Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Darryl PaulsonApril 11, 2017

What little Americans know about the filibuster is due to James Stewart‘s portrayal of Senator Jefferson Smith in the classic movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. In the movie, Senator Smith filibusters a fraudulent land deal until finally collapsing on the Senate floor. This past week, it was the filibuster that collapsed on the Senate […]

Associated PressApril 3, 2017

The Latest on the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court (all times local): 2:35 p.m. A divided Senate panel is backing Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch. The Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 along party lines on Monday to favorably recommend Gorsuch to the full Senate. A confirmation vote is expected on Friday, but […]

Associated PressApril 3, 2017

After their humiliating loss on health care, Republicans in Congress could use a quick victory on a big issue. It won’t be an overhaul of the tax code. Overhauling the tax code could prove harder to accomplish than repealing and replacing Barack Obama‘s health law. Congressional Republicans are divided on significant issues, especially a new […]

Associated PressMarch 6, 2017

House Republicans on Monday released their long-awaited plan for unraveling former President Barack Obama‘s health care law, a package that would scale back the government’s role in health care and likely leave more Americans uninsured. House committees planned to begin voting on the 123-page legislation Wednesday, launching what could be the year’s defining battle in […]

Associated PressFebruary 20, 2017

It was an ugly, highly personal presidential election. An unvarnished celebrity outsider who pledged to represent the forgotten laborer took on an intellectual member of the Washington establishment looking to extend a political dynasty in the White House. Andrew Jackson‘s triumph in 1828 over President John Quincy Adams bears striking similarities to Donald Trump‘s victory […]

Associated PressFebruary 15, 2017

The Republicans’ ardor for investigations and oversight, on display throughout the Obama administration, has cooled off considerably with Donald Trump in the White House. Each day seems to bring a new headache or near-crisis from Trump, the latest being the departure of his national security adviser under questionable circumstances involving Russia. Yet if there is […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 8, 2017

Democrats skeptical about President Trump‘s repeated claims of voter fraud in last November’s election are now challenging him to add voter suppression and disenfranchisement to his administration’s pending investigation. On Super Bowl Sunday, Trump told Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly that Vice President Mike Pence will be in charge of a commission to probe what he believes was voter fraud in the election, despite a […]

Associated PressFebruary 1, 2017

Republicans jammed two of President Donald Trump‘s top Cabinet picks through the Senate Finance Committee with no Democrats in the room Wednesday after suspending a rule that would have otherwise barred them from taking the vote. The tactic seemed a warning shot that they might deploy brute political muscle in the upcoming fight over the […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 30, 2017

An open letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: Gentlemen: It was wisdom rather than whim that guided the founders of our nation in separating the powers of government with a system of checks and balances. As James Madison remarked in The Federalist 47, “the accumulation of all powers … […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2017

Approximately three dozen Donald Trump supporters cheered incessantly at a Beef O’Brady’s in North Tampa on Friday morning, before, during and after the longtime New York real estate mogul was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. “We did this,” exclaimed Terry Castro, a co-chair with the Trump campaign in north Hillsborough County, immediately […]

Tag: Mitch McConnell
Gabrielle Russon

Darryl Paulson: The filibuster, the nuclear option and the future of American politics

Judiciary panel votes 11-9 in favor of Neil Gorsuch

Congress seen as not likely to pass tax overhaul quickly

House GOP releases bill replacing Barack Obama health care overhaul

Donald Trump embraces legacy of Andrew Jackson

For GOP, a dimmed zeal for investigations in Donald Trump era

Charlie Crist wants Trump administration to look into voter suppression, disenfranchisement

GOP pushes 2 top Cabinet picks through to full Senate

Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell — why are you enabling Donald Trump?

At Inauguration watch party in North Tampa, great expectations for a Trump presidency