Scott Powers, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2017

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U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster of Clermont has been appointed to a seat on the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee, essentially replacing former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson as Central Florida’s second member of that committee. Webster, whose Florida’s 11th Congressional District includes parts of Lake County plus most of west-central Florida, joins fellow Republican […]

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2017

Additional congressional committee assignments are rolling out and Orlando’s new representatives are getting seats to oversee natural resources, small businesses and the oversight and government reform. U.S. Rep. Val Demings, an Orlando Democrat, has been chosen to be on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, a powerful panel that Congress has used to investigate […]

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2017

Not counting the fact that he’s running from Gadsden County, little about Dwight Bullard is any mystery to many Florida Democrats who’ll be gathering in Orlando this weekend to consider electing him or one of four other candidates as the new state party chairman. “People know exactly where I stand,” said Bullard, the former Florida senator […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2017

Leah Carius said she knows something about being in a medium- or small county and feeling largely ignored by Democratic Party leaders Tallahassee, yet she also knows more than a little about strengthening a Democratic powerhouse. Carius, the chair of the Osceola County Democratic Party, is one of the dark horses seeking election as chair […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2017

Airbnb, the internet-based home-sharing lodging service, announced Thursday it reached a deal with Polk County to collect tourism taxes from host clients. The company said it is seeing rapid growth in Polk County over the past year, ending 2016 with 160 hosts — people who make their houses or apartments available through Airbnb for visitors […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2017

Newly-sworn in U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy is coming back to Central Florida to ask constituents for their guidance. The Democrat from Winter Park, who entered Congress last week after defeating the district’s 12-term incumbent U.S. Rep. John Mica in November, announced Wednesday she is setting up three town hall-style listening meetings next week, in Orlando, […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2017

Freshman U.S. Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando announced his senior staff, heavy on local connections and including a key former staffer of his predecessor Alan Grayson. Christine Biron, who was Soto’s campaign manager and before that his legislative assistant in both the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate, was announced Wednesday as his chief […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2017

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio‘s concerns regarding Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin took center stage in Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday when he grilled Rex Tillerson over whether the secretary of state nominee believes Putin is a war criminal, and whether he believes Putin was directly involved in cyber attacks to affect the 2016 American election. Tillerson […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2017

As new allegations arise charging details of Russian interference in the American presidential campaign, Florida’s U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio joined a bipartisan group of senators to unveil a bill calling for comprehensive sanctions on Russia for cyber intrusions, aggression, and destabilizing activities. Rubio, a Republican, was joined by Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin, Arizona Republican John McCain, New Jersey Democrat […]

Scott PowersJanuary 10, 2017

Central Florida’s three freshmen in Congress all got top-choice A-list committee assignments Tuesday, with Val Demings of Orlando serving on the Homeland Security Committee, Darren Soto of Orlando on the Agriculture Committee, and Stephanie Murphy of Winter Park on the Armed Services Committee. Congressional leaders announced their choices for freshmen and others to fill spots […]

Scott Powers
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Daniel Webster gets seat on Science, Space Committee

More committee assignments for Val Demings, Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy

Dwight Bullard talks of Democrats the party has ignored

Leah Carius seeking to be the local-control candidate for state Democrats

Airbnb inks tax deal with Polk County

Stephanie Murphy sets listening tour in her new district

Darren Soto announces home-grown senior staff

Marco Rubio grills Rex Tillerson on Russia: Is Vladimir Putin a war criminal?

Marco Rubio, bipartisan group of Senators, throw down gauntlet on Russia

Freshmen Congress members from Orlando get top choices for committee seats