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.
On Wednesday, joined by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, Stearns wrote to Chairman Julius Genachowski of the Federal Communications Commission arguing against net neutrality laws. While Stearns and Barton teamed up on that issue, both men have their eye on leading the powerful House and Commerce Committee -- where Barton is currently serving as the ranking Republican Tallahassee City Commissioner Andrew Gillum pulled the plug on his bid to be the next chairman of the Florida Democratic Party on Thursday -- effectively setting the stage for former Sen. Rod Smith, best known for his shot at the Democratic gubernatorial nomination back in 2006 and being Alex Sinks running mate in 2010, to take the reins. Gillum threw his weight behind Smith, endorsing his former rival Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis hosted a career fair in Port Richey on Thursday and was happy to report 46 companies took part as they looked to hire new employees
While pro-life candidates may have won big at the ballot box in November, pro-choice advocates are not throwing in the towel by any means. On Thursday, Mark Ferrullo of Progress Florida unveiled an online petition asking for incoming Gov. Rick Scott to reject a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that Ferrullo insists would give a fertilized egg the same legal rights as that of a living person Incoming U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross and fellow Republican Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland were together in the Lakeland Christmas parade Thursday night Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, kicked off his Pull Up Your Pants awareness campaign on Thursday. Siplin teamed up with pastors, educators and other elected officials to urge young people to dress appropriately
While tort reform is expected to re-emerge in the Legislature in 2011, expect the lawyers to have their say on the matter. Which lawyers? The lawyers in the Legislature. The Florida Bar News did an informal survey that showed the number of attorneys in the Legislature continued to rise after the 2010 elections. Of the 160 seats in both the House and Senate, lawyers sit in 45 of them While he is definitely a dark horse in the race, Warren Lee, a Democrat who is running for mayor of Jacksonville, was the first member of the crowded pack of candidates who made the ballot by petition Despite being defeated by Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, Republican candidate Randy Smith has filed paperwork accusing Fullwood of not living in the district. The state attorneys office is currently investigating the matter. Fullwood took almost 67 percent of nearly 30,000 votes counted in the contest
While incoming U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, R-S.C., will not join the Congressional Black Caucus, fellow incoming U.S. Rep. Allen West of Florida said he intends to join the group though he will be the only Republican in it Best known for being the Constitution Partys presidential candidate in 2008, Chuck Baldwin, the founder and former pastor of the Crossroads Baptist Church in Pensacola who led the Moral Majority in Florida during the 1980s, has created a website directory for Christian conservative businesses At the White House Oil Spill Commission meeting on Thursday, former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham criticized the oil industry, demanding it increase its safety precautions.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
