Meghan McCain, the outspoken daughter of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is on Team Jeb. Speaking with Larry King on Politicking on Ora.TV, McCain said she was backing former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla, for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. While her father is on the sidelines, he has encouraged his ally U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to enter the presidential primaries. ...
Gov. Rick Scotts call to cut taxes on cellphone and TV services by $470 million won the support of Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, this week. During her time in the Senate, Hukill has championed proposals to cut Floridas Communication Services Tax (CST). Hukill said on Thursday she was pleased" to see Scott go after this burdensome tax and vowed to help the governors bill get through the Finance and Tax Committee. ...U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, D-Fla., will be on center stage in Tallahassee on Saturday. The new congresswoman will take part in a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on Saturday afternoon with Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum conducting the oath. ...
Busy week for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. Not only did the Florida Republican get named vice chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee this week, he also weighed in on several issues from his perch on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committees Health Subcommittee. On Wednesday, Bilirakis pushed for options to find a permanent replacement for the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for Medicare. ... Also this week, on the Energy and Commerce Communications and Technology Subcommittee, Bilirakis continued to fight against President Barack Obamas proposal for Internet regulation. Bilirakis pushed back against overregulation as the federal government continues to ponder the role of the Federal Communication Commission in regulating the Internet. ... U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., is considered a possible Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate down the road and he is raising his profile. On Thursday, Deutch hit New York to take part in a U.N. meeting on anti-Semitism across the world. Deutch was one of only two Americans addressing the conference and is on the steering committee for the Inter-parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism (ICCA). ...
The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) is taking sides in the special election for an open House seat in Northeast Florida. The FRF endorsed attorney and Navy veteran Paul Renner, the heavy favorite for the seat vacated by former Rep. Travis Hutson representing parts of St. Johns and Volusia counties and all of Flagler County. ... In the northern part of St. Johns County, the FRF is backing St. Augustine businessman Mike Davis for the House seat left vacant when former Rep. Doc Renuart filed to run in the special election for an open Florida Senate seat. ...Abigail MacIver is on the move. Formerly the deputy state director for Americans for Prosperitys (AFP) Florida chapter, this week MacIver was named vice president of state operations for Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy (PACE). MacIver had served as chief of staff to former state Sen. Lee Constantine...
The battle against pill mills continues in Tallahassee. This week, Florida Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and Rep Ross Spano, R-Dover, teamed up to introduce a bill allowing continuing monitoring of pill mills. Right now the states monitoring efforts are scheduled to end later this year. ... Florida Defense Day will be held in Tallahassee by the Florida Defense Contractors Association. The event is set for Feb. 2 and Feb. 3. Retired Army Col. Mike Prendergast, the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, will keynote the event. ... The Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC) announced this week that its Pro-Family Days at the Capitol will be held in Tallahassee on March 16-17. Pastor Dean Inserra from City Church in Tallahassee will be the special guest speaker at the event.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
