Staff Reports
Middle East simmering
The situation in the Middle East is now at a dangerous stage. Rockets rained down on Israel, killing four while the strong Israeli retaliation killed nearly two dozen Palestinians in Gaza.
When the attacks against Israel began, Democratic Rep. Ted Deutch of Boca Raton, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa and International Terrorism, tweeted a statement in support of Israel.
Over 250 rockets fired at Israel again by terrorists from Gaza.
This must stop now. Israel, like any country, has a right to defend itself against terror attacks.
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) May 4, 2019
President Donald Trump also used Twitter to quickly announce support for Israel:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1125191944525832192
Not everyone in Congress is supporting Israel after being attacked. Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar riled up conservatives again with a tweet that spoke of “occupation.”
How many more protesters must be shot, rockets must be fired, and little kids must be killed until the endless cycle of violence ends?
The status quo of occupation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unsustainable. Only real justice can bring about security and lasting peace.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 5, 2019
Jacksonville Republican John Rutherford offered a direct response. While others reminded Omar that Gaza is not occupied, but is instead governed by Hamas, Rutherford laid the blame solely at the feet of the terror group.
Rutherford tweeted:
Hamas, a terrorist organization sponsored by Iran, created this “cycle of violence." Israel wants peace, but has the right and duty to protect its own citizens. @Ilhan, will you condemn Hamas for using women and children as human shields or its continued violent extremism? https://t.co/bpymC525xD
— Rep. John Rutherford (@RepRutherfordFL) May 6, 2019
Deutch later joined with several Jewish Democrats in a joint statement to condemn the attacks.
“In response to the continued, indefensible attacks by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terror groups, Israel has a right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens militarily from further violence,” they said. “Israel must be able to sustainably protect its people as it continues to pursue a cease-fire.”
That cease-fire came Monday. However long that may last is anyone’s guess with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing internal criticism for agreeing to it.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon dispatched a U.S. carrier group to the Persian Gulf in response to a rumored attack from Iran. Despite the danger this situation could hold, a rehash of the Trump-discarded Iran nuclear deal with the U.S. and Europeans can’t be far behind.
Will Mueller testify?
The ongoing chess match between the Trump administration and Capitol Hill Democrats on who will or won’t testify has added a new piece. Democrats are speaking with Special Counsel Robert Mueller trying to reach an agreement to have him appear under oath before the House Judiciary Committee.
Trump has previously said he was open to Mueller appearing. Attorney General William Barr, who became the overseer of the Special Counsel investigation upon assuming office, said April 18 he had “no objection” to Mueller appearing.
Over the weekend, Trump tweeted:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1125098705533767680
If the decision is left up to Barr, it would appear Mueller will testify if Mueller agrees. Trump could overrule Barr, but that would cause a fight that would take all coverage away from the solid economic information the President wishes to talk about, but anything is possible.
May 15 is the current date on the table. Democratic Rep. David Cicilline of New Jersey told Fox News a “tentative agreement,” was in place, but he was forced to later walk that back.
Barr refused to appear before the Judiciary Committee last week and has refused to comply with a subpoena for the full unredacted Mueller report. Trump is refusing to give his blessing for former White House Counsel Don McGahn to appear.
‘Maduro not winning’
In the struggle for power in Venezuela, dictator Nicolás Maduro still controls the military and the television stations, but Sen. Marco Rubio says it is the U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó who will ultimately prevail. Late last week, Rubio, Sen. Rick Scott and Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart met with Venezuelan exiles at Doral to renew their support for Guaidó.
Among those joining the lawmakers at a round table discussion were Romy Moreno de Marrero and Belén Marrero, wife and sister of Guaidó’s incarcerated Chief of Staff, Roberto Marrero. Despite Maduro being in charge of significant resources, Rubio claimed his grip is loosening.
“Nicolás Maduro is surrounded by conspirators,” Rubio said. “So, this notion that Maduro is winning is ridiculous.”
U.S. intelligence says several opponents of the U.S. are in the country propping up the Maduro regime, though most deny any involvement.
“I am grateful for our community in South Florida that is fighting so hard to end Maduro’s ruthless regime,” Scott said. It is clear that the reason the crisis continues is because of the influence of Cuba, Russia, China, Iran and Hezbollah, who are all in Venezuela right now and want to inflict pain and torture on the people.”
Diaz-Balart, the son of prominent Cuban exiles, laid much of the blame for keeping Maduro in power on Cuba. He joined the others in saying U.S. national security is at stake as long as Maduro remains.
“The Maduro dictatorship must go so that the Venezuelan people may begin the process of rebuilding their country, and to protect America’s key national security interests in our hemisphere,” Diaz-Balart said.”
No worries from China?
Last week, former Vice President Joe Biden gave his critics ammunition by committing either a witting or unwitting gaffe while on the campaign trail. While giving remarks in Iowa, Biden minimized the threat China poses to the U.S.
“China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man,” Biden told the crowd. “But guess what, they’re not, they’re not competition for us.”
One of Biden’s rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, Bernie Sanders, and Republicans jumped on the remark. Sen. Rick Scott was among the first.
“Vice President Biden seems to have lost touch with reality,” Scott said. “His comments downplaying the threat China poses to our economic and national security interests were stunningly naive and frankly dangerous. China is our greatest geopolitical threat. They are trying to beat us on the world stage,” Scott said.
The first-term Republican recounted his trip to Central and South America in late April, saying China’s influence in the region has increased.
“We cannot ignore the threat any longer. Our leaders need to recognize China for what it is: our enemy,” Scott added.
During his two terms in office, Rubio has constantly railed against China and warned of the dangers they pose.
Nadler silences Gaetz
Rep. Matt Gaetz gets under the skin of most Democrats on Capitol Hill as well as the Never Trumpers. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler found a way to silence Gaetz last week by taking the drastic step of cutting off the microphone in front of the Fort Walton Beach Republican.
When Attorney General Barr failed to show up and be questioned by House Judiciary Committee attorneys, Nadler abruptly adjourned the hearing. Gaetz tried to ask about those “who seek legitimate inquiry as to the procedures” before the microphone was ordered to be cut off.
In response, Gaetz took on the claim made by Democrats that Barr is “terrified” to appear before the committee. He referenced Barr’s testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee the previous day.
“Judiciary Democrats say AG Barr is “terrified,” Gaetz later tweeted. “Yesterday he testified for over five hours in an open hearing. Today, they cut off my microphone. #WhoIsTerrified?”
Another ring of the committee’s circus hearing focused on Democrats message that Barr was “terrified” or “chicken.” That prompted Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen to bring, and begin eating from, a bucket of fried chicken from KFC.
Cohen silenced himself by having the good grace to not speak with his mouth full, but Fox News personalities Diamond and Silk took his stunt a bit further by calling it “racially insensitive.” The two African-American women, who made up the third ring of the circus, wondered what kind of criticism would be raining down if Cohen were a Republican.
“Think about that for a moment,” said Diamond (aka Lynette Hardaway).
Comparing notes on agriculture
Recently Democratic Rep. Al Lawson of Tallahassee joined a bipartisan delegation of Members of Congress on a visit to Central and South America to review agricultural trading relationships between the United States and South American nations. Lawson and his colleagues met with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, President Mauricio Macri of Argentina and U.S. armed forces personnel stationed at Joint Task Force Bravo and Soto Cano Air Force Base in Honduras.
“We had the opportunity to see how well-equipped these regions are as it pertains to agriculture,” Lawson said. “They have a revamped infrastructure, efficient methods of transportation and several factors that are making them competitive on a global stage. Therefore, when we think of promoting agriculture across the state of Florida, we have to make sure that we focus on making infrastructure a top priority from production to market.”
While in Brazil, Lawson toured corn, cotton and soybean producing regions, and reviewed the infrastructure capacity of industry to meet export demand. In Argentina, the delegation spoke with President Macri, as well as members of the biodiesel processing and soybean industries, on the landscape facing Argentine agriculture.
Lawson was on the trip through his role as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Nutrition Subcommittee.
VA reform proposed
With so many reports of problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), two Floridians are suggesting ways services to veterans may be enhanced. Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor has joined with Rubio and four bipartisan colleagues in asking the VA to reorganize so that they may better serve veterans.
The lawmakers joined to bring out the “Veterans’ Education, Transition and Opportunity Prioritization Plan” (VET OPP). This bill would create the fourth administration in the VA.
“As our nation’s veterans transition back to civilian life, we must ensure the VA adapts to the 21st century needs of our servicemen and women as they pursue civilian employment opportunities,” said Rubio, who is the Senate bill’s sponsor.
“By creating a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Assistance Administration, this legislation would modernize the outdated structure of the VA and provide more direct oversight and accountability over existing programs aimed at helping our veterans lead economically prosperous lives post-service.”
Currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for all VA benefits provided to veterans outside of health care and cemetery services. However, the bulk of staffing and resources have been directed toward the administration of disability compensation and pension claims.
This has led to subpar attention to the administration of other VBA benefits. The new administration would be accountable to an undersecretary appointed by the President.
“This important bipartisan legislation uses existing resources to create a bureau within the VA that specifically focuses on supporting veterans as they transition to civilian life,” said Bilirakis
Restoring drilling safety
While most of the latest news on oil drilling focused on trying to prevent new leases and oil rigs, a bipartisan group of Florida representatives is focusing on safety relating to current operations.
Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan of Longboat Key and Francis Rooney of Naples have joined with St. Petersburg Democrat Charlie Crist and two other colleagues to introduce the Safe Coasts, Oceans and Seaside Towns (COAST) Act.
The purpose of the bill is to codify two of the common-sense safety regulations implemented after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people and sent millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico and onto Gulf beaches. The bill sponsors and others say the Trump administration weakened the rules on controlling offshore oil wells.
“The administration’s decision to roll back protections on offshore drilling is a disappointment to all Floridians and a threat to our way of life,” Crist said in a joint news release. “As Florida’s Governor when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and dumped more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, I saw firsthand the effects a tragedy of this magnitude can have on our environment and on our economy.”
The 2010 explosion led to the worst oil spill in American history. BP has paid out more than $65 billion in claims and cleanup costs since the event occurred.
“This is a reckless and dangerous decision that threatens Florida’s Gulf Coast,” said Buchanan. “It would be a monumental mistake to lift these safeguards, which were based on recommendations by a bipartisan national commission in wake of the fatal 2010 disaster.
The COAST Act looks to preserve the Production Safety Systems Rule and the Well Control Rule in their original forms.
“Even though no oil reached the west coast of Florida, 50,000 jobs were lost,” Rooney said. “For these reasons, I am severely disappointed in the administration’s decision to weaken the Well Control Rule and am deeply concerned about the existential threat that a potential oil spill poses to Florida.”
Their day in court
When it comes to the right to sue for medical malpractice, those serving in the military do not have as many rights as other U.S. citizens. Crist and Republican Rep. Greg Steube of Sarasota want to correct that.
The two Florida lawmakers have joined with bill sponsor Rep. Jackie Speier of California and a bipartisan group of colleagues to launch the Sergeant First Class Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act of 2019. The bill would allow military service members to sue the Department of Defense for instances of medical malpractice unrelated to their military duties.
Currently, the Feres Doctrine, which originated in a 1950 Supreme Court case, prevents service members from going to court when military health care providers commit malpractice unconnected to combat results in severe injury or death.
“Current law prevents service members and their families from seeking justice when hurt or killed due to medical malpractice,” Crist said in a joint release. “This legislation reverses misguided policy for non-combat-related malpractice, like childbirth and cancer misdiagnosis. Our military and their families deserve better — eliminating the Feres Doctrine is simply the right thing to do.”
For nearly 70 years service members have not been able to take legal action after being misdiagnosed, mistreated or subjected to botched surgeries. This is despite the fact the malpractice occurred in health care settings in which all other Americans have that right.
“The brave men and women of our Armed Forces are the only people denied the benefits of the United States’ waiver of sovereign immunity when they are medically malpracticed upon at military hospitals,” said Steube. “This bill will restore those rights and I’m proud to be an original co-sponsor. Our service members sacrifice so much for our country and they deserve at least this much.”
Defense Department officials have said undoing the precedent would upset the current military compensation and benefits system. The bill is named after Army Sgt. Richard Stayskal, a victim of a misdiagnosis that has resulted in him now fighting stage four lung cancer.
Buchanan votes for Paris
Last week, the House passed a bill that would forbid Trump from pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord. The 231-190 vote on the Climate Action Now Act was almost entirely on party lines, but three Republicans voted with Democrats.
Among the three Buchanan, who has been an advocate of the agreement since it’s signing in 2015 and two years ago was one of the first Republicans to urge Trump to stay with it.
“Climate change is a serious threat to the Suncoast and the rest of Florida, which has two coastlines vulnerable to rising waters,” Buchanan said. “Environmental protection and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. We should be doing everything possible to accomplish both.”
The bill was sponsored by Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor, Chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
The legislation would not allow the President to use any federal funds to facilitate the withdrawal from the agreement. The soonest the U.S. could withdraw would be after the 2020 elections, making this an issue certain to be part of Democratic primaries and the general election.
It now goes to the Senate for a vote that will likely fail. Buchanan’s vote is not expected to harm in next year with seat rated “Solid Republican” by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales.
Sanctuary city fight
With the passing of a ban on sanctuary cities in the closing days of Florida’s legislative session, Republicans were generally praising Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing the bill. Democrats, on the other hand, depicted it as anti-immigrant.
The bill calls for local authorities “to use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz blasted the new law.
In a Miami Herald op-ed, the Weston Democrat harshly took on the bill and those who support it, calling the legislation “a grim expression of nationalist hate masquerading as policy.” In an email to her constituents, Wasserman Schultz wrote that immigration drives more calls and visits to her office than any other issue.
“In stark contrast to President Trump’s malicious and untruthful description of immigrants as criminals who flout the law, those who call my office are doing their best to comply with the law,” she wrote. “And at almost every turn, they face an immigration system that has continuously failed to uphold its end of the bargain.” (emphasis hers)
The bill’s sponsor was state Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota, who said the bill was about “making sure we keep our communities safe.” Gruters also serves as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, but not all Republicans see the threat from sanctuary cities in Florida.
“This is one of those new political issues where it’s designed to make a point rather than to solve a problem,” former Gov. Jeb Bush told POLITICO. “I’m not sure we have this problem. But it could be in the last few years something has changed.”
Mucarsel-Powell slams Barr
After Barr refused to be questioned by House Judiciary Committee lawyers and failed to meet the most recent deadline of May 6 to turn over the unredacted version of the Mueller report, Nadler and committee Democrats began contempt proceedings.
Despite Barr making a less-redacted version available to 12 top members, no Democrat has chosen to view it; instead, they are asking it be made available to all members. Judiciary Committee members are demanding everything Mueller submitted to Barr, including grand jury material.
“My question to him is what is it that he is so concerned about?” Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Miami told CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede. “He owes the American people the truth. We haven’t gotten the full, unredacted report from Mueller. Many of us had many questions to ask [Barr] on that day.”
Mucarsel-Powell, a committee member, is also convinced Barr lied to Rep. Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg during an April 9 hearing. For that, she told DeFede, the Attorney General should pay a price.
“I have seen people lying to Congress who have been convicted of a crime,” she said. “I have seen the clip; I’ve heard the questions and I think he lied to Congress. I think there need to be serious consequences for that.”
On this day
May 7, 2004 — Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld offered an apology to Iraqis who were abused while captives of U.S. armed forces. Appearing before multiple committees on Capitol Hill, Rumsfeld gave his regrets to those subjected to abuse and humiliation while incarcerated at Abu Ghraib prison.
“So, to those Iraqis mistreated by members of the U.S. armed forces, I offer my deepest apology,” Rumsfeld said before lawmakers and millions watching on television. Rumsfeld faced calls for his resignation but said: “If I felt I could not be effective, I’d resign in a minute.”
May 7, 2018 — All immigrants crossing the border illegally will be charged with a crime under a new “zero-tolerance” policy border enforcement policy. The crackdown, announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, could overwhelm already clogged detention facilities.
Sessions also said that families who illegally cross the border could be separated after their arrest, with children sent to juvenile facilities while their parents are sent to adult facilities. Until now, border agents tried to keep parents and their children in the same detention site.
—
Happy Birthday (May 7) to Reps. Gaetz and Deutch as well as to Buchanan (May 8).
Get well soon to Republican Rep. Rooney of Naples, who is recovering from recent knee replacement surgery.
