Associated Press, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2015

The second GOP presidential debate is giving a prime-time stage to long shots trying to prove they’re worthy of attention and to weakened veterans fighting to reassert their viability — all still struggling against the campaign’s phenomenon, Donald Trump. The billionaire businessman, who has shown striking durability through the summer, will be standing at center […]

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2015

Shacking up together could finally become legal again in Florida after 147 years. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 10-3 on Wednesday to approve a bill to repeal the prohibition on cohabitation, which has been on the books since 1868. It is a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail if a man […]

Associated PressSeptember 16, 2015

The rate of Floridians without health insurance dropped to 16.6 percent this past year. Figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that represents a drop of 3.4 percentage points from a rate of 20 percent in 2013. Despite the drop, Florida still had the third-highest rate of residents without health insurance. Only Texas […]

Associated PressSeptember 15, 2015

Think of it as tweeting for dollars. The social media service Twitter on Tuesday introduced a feature that enables political candidates and advocacy groups to raise money directly via its mobile application, making it quicker and easier to harvest small donations from followers. Campaigns already aggressively use Twitter to spread their message, particularly during live […]

Associated PressSeptember 15, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is renewing his campaign against illegal immigration, telling a cheering crowd of thousands in Dallas that “it’s disgusting what’s happening to our country.” Trump’s continued harsh statements on immigration come despite calls from GOP officials to tone down his rhetoric on the sensitive issue. He told the crowd at the […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2015

The Republican party is launching a new wave of outreach to Latinos to mark Tuesday’s onset of Hispanic Heritage Month, as the front-runner in the party’s presidential race continues to alarm party insiders who fear he could alienate the fast-growing ethnic group with his criticisms of people living in the U.S. illegally. The Republican National […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2015

The campaign manager and later chief of staff of former Miami U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia has been sentenced eight months of home confinement, two years of probation and a $1,000 fine for a misdemeanor elections law violation. A federal judge sentenced Jeffrey Garcia, no relation, on Monday. Garcia pleaded guilty in June to illegally financing […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2015

Florida’s court clerks are going to start using new marriage and divorce forms that no longer use the words “husband” and “wife.” State officials on Monday began sending the new forms to county clerks. Clerks asked for new forms after Florida’s ban on same sex marriage ended. Florida’s ban ended in January, but it wasn’t […]

Associated PressSeptember 14, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker on Monday will call for sweeping restrictions on organized labor in the U.S., seeking to replicate nationwide his successful effort as Wisconsin’s governor to curb the power of unions. At a town hall meeting in Las Vegas, Walker will propose eliminating unions for employees of the federal government, making all […]

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2015

A judge is set to hold a trial later this month to sort out the jumbled mess in Florida’s political landscape over the mapping of state congressional districts. Judge Terry Lewis agreed Friday to give attorneys involved in a three-year legal battle over Florida’s congressional districts until Monday to submit proposed maps. The Florida Supreme […]

Associated Press

GOP candidates vie to break out of Donald Trump’s shadow in debate

Florida bill to repeal ban on shacking up takes first step

Rate of uninsured drops to 16.6 percent in Florida

Twitter offers new cash stream for presidential candidates

Donald Trump says presidential race will be ‘a waste of time’ unless he wins

GOP touts Latino outreach during Hispanic Heritage Month

Former Rep. Joe Garcia’s chief gets home confinement, probation

Florida clerks to use new forms after gay marriage ruling

First look: Scott Walker proposes vast union restrictions

Monday is deadline for parties in redistricting trial to submit proposed maps