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

Associated PressApril 26, 2017

Liberals who feel the current Republican presidential administration is driving them to drink now have the perfect place to do it. A new bar, Coup, opened this month with protest-themed decor, a distinctly anti-President Donald Trump vibe and a promise by its owners to donate their profits to organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union […]

Associated PressApril 26, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s team boasted Wednesday that its tax-cut plan would lighten Americans’ financial burdens, ignite economic growth and vastly simplify tax filing. Yet the proposal so far remains short of vital details, including how it would be paid for. And based on the few specifics spelled out so far, most experts suggest that it […]

Associated PressApril 26, 2017

Former Florida Rep. Erik Fresen has pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion. Court records show Fresen pleaded guilty Wednesday to failing to file a federally required tax return. The 40-year-old Republican had represented the Miami area in the Florida House of Representatives from 2008 to 2016. He left office due to term limits. Court records […]

Associated PressApril 26, 2017

The Florida House voted to enter into competitive bid contracts with private individuals who want to hunt down pythons, lionfish and other invasive species in the Everglades. The measure (HB 587) unanimously passed by the Florida House on Wednesday would establish a pilot program, which would track data on each nonnative animal’s capture on state-managed […]

Associated PressApril 26, 2017

Seven Florida high schools are among the top 50 public high schools in the nation, according to a new ranking. U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday placed seven schools stretching from Miami to Sarasota to Jacksonville on its list of the nation’s best public high schools. Florida’s top-ranked public high school was Pine View […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

A small Florida town plans to fly a Confederate flag at City Hall this week for Confederate History Day. Town officials in Belleview, Florida, say they’ve heard no complaints from residents who find the flag objectionable. The flag will be raised to half-staff Wednesday as part of a ceremony by a local chapter of the […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

Sure enough, the big trans-Pacific trade deal is toast, climate change action is on the ropes and various regulations from the Obama era have been scrapped. It’s also a safe bet President Donald Trump hasn’t raced a bicycle since Jan. 20, keeping that vow. Add a Supreme Court justice — no small feat — and […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

The State Department has removed its promotional posting about President Donald Trump‘s Florida resort, after a storm of ethics criticism. In an April 4 blog post that was republished by several U.S. embassies abroad, Mar-a-Lago was described as “Trump’s Florida estate,” where he has hosted foreign leaders. “By visiting this ‘winter White House,’ Trump is […]

Associated PressApril 25, 2017

A bill that looks to “un-muddy” the mission of Florida’s main environmental land acquisition program could potentially affect the plan for an Everglades reservoir. A House bill brought forth Monday by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican with close ties to House leadership, was passed unanimously by a House panel. Caldwell wants to alter what projects […]

Associated PressApril 23, 2017

A newspaper is reporting that a Florida state senator who resigned this week after using a racial slur hired a former Hooters “calendar girl” and a Playboy model with no political experience to be consultants for his political action committee last year. The Miami Herald reports Saturday that state records show that Frank Artiles‘ PAC, […]

Associated Press
Alexandra Islas. Image via New College of Florida.

Anti-Donald Trump bar earmarks its profits for progressive causes

Donald Trump tax cut: Huge, vague and likely mild boost for economy

Former state lawmaker pleads guilty to tax evasion

House approves Everglades python hunting bill

Report: 7 Fla. public high schools among nation’s best

Confederate flag to hang at City Hall in Florida town

Donald Trump’s 100-days promises: Fewer than half carried out

Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago loses State Department promotion posting

Florida Forever bill could affect Everglades reservoir plan

Disgraced Sen. Frank Artiles paid Hooters, Playboy models as ‘consultants’