Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 7, 2016

Zika_Mosquitoes.JPG_ne9dCoD-1024x1024.jpg

Ask Floridians who’s to blame for the lack of federal funding for Zika, and the answer is clear: Congress. A new survey from Public Policy Polling found 50 percent of Floridians said Congress was to blame for the lack of funding to combat Zika. The findings were released just one day after the Senate rejected […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 7, 2016

A throng of Democratic and Republican state House members — 61 in all — are asking the federal government to let Florida deploy genetically modified mosquitoes in the battle against the Zika virus. “This modified mosquito, developed by the company Oxitec, has proven exceptionally effective,” said their letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, also signed […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 6, 2016

Marco-Rubio-07.08.16-Large-e1467995188423.jpg

A top abortion rights organization is taking a swing at Sen. Marco Rubio. NARAL Pro-Choice America released a new campaign ad Tuesday, hitting Rubio over his decision to support legislation that didn’t fund women’s health clinics in the wake of the Zika outbreak. The advertisement — part of a six-figure ad campaign — also takes […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 6, 2016

Congressman Vern Buchanan will head back to Washington D.C. next week armed with a laundry list of things he is looking to get done. As Congress returns from its summer break, the Sarasota Republican outlined several issues he wants to address during the upcoming four-week session: national security, emergency funding for Zika, and mental health reform. “Congress returns […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 5, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott is postponing his trip to Washington, D.C. to push for Zika funding. The Governor’s Office announced Monday Scott is postponing his trip, choosing to “stay in Florida to continue to monitor response efforts from damage during Hurricane Hermine.” The Naples Republican was scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to meet with […]

Associated PressSeptember 1, 2016

Authorities in Florida said Thursday they have found the Zika virus in three groups of trapped mosquitoes in Miami Beach, the first time this has happened in the continental US. The Zika-carrying mosquitoes were trapped in a touristy 1.5-square-mile area of Miami Beach that had been identified as an active zone of active transmission of […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 1, 2016

Congressman Vern Buchanan, in a letter sent Thursday to congressional leaders, called for an immediate vote on emergency Zika funding when Congress returns to Washington next week. “Hundreds of people have been infected in my home state of Florida as the disease continues to spread,” the Sarasota Republican wrote. “Our nation’s leading health officials at […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 29, 2016

Members of the Florida House are joining together to ask the federal government to allow the state to use genetically modified mosquitoes to combat the spread of Zika. House Speaker Designate Richard Corcoran on Monday told members he planned to ask the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to declare a public health emergency […]

Joe HendersonAugust 26, 2016

A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Justice earned a headline or two, but quickly got lost in the chatter over Hillary Clinton’s emails and Donald Trump’s, well, everything. Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates announced a plan for “reducing — and ultimately ending — our use of privately operated prisons.” She noted, “time has shown […]

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2016

Could Scott Fuhrman, challenging Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, be this year’s Tim Mahoney? And is there a path for Fuhrman to become 2016’s “accidental” member of Congress that doesn’t involve Ros-Lehtinen having a Mark Foley-like implosion? Increasingly, the answer to both questions keeps inching toward “yes.” The Cook Political Report recently […]

Tag: Zika
(L-R) Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Ralph "Butch" Waller died Thursday after being struck by an SUV on Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee. Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz was struck as well and remained in critical condition Friday. Images via Palm Beach Sheriff's Office.

Who’s to blame for lack of Zika funding? 50% of Floridians say Congress

Let Florida use Frankenskeeters, lawmakers tell feds

Abortion rights group hits Marco Rubio over Zika

Vern Buchanan discusses laundry list of priorities for upcoming session of Congress

Rick Scott postpones D.C. trip to focus on Hurricane Hermine recovery efforts

Florida finds Zika in trapped mosquitoes, 1st in US mainland

Vern Buchanan demands immediate vote on Zika funding

Richard Corcoran, Janet Cruz join forces to call on federal government to allow state to use self-limiting mosquitoes to combat Zika

Joe Henderson: Is privatization really best for Florida prisons?

Will Scott Fuhrman become the ‘accidental congressman?’