In the battle between the Obama administration and Republicans over the admission of Raul Castro’s daughter to the U.S. for a visit, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson took sides today with the Republicans.

“Allowing Raul’s daughter to come to the U.S when the regime still holds Alan Gross makes no…

As much as the Tea Party movement is a counter force against liberals, the movement began as much in part due to the fiscal irresponsibility of Republicans in Congress in the 2000s. And that is partly why Republicans associated with that era have had trouble gaining the trust of the Tea Party.

Add Sen. Bill Nelson to the chorus of elected officials who are bothered by the decision to grant Mariela Castro a visa to visit the United States. The niece of Fidel and the daughter of Raul Castro, she's a face of the regime, which has jailed American contractor Alan Gross on trumped up charges.

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland will appear at a campaign event for Jessica Ehrlich, who’s challenging Rep. C.W. Bill Young, in St. Petersburg Wednesday.

Hoyer and Ehrlich will hold a roundtable discussion with Pinellas County seniors on Medicare and the state of the economy at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday…

Out of $334 million in cash payments sent to Florida in a multi-billion dollar mortgage settlement with major banks, about $33.4 million will go to help bolster the state’s budget.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings is planning a $250-a-pop fundraiser next month, sponsored by Westgate Resorts and its owner, timeshare mogul David Siegel. Max King Realty is providing the venue: Heaven Event Center, 8240 Exchange Dr., in Orlando. It’ll be on June 24, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

A pair of ads from a female point of view are the latest negative spots to hit Florida airwaves in the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney.

The pro-Obama PAC Priorities USA is airing a new ad slamming Romney’s past leadership of the private equity firm Bain Capital, accusing Romney of profiting by shutting down companies and eliminating jobs.

From the Capitol Hill Cubans blog on today's Castro-visa controversy (hypertext links are mine):

With attention focused on Florida's effort to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls, another procedure continues as well: the purging of convicted felons from the rolls. Under Florida law, a convicted felon loses his or her right to vote and must petition the governor and state Cabinet for the restoration of civil rights, a process that can take up to seven years. 

AP:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida's quest to identify and remove non-U.S. citizens from the voter rolls was started at the direct urging of Gov. Rick Scott, the state's former top elections official said.

When Mitt Romney traveled around the country campaigning recently, he brought a debt clock with him showing the rising national debt.

The total is a mind-boggling, massive number. In St. Petersburg, Fla., on May 16, 2012, Romney explained what the debt and "unfunded liabilities" means for every household.

Out of $334 million in cash payments sent to Florida in a multi-billion dollar mortgage settlement with major banks, about $33.4 million will go to help bolster the state’s budget.

With attention focused on Florida's effort to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls, another procedure continues as well: the purging of convicted felons from the rolls. Under Florida law, a convicted felon loses his or her right to vote and must petition the governor and state Cabinet for the restoration of civil rights, a process that can take up to seven years.