Ah, the perks of raising money for candidates! Wagar, the Coconut Grove attorney and President Barack Obama's chief Florida fundraiser during the 2008 campaign, is among the bigwigs at tonight's State Dinner at the White House in honor of India, mingling with political dignitaries and the likes of actors Blair Underwood and Alfre Woodard, directors [...]
The 60 Plus Association -- which bills itself as the "conservative alternative" to the AARP -- today announced a new ad campaign targeting senators like Bill Nelson who voted Saturday to keep debating the Senate health care bill.
The $2 million ad buy which begins tomorrow, target centrist Democratic senators in 7 other states – Alaska, [...]
From Politico: A top adviser on Hispanic issues to John McCain’s presidential campaign said Sunday that a joint interview with McCain and Sarah Palin planned for Univision last fall had to be canceled because Palin was unprepared to discuss Latin America policy.
“She did not feel comfortable speaking about issues regarding Hispanics and Latin [...]
Initial findings from a study of 51 homes by the Consumer Product Safety Commission links corrosion in homes with Chinese drywall to the imported product, the agency said Monday.
Several federal agencies have been investigating complaints from thousands of homeowners -- many in Florida -- whose homes were built with [...]
Today's Miami Herald editorial board urges George LeMieux to drop his "hold" on the US ambassador to Brazil.
"When George LeMieux was appointed three months ago to replace retiring U.S. Senator Mel Martinez, the 40-year-old former chief of staff to Gov. Charlie Crist vowed to focus on making government more efficient and" [...]
A bevy of Republican senators -- including Florida's George LeMieux -- took to the lectern ahead of today's Senate vote to allow debate on a sweeping health care bill.
LeMieux said his office has fielded 950 calls on the matter in the last 6 days -- and at least 800 callers [...]
Thirty years of spying for Cuba will send a retired State Department official to prison for life after he and his wife pleaded guilty Friday to sending secrets to the United States' longtime antagonist.
Walter Kendall Myers, 72 -- known to his Cuban handlers as ``Agent 202'' -- agreed to a life sentence without' [...]
A source close to the case tells the Herald that Walter and Gwendolyn Myers -- accused of spying for Cuba for decades -- will plead guilty this afternoon in federal court.
Myers, 72, and his wife, have been held without bond since pleading not guilty last June to charges of wire fraud, serving [...]
Attending a fundraiser for his US Senate campaign at a law firm in downtown DC, Gov. Charlie Crist insisted his focus remains Florida and job creation -- as the state's unemployment rate edged up to 11.2 percent.
"I just think it's so important to stay focused on jobs, jobs, jobs," Crist said, suggesting [...]
California Democrat Howard Berman said he's not particularly exercised over the spat between the ranking Republican on his House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting and retired Gen. Barry McCaffery.
McCaffrey took exception to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's aggressive questioning and suggested she not only questioned his national security creds -- he's the former commander [...]
Cuba's celebrated and increasingly brassy blogger Yoani Sánchez is emerging as a player in U.S.-Cuba relations, scoring a lengthy reply from President Barack Obama to her questions and playing a starring role in a congressional hearing on efforts to let American tourists visit Cuba.
Sánchez's blog, Generación Y, posted Obama's responses to seven pointed [...]
George LeMieux's controversial effort to block the nomination of Thomas Shannon, the incoming US ambassador to Brazil, has gained him support from some fellow Florida lawmakers -- including Cape Coral Republican Connie Mack, who says he's got "serious concerns with the Obama administration's approach to Latin America and its" [...]
Today's House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing was a highly-charged event -- but the real sparks flew when Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen tussled with retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey.
McCaffrey raised the Miami Republican's hackles with his testimony that Cuba represents no risk to national security and the travel ban should be scrapped since it hurts longtime U.S. interests.
But during [...]
The Center for Public Integrity reports that a bill introduced by Rep. Kendrick Meek would scrap a competitive bidding program aimed at reducing fraud in the durable medical equipment business.
"The bulk of the durable medical equipment industry, which lobbied against the program, has found a new champion in Meek —" [...]
New Florida Sen. George LeMieux's first foray into foreign relations has drawn brickbats from former high-ranking State Department officials who say his effort to block the Obama administration's new ambassador to Brazil is damaging U.S. relations with Latin America.
"This continuing, prolonged vacancy sends an unintended signal that the United States does not consider'" [...]
The White House's reporting on stimulus spending is under attack -- with its website -- Recovery.Gov -- citing spending in congressional districts that don't exist.
Brooksville Republican Ginny Brown-Waite says she checked the website to see that "Democrats have spent $3,582,587 to create 5 jobs in Florida’s 86th congressional district." [...]
The Cuban Interests Section -- Havana's defacto embassy in Washington -- says a recent report tying campaign contributions to U.S.-Cuba policy "reveals the tip of the iceberg of what moves behind U.S. policy toward Cuba.
"It also shows how money rules policy toward Cuba, not principles, ethics, justice and morality," the press office's Alberto" [...]
Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says in an op-ed in today's Herald that the U.S. should allow Americans to travel to Cuba.
"U.S. law lets American citizens travel to any country on earth, friend or foe -- with one exception: Cuba. It's time for" [...]
In late July, as Miami-Dade leaders confronted the county's worst budget crisis in decades, Commissioner Natacha Seijas boarded American Airlines Flight 56 for a weeklong trip to Ireland.
In September, a day after commissioners voted to lay off more than 500 county workers and cut millions in funding to social service [...]
With the Democratic National Committee running radio ads to target Republicans who voted against the health care bill, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching a web site to "inform voters about candidates’ positions and statements during this critical debate."
Those candidates include Miami Democrat Rep. Kendrick Meek, who is running for the [...]
FromCNN: "The Democratic National Committee is targeting 32 House Republicans in a new radio ad campaign that criticizes them for voting against health care reform legislation earlier this month.
"The commercials will begin running Tuesday and are aimed at Republicans in congressional districts that voted for President Obama in the [...]
Supporters of the U.S. embargo against Cuba have contributed almost $11 million to members of Congress since 2004 in a largely successful effort to block efforts to weaken sanctions against the island, a new report shows.
In several cases, according to the report by the nonpartisan group Public Campaign, members of Congress who had supported [...]
Florida Sen. George LeMieux is panning President Obama's decision to try the 9/11 suspects in the U.S.
"The President's decision to bring terrorists into this country is wrong and against our national security interests. Civilian trials have previously provided terrorists with information that allowed them to evade our intel operations. Military tribunals at'" [...]
McClatchy Newspapers: "In the first shakeup of the Obama White House, counsel Greg Craig resigned Friday and was replaced by President Barack Obama's personal lawyer, Bob Bauer.
"Craig had been deeply involved in the planned shutdown of the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a process marked by delays."" [...]
The Biscayne Bay Young Republicans and the FIU College Republicans are inviting both campaigns to debate December 17 at Florida International University.
They say Michael Putney, political editor at Miami's WPLG and host of This Week in South Florida, has agreed to moderate the proposed debate. Invitations have been sent to both campaigns.
"We hope that these'" [...]
Miami City Hall descended into turmoil this week -- echoing the dark days of the mid-1990s -- with two commissioners expected to lose their seats for misconduct.
It's the culmination of a bustling two weeks that saw the city hold elections for mayor and three commissioners, even as prosecutors had their sights on [...]
Talking Points Memo: "It's official: Marco Rubio is The Next Big Thing for conservatives. Earlier today, Lisa De Pasquale, the director of the Conservative Political Action Conference, announced that Rubio will be the keynote speaker for next year's CPAC conference.
"It's hard to overstate the importance of a CPAC appearance for [...]
The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America is asking its volunteers to "drop by" the offices of 32 House Republicans who voted against the health care bill Saturday -- but who represent districts won President Obama in 2008.
That includes Miami's Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. A press release says OFA volunteers are being asked to drop by the offices "to'" [...]
Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar to be exact. The ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said today he'd like to see the Senate "swiftly" confirm Tom Shannon as ambassador to Brazil.
But Florida Sen. George LeMieux, who met with Shannon today, has blocked his confirmation for at least another week while' [...]
Florida Sen. George LeMieux met with the State Department's Tom Shannon today, discussing among other things, the situation in Honduras, problems in Venezuela and "concerns about the State Department’s activities in Cuba," his office says.
But the Florida Republican isn't yet releasing his block on Shannon -- who has been nominated as' [...]
Florida Sen. George LeMieux meets today with State Department official Thomas Shannon -- whose appointment as U.S. ambassador to Brazil LeMieux is blocking.
The two are expected to discuss the ongoing crisis in Honduras, as well as U.S. policy toward Venezuela and Cuba.
LeMieux threw down the hold last week -- a day after [...]
Florida Dems Suzanne Kosmas -- a freshman legislator who ousted a Republican in 2008 -- and Blue Dog Dem Allen Boyd were among just 39 Democrats voting against the health care bill as it narrowly cleared the House with a 220 to 215 vote margin. South Florida Democrats Debbie [...]
Organizing for America is targeting 33 Republican congressional districts whose constituents voted for President Obama in 2008. E-mails to members encourage them to call the Republicans and "remind them that their constituents voted for change and urge their representative to do the same for health insurance reform as they move towards a vote today."
The [...]
Here's the RPOF's response to Rep. Jeff Miller's call for Jim Greer's resignation:
"Alhough Congressman Miller has shown little interest or involvement with the RPOF over the last several years, Chairman Greer appreciates and acknowledges his thoughts and would be happy to discuss these issues personally with the Congressman. Chairman Greer fully intends to" [...]
Rep. Jeff Miller is calling on RPOF chairman Jim Greer to step down -- a day after Gov. Charlie Crist defended the party chief, saying he's "done a great job.
Said Miller in a statement e-mailed to reporters: "Jim Greer has shown on numerous occasions that he is incapable of running the [...]
More than 50 House Democrats -- including Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Kendrick Meek, Alcee Hastings and Ron Klein --- sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting current Cuba policy, which embargo-supporters say effectively squashes efforts to lift a ban on travel to Cuba.
A day after a South Carolina senator dropped his opposition to a top State Department nominee, Florida Sen. George LeMieux has put the brakes back on.
LeMieux said Friday he's blocking Thomas Shannon's nomination as U.S. ambassador to Brazil.
"As a new senator from Florida and given our state’s role in the region representing" [...]
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said today he's unfamiliar with legislative efforts to block a Food and Drug Administration proposal to prohibit the consumption of raw oysters.
"I haven't the slightest idea," Gibbs said. "And I like raw oysters. But other than that, I'd have to figure out who to ask about'" [...]
Asked at today's press briefing whether the White House considered Gov. Charlie Crist's appearance with President Barack Obama in February an endorsement of the stimulus bill, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Crist's words at the event "speak for themselves.
"I think he was very supportive of the legislation and supportive of the benefits that it' [...]
Gov. Charlie Cristmade CNN's Situation Room tonight, looking to turn the conversation from what happened in New York -- where a conservative uprising ousted the GOP-annointed candidate from the race -- to New Jersey and Virginia, where Republicans claimed the governor's mansions.
"I don't know we if can really tell exactly'" [...]
Breakfasting this morning with reporters in DC, Mike Huckabee says his party's endorsement of Gov. Charlie Crist's Senate bid was "completely unacceptable.
"I don’t think the fact that Marco Rubio is challenging Charlie Crist is anything but positive," said the former Arkansas governor who has endorsed Rubio. "Charlie Crist went out with Barack Obama and said 'give me all the' [...]
The term-limited Miami mayor wasn't on the ballot, but voters chose an adversary, Tomás Regalado, as mayor on a 72 to 28 vote.
"Regalado, 62, a constant basher of past administrations who first swept to a city commission seat 13 years ago, parlayed a national anti-incumbent fervor and a sour economy to become'" [...]
House Minority Leader John Boehner pens an op/ed in today's Miami Herald, arguing that the health plan Republicans are offering is better than the "1,990 pages of bureaucracy" House Dems have proposed.
"Speaker Pelosi's healthcare bill also delivers a crushing blow to small businesses in the form of burdensome mandates that" [...]
Courtesy of Mario Diaz-Balart. As Congress bickers over efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system, the Miami Republican says he's delivering copies of the nearly 2,000 page bill House Democrats have proposed to the Golden Gate, West Kendall Regional and Miami Lakes Public libraries. A copy is also available at his district offices in Miami-Dade [...]
President Obama has appointed Miamian J. Ricky Arriola to the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
According to the White House, Arriola is the president and CEO of Inktel Direct, where he oversees business development, operations and overall strategy of the business process outsourcing company. He is actively involved in [...]
The Broward lawyer suspected of operating a Ponzi scheme by selling tens of millions of dollars in fabricated legal settlements to investors was one of 27 electors the state Republican party had named in hopes they'd officially put John McCain in the White House.
Scott Rothstein was named to the group in August. But McCain didn't [...]
Federal authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the law firm run by prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney Scott Rothstein -- whom the Herald writes, "has become a major political player in recent years, giving tens of thousands of dollars to candidates."
He made headline-grabbing moves such as hiring high-profile figures, including former Broward [...]
FromTalking Points Memo: "If Democrats have a bad night tomorrow night it will be a real headache for the White House. But I don't think there's any question that the big loser as of this moment is Charlie Crist and, potentially, a string of other moderate Republicans angling'" [...]
Debbie Wasserman Schultz and two other House Dems are "raising tons of money, dishing the cash to key House colleagues and cementing their place in Nancy Pelosi’s inner circle," Politico reports -- as they jockey to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2012.
Wasserman Schultz has already given about $300,000 this year [...]
DC's abuzz over a report in today's Washington Post about a memo accidentally posted online by the House Ethics Committee. The July memo details how the committee's investigators "have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling," according' [...]
