Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressJanuary 16, 2017

When Mike Pence landed in Congress after the 2000 election, he was a conservative agitator who often bucked President George W. Bush‘s agenda. Seventeen years later, he’s the vice president-elect and Donald Trump‘s inside man on Capitol Hill. Pence, who spent a dozen years in Congress before becoming Indiana’s governor, is visiting frequently with lawmakers […]

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 […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 13, 2017

Darren Soto has been named Assistant Whip in the upcoming 115th Congressional session. He joins fellow Florida representative Val Demings in that role. Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said Soto was “already hard at work” representing his state in the legislature. “He will bring an important perspective to the whip operation as a new Member,” he said. […]

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 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 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 PowersJanuary 10, 2017

With a bipartisan gathering of other Florida congressional members, Orlando’s former police chief Val Demings, now a congresswoman from Orlando, led the House of Representatives in a moment to remember and honor Orlando’s fallen officers Monday night. “I rise today to honor the lives of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton of the Orlando Police Department and Deputy Norm Lewis […]

Scott PowersJanuary 6, 2017

Orlando’s freshman U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy took her first swings on the floor of Congress Thursday night, pushing an amendment she offered to protect one of the more popular provisions of Obamacare from repeal, but the amendment failed. Murphy, the Winter Park Democrat, introduced a proposed amendment that would have shielded a rule that allows […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2016

U.S. Congresswoman-elect Stephanie Murphy announced Tuesday she intends to join the two moderate-Democrat organizations in Congress, the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition. Murphy said the coalitions – the New Democrats promote small business, the Blue Dogs, fiscal conservatism – “align with her goals of strengthening Central Florida’s growing entrepreneurial and small business […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2016

A bipartisan Congressional task force heavily influenced by Florida’s U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio released its final report Tuesday on dealing with Puerto Rico’s economic collapse offering scores of recommendations for helping the U.S. territory, its economy and it’s people. Authorized last summer by the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, […]

Tag: Congress
Image via AP.

Mike Pence looks like he will be Donald Trump’s inside man in Congress

Daniel Webster gets seat on Science, Space Committee

Darren Soto named Assistant Whip for Congressional Dems

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

Darren Soto announces home-grown senior staff

Freshmen Congress members from Orlando get top choices for committee seats

Val Demings, Florida members, lead moment in Congress to remember Orlando’s fallen officers

Stephanie Murphy proposal for ACA amendment falls in Congress

Stephanie Murphy joining Blue Dogs, New Democrats

Congressional Puerto Rico task force releases final recommendations