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

Associated PressAugust 25, 2015

Opinion polls are one thing, but Nielsen numbers speak more loudly to television executives: Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump‘s ability to pull in viewers makes him catnip for news programs and wins a level of coverage that feeds on itself. NBC’s “Meet the Press” had its biggest audience in more than a year for its […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2015

The wife of Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush says the highly personal fight she waged against drug addiction as Florida’s first lady would remain one of her top priorities in the White House. Columba Bush, whose daughter has struggled with addiction, penned an op-ed published over the weekend in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, calling attention […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2015

On his own visit to the Mexican border Monday, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush denounced Donald Trump‘s immigration plan as unrealistic and expensive. And he did it mostly in Spanish. The former Florida governor told reporters Trump should read his book, Immigration Wars, if he wants to learn how to deal with illegal immigration. Earlier, […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2015

Florida’s budget stalemate cost taxpayers more than $651,000. That’s how much the Florida Legislature spent to hold a June Special Session to pass a new budget. Legislators were forced to hold a Special Session because the House and Senate had a bitter disagreement over health care spending during the regular session held in the spring. […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2015

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was the hands-down favorite of an Americans for Prosperity gathering this past weekend, if the number and volume of ovations during five presidential candidates’ speeches to Tea Party activists was the measure. At the other end of the spectrum was former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a newcomer to events […]

Associated PressAugust 24, 2015

Even while fighting blindness in the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere this week, Republican presidential contender Rand Paul intensified political attacks against rivals in both parties, vowing to continue pressing billionaire businessman Donald Trump in particular as the Kentucky senator embraces the role as the GOP’s leading pit bull. An ophthalmologist by training, Paul […]

Associated PressAugust 23, 2015

After almost a year of month-to-month declines, new foreclosure starts in Florida rose in July. The research firm Realty Trac reported last week that foreclosure starts increased 16 percent in July from the previous July. Florida had the nation’s highest foreclosure rate in July, with 1 in 408 homes having a foreclosure filing. Florida’s foreclosure […]

Associated PressAugust 23, 2015

SeaWorld’s spending on federal lobbying has surged in the face of bad publicity and calls for tougher restrictions on marine parks and aquariums. The Orlando-based company spent nearly a half-million dollars lobbying the federal government from January through June, records show, up 68 percent over the same period last year. Meantime, SeaWorld has also started […]

Associated PressAugust 23, 2015

A Broward County grand jury is preparing to investigate the distribution and use of the synthetic drug flakka following at least 33 deaths linked to the substance over the past 10 months. State Attorney Michael Satz says the goal is to find ways to assist law enforcement, medical providers and the community as a whole […]

Associated PressAugust 23, 2015

President Barack Obama may have finally shed his summer curse — just in time for a daunting fall. After a string of sunny seasons gripped by controversy, crises and plummeting popularity, the summer of 2015 has been among the most productive stretches of Obama’s presidency. Late June victories in the Supreme Court on health care […]

Associated Press

Dominating TV, Donald Trump a ratings draw

Columba Bush puts drug addiction fight among top priorities

Jeb Bush, at Mexican border, denounces Donald Trump’s immigration plan

Florida taxpayers pay up: Redistricting Special Session cost $651,000

No surprise: Tea Party activists prefer Ted Cruz over Jeb Bush

Rand Paul: a humanitarian in Haiti, a pit bull in 2016

Foreclosure starts spike in Florida after months of decline

SeaWorld spends more on lobbying in face of bad publicity

Florida grand jury to investigate flakka after 33 deaths

Barack Obama sheds summer curse, just in time for daunting fall