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

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday adding human exploration of Mars to NASA’s mission. Could sending Congress into space be next? Flanked at an Oval Office bill-signing ceremony by astronauts and lawmakers, Trump observed that being an astronaut is a “pretty tough job.” He said he wasn’t sure he’d want it and, among lawmakers he […]

Associated PressMarch 21, 2017

President Donald Trump is rallying support for the Republican health care overhaul by taking his case directly to GOP lawmakers at the Capitol, two days before the House plans a climactic vote that poses an important early test for his presidency. Top House Republicans unveiled revisions to their bill in hopes of nailing down support. […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

Cementing her role as a powerful White House influence, Ivanka Trump is working out of a West Wing office and will get access to classified information, though she is not technically serving as a government employee, according to an attorney for the first daughter. Since President Donald Trump took office, his eldest daughter has been […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

The Latest on a congressional inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election (all times local): 2:25 p.m. — The White House is distancing itself from two former senior members of Donald Trump‘s team, amid an FBI investigation into possible connections between Trump “associates” and Russia. White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

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A powerful panel that has the power to alter the Florida Constitution is getting down to work. The Florida Constitution Revision Commission is holding its first meeting on Monday. The 37-member panel meets every 20 years and is allowed to propose changes to the state constitution. The commission’s amendments will go before voters during the […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

The House on Wednesday is expected to take up a bill that would ban red-light cameras in the state. The bill (HB 6007), which has easily passed House committees and is slated for a Wednesday floor session, would repeal a law that allows cities and counties to install and use red-light cameras. The ban would […]

Associated PressMarch 20, 2017

Florida is dropping charges against an attorney once accused of being at the center of a $300 million gambling ring that led to the 2013 resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. Jacksonville attorney Kelly Mathis was convicted of 103 counts of racketeering, possessing slot machines and other charges and sentenced to six years in prison. […]

Associated PressMarch 19, 2017

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Citing unresolved health concerns, Florida lawmakers are weighing the fate of a measure that would ban fracking across the state. Legislators are pushing the bill to safeguard Florida’s clean water supply, which is the drinking water source for 90 percent of Floridians and a major player in the state’s economy, from agriculture to tourism. If […]

Associated PressMarch 19, 2017

Just down the road from a Krispy Krunchy fried chicken store, in a nondescript east coast business park in Florida, a 60,000-square-foot factory produces about 2,500 AK-47 rifles a month. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Ulrich “Uli” Wiegand, a German immigrant who started the company called Inter Ordinance Inc., sees a bright future for […]

Associated PressMarch 19, 2017

Jermaine Anderson keeps going back to the same memory of Donald Trump, then a candidate for president of the United States, referring to some Mexican immigrants as rapists and murderers. “You can’t be saying that (if) you’re the president,” says Anderson, a 21-year-old student from Coconut Creek, Florida. That Trump is undeniably the nation’s 45th […]

Associated Press
Ryan Ray will join fellow in-the-know Democrats Beth Matuga and Ashley Walker for the Monday luncheon.

Donald Trump signs NASA bill, ponders sending Congress to space

Donald Trump to Capitol in last-ditch lobbying for health care bill

First daughter Ivanka Trump gets West Wing office

Donald Trump tweets video clip of James Comey testimony

Powerful Florida panel that could bring big changes gears up

House to take up red-light camera repeal

State drops charges in case that shook Florida politics

Republicans lead fight to ban fracking in Florida

Florida firm pushing sales of its American-made AK-47

Young Americans: Most see Donald Trump as illegitimate president