Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2017

Jacksonville Rep. John Rutherford, new to D.C., told Roll Call he was surprised by both ideological and strategic divisions in the GOP caucus itself this week. The caucus, said Rutherford, could be more unified: “to come from the executive side, or at least what feels like the executive side, to the legislative branch, is a […]

Martin DyckmanMay 22, 2017

The Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts wrote a powerful case for Donald Trump‘s impeachment, in the style of an open letter to the “Dear Republicans in Congress,” that I was reading to my wife as she prepared breakfast the other morning. At the part where Pitts asked, “Have you no loyalties deeper than party?” Ivy […]

Associated PressMay 12, 2017

President Donald Trump, in an apparent warning to his fired FBI director, said Friday that James Comey had better hope there are no “tapes” of their conversations. Trump’s tweet came the morning after he asserted Comey had told him three times that he wasn’t under FBI investigation. “I said, ‘If it’s possible, would you let […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2017

When the U.S. House votes Thursday on the latest iteration of the American Health Care Act, Republican Daniel Webster of Florida’s 11th Congressional District will be among those supporting the bill. “I have been very concerned about Florida’s Medicaid-funded nursing home beds,” Webster said Wednesday night. “These are critical to the access some of our senior population […]

Jim RosicaMay 1, 2017

Mike Dew, the Florida Department of Transportation‘s chief of staff, now has applied to be Secretary of the department, according to a list of applicants released Monday. As of Monday’s deadline, 125 people had applied for the open position, created when former Secretary Jim Boxold resigned in January to join Tallahassee’s Capital City Consulting firm. Dew applied Monday […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2017

The biggest political setback for the Donald Trump administration, thus far: the failure to get the American Health Care Act even to the House floor. The administration’s attempts to message its health care reform legislation were short-lived. However, one of the key theaters in that effort was Jacksonville, where VP Mike Pence, Gov. Rick Scott, and Mayor Lenny Curry messaged on […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 25, 2017

As VP Mike Pence prepared to come to Jacksonville last Saturday to sell the American Health Care Act to Florida, some of the best members of the media dreaded it. A TV person’s reaction: “Oh, God, I hope I don’t get called in.” A print guy’s take: “I hate watching these politician events.” In the end, neither of […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 22, 2017

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson made his feelings known on the GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. Spoiler: the Democrat from Florida’s 5th Congressional District stands in opposition, calling the Republican proposal “smoke and mirrors” in a Wednesday op-ed for the Tallahassee Democrat. Lawson’s editorial distilled familiar Democratic talking points: “Tax breaks to the wealthiest […]

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 […]

Staff ReportsMarch 18, 2017

Saturday saw United States Vice-President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Rick Scott talking about what Pence called “the Obamacare nightmare” with small business owners in Jacksonville. Scott, who closed out the news week reprising a familiar call to allow the states to administer Medicaid via block grants, has worked closely with President Donald Trump and his administration on possible alternatives to the […]

Tag: Mike Pence

Divisions in House GOP ‘frustrating’ John Rutherford

Martin Dyckman: It’s always about the money

Donald Trump to James Comey: Better hope there are no ‘tapes’ of talks

Daniel Webster now a ‘yes’ on GOP health care bill

Mike Dew now vying for top spot at Dep’t of Transportation

Despite AHCA punt, Rick Scott and Lenny Curry want to ‘repeal and replace’ Obamacare

How Mike Pence wasted Jacksonville’s time

Al Lawson: GOP health care plan ‘smoke and mirrors’

Donald Trump signs NASA bill, ponders sending Congress to space

Mike Pence: ‘Florida can’t afford Obamacare anymore’