U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., is looking at making a major move in Congress. Currently the chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Miller is looking to become the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee after U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., announced he would not run for re-election this year. Miller faces some opponents who are looking to replace Rogers, including U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who is a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2016, and U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, named Miller to the Intelligence Committee back in 2009. ... Staying on the Intelligence Committee, former CIA Acting Director Mike Morell testified before it on Wednesday over the Benghazi attack and felt the heat from U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla. The Florida congressman demanded to know what can be done to ensure something like the Benghazi attack never happens again and questioned the decision not to use the military to respond. ... Later on Wednesday, Rooney took to the national airwaves, appearing on Fox News and insisting the Obama administration had political concerns with the Benghazi incident. Rooney attacked the administration for relying on false talking points after the incident. ...
Freshman U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., broke with his fellow Democrats at the end of last week and took aim at the Obama administration for relying on Medicare Advantage funds to fund its federal health-care law. Murphy took to the floor of the House and demanded the administration not cut Medicare Advantage. ... This week, from his perch on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committees Health Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., warned that new FDA regulations would lead to an increase in the prices of generic drugs. "FDAs new regulations change drug labeling from a top down, synthesized approach, to one that will cause confusion for drug companies and consumers, Bilirakis said. The results of these regulations for generic drug companies are clear: they will be forced to spend more money protecting themselves from frivolous lawsuits and increased costs. Bilirakis, who wrote FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg on the issue back in January, insisted the costs will be passed on to consumers. ... Republican congressional hopeful Juan Garcia turned up the heat on U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., hitting her for backing un-American Obamacare and insisting the congresswoman was running scared. Wasserman Schultz blew out 2012 foe Karen Harrington by 27 percent in 2012. ...
Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, was already facing a major Democratic opponent in Daisy Baez but, this week, another serious contender jumped in for that partys nomination. Ross Hancock came close to upsetting Fresen in 2012 and he filed to run for a rematch. Amory Bodin is also seeking a rematch after Fresen crushed him in the Republican primary in 2012. ... Social and religious conservative group Florida Family Policy Council filed a motion on Wednesday to intervene in two cases as it looks to ensure only traditional marriage is recognized in the Sunshine State. Florida Family Action, the groups political arm, was active in passing a state constitutional amendment in 2008 recognizing only traditional marriage in Florida. ...Former state Rep. Mike Weinstein filed to run for a public defender position on the First Coast. Weinstein had been expected to run for City Council in Jacksonville.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
