The Florida House will tackle one of the chief problems impacting the Sunshine State with the creation Tuesday of a select committee to handle the often contentious issue of water management.
Florida House Creates Select Committee on Water Policy
Cliff Stearns an Underdog to Become Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman
Veteran Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns is in for a tough fight this week as congressional Republicans choose the next chairman to head up the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee -- one of the most powerful chairmanships in Congress.
Political Bits and Pieces
Rick Scott vowed to meet with as many state legislators as possible before becoming governor in January and he continued that effort this weekend. Scott met with members of the Panhandle delegation in Shalimar on Sunday before heading down to Melbourne on Monday to meet with six members of the House.
With Higher National Unemployment, Congressional GOP Blames Obama, Dems
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Friday that the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent for November, an increase from Octobers 9.6 percent figure -- and congressional Republicans have opened fire on the Obama team.
Presidential Derby
While international affairs has not been one of the chief hallmarks of either his presidential bid in 2008 or the efforts he has been making to run for the Republican presidential nomination again in 2012, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took aim at one of President Barack Obamas major foreign initiatives.
With 2012 in View, Vern Buchanan Raises His Profile
While the jury may be out on whether U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan will enter what could be an increasingly crowded Republican primary field to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, the Florida congressman has raised his profile significantly in recent weeks.
Florida Republicans Hammer Dems for Not Extending Bush Tax Cuts for All Americans
While negotiations continued to extend all tax cuts supported by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003, the U.S. House extended some of those cuts Thursday. The measure passed with 234 votes, 188 congressmen opposing it.
Political Bits and Pieces
From his perch as the ranking Republican on the U.S. House Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns continues to fight for free market solutions for the Internet.
Feds Won't End Ban on New Offshore Drilling
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico would be closed to new offshore drilling until at least 2017.
Larry Cretul Headed to Florida Chamber
On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce announced that former House Speaker Larry Cretul will be the staff director of the Chambers board of governors program.