 Defense Appropriations Bill which prevents three Navy ships based in Mayport on the First Coast from being decommissioned.
New Florida House Rep. Mike Hill is being praised by a fellow African-American Republican from the Sunshine State. Former U.S. Rep. Allen West congratulated the new legislator who won a Florida House seat after a special election in the Panhandle on Tuesday.
West took to Twitter and Facebook late on Tuesday to praise Hill.
“Congratulations to USAF (ret) Rep. Mike Hill on his very solid victory in the Florida House District 2 special election!” West wrote. “Exactly the kind of leader this state and country needs.”
In recent days, U.S. Marco Rubio, R-Fl, has been buffered by criticism from conservatives over his role in championing immigration reform. While Rubio is trying his best to keep his bridges to conservatives intact, by calling for more border security and by supporting a constiutional amendment aimed at repealing the federal healthcare law, he is still getting the support of one of the nation’s leading right-of-center pundits.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fl, took to the pages of the Lakeland Ledger, Brandon Patch and Lake Wales Daily Ridge on Wednesday to argue that President Barack Obama dismiss U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder who is at the center of a host of controversies. Other Republicans in the Florida delegation, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and freshman U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, have been calling for Holder’s resignation.
The Campaign for Liberty, chaired by former presidential candidate and former Congressman Ron Paul, is going to bat for a bill from a Florida Republican.
On Wednesday, Florida CFO Jeff Atwater said the 2013 Unclaimed Property Auction which had taken place in Tampa on Saturday brought in $1.16 million for public schools. This makes it the second highest grossing Unclaimed Property Auction ever held by the state. The property--which included a 1776 Continental Note--was found in abandoned safe deposits at Florida banks.
The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) launched a new line of attack against former Gov. Charlie Crist on Wednesday by noting that prominent Democrat Dan Gelber bashed Crist for running for the U.S. Senate instead of for a second term. The RPOF is highlighting a quote from Gelber in 2009 when he said Crist “left so much hanging” during his term as governor. Gelber had been a candidate for the Democratic nomination in that same U.S.
