CooCookie Monster Cometh
Yes, Gov. Ron DeSantis loves him some cookies, but we are not referring to him.
With Florida’s 2020 legislative session officially having kicked off this week, that also means that the annual Girl Scout Cookie drive has also begun.
Every January, you can expect cute little munchkins to come up to you at your nearest Publix to try to guilt you into buying some diabetic coma-inducing treats for a few bucks a box.
Parents usually like to jump in and try to sell as many cookies for their daughters as possible, making the annual fundraiser a bit of a competitive and most times shallow spectacle of trying to outsell the next youngster.
Considering that my girls are 7-years-old and 17-months-old, respectively, I would like to put out there that you won’t find me peddling or begging any of you in Tallahassee to buy a box or two of the cookies.
You won’t see me dressed like some needy transient pushing a grocery basket or pulling some four-wheeled cart filled with my belongings or cookies, in this case.
We will leave that up to other more attention-needing individuals with an appetite for the sugary treats.
This all that said, please support your local Girl Scout troop. I know that I will be donating some money to the cause, but will not be consuming those little yummy shortbread cookies.
THE STATE OF THE STATE TROLLING
Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis “State of the State” addresses caught the eye of former vice president Joe Biden, who for some odd reason, decided to respond to DeSantis’ speech.
As expected, the Trump reelection team was quick to counter Biden’s remarks against DeSantis, pointed to the record state unemployment rate and the fact that DeSantis is well-liked and respected by both Republicans and Democrats statewide. READ MORE HERE
Nurses Are Happy - The group Floridians Unite for Health Care is pretty chipper today after HB 607 passed in the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill would "allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants to practice independently to the full extent of their education and training."
Big Vern-- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R) just raised a whole lot of cash in the last quarter of 2019 by posting $524K. Dem. Margaret Good may be hearing the Fat Lady tuning up her voice.
Brian Kramer is running for State Attorney in Florida's 8th Judicial Circuit in Gainesville.
Sen. Lauren Book (D) taking up a just cause with Attorney General Ashley Moody of ending human trafficking in the state.
Visit The Floridian
“DeSantis Reaches Deal to Save Everglades Wetlands” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – Since becoming Governor of Florida in the 2018 midterm election, Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has prioritized the environment. 2020 looks like it won’t be any different as DeSantis announced this week that an agreement had been reached to acquire 20,000 acres of critical Everglades wetlands. The purchase is the largest acquisition of wetland area in a decade, and it will permanent save the land from harmful effects of oil drilling. The deal was reached between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with Kanter Real Estate LLC. The acres are in Water Conservation Area 3 in Broward County. In a statement, Governor DeSantis reminded that “one of my administration’s top environmental priorities has been expediting Everglades restoration.” As a result, the DeSantis administration has taken “another step in the right direction by reaching this agreement between DEP and Kanter Real Estate that will allow for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands.” With the purchase, it “will permanently save these lands from oil drilling,” and the Governor highlighted that he is “proud of our progress” but also realizes that “this is just the beginning.” As a result, he vowed to “continue to fight every day for the Everglades and Florida’s environment.”
“Biden trolls DeSantis’ ‘State of the State’ address” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his “State of the State” address on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives former Vice President Joe Biden decided to respond to DeSantis’ address, hitting him on “advancing the failed policies of Donald Trump” and channeling the president himself while praising Florida Democrats for “laying out a bold, winning agenda.” The Trump reelection team was quick to counter Biden’s remarks against DeSantis, pointed to the record state unemployment rate and the fact that DeSantis is well-liked and respected by both Republicans and Democrats statewide. And of course, Trump’s team had to highlight Biden’s missteps: “Biden is advocating for radical far-left policies that run directly counter to the common-sense, pro-growth leadership Floridians have come to expect – including a plan to raise taxes by $3.2 trillion. That’s not even to mention his disastrous foreign policy record: Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates famously stated that Biden has been wrong on “nearly every major foreign policy question,” and Biden recently confused Iran and Iraq.
“Corporate lobbyists, Florida House write $50 million tax break for a handful of big companies,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Garcia – Working directly with lobbyists representing some of the state’s biggest businesses, the Republican-controlled Florida House of Representatives has written a proposed tax break that could save millions of dollars for a small number of companies. But after the Orlando Sentinel began asking questions about it, the business group that helped draft the tax break -- the Florida Chamber of Commerce -- said it has decided to stop lobbying for the measure. Carolyn Johnson, a lobbyist for the chamber, said her organization dropped the issue after state economists determined recently that it could cost the state nearly $50 million a year. “We decided to take a step back,” Johnson said. “We just thought this wasn’t the right year or the right time." But one House member who has been working with the chamber said it is too soon to say for sure what will happen. The Florida Legislature opened its annual 60-day session on Tuesday -- and the Legislature’s Republican leadership sometimes waits until the very last minute to pass tax breaks for favored companies, industries or interest groups.
“House votes to send Trump Impeachment Articles to Senate” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – After a 28-day delay, the House voted Wednesday to send the two articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate for a trial that is expected to begin next week. The resolution passed 228-193 largely along party lines. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution. Rep. Justin Amash (I-MI), who switched from Republican to Independent last year, voted in favor of the resolution. Along with transmitting the articles to the Senate, the resolution also provides funding for the impeachment process and officially appointed the seven Democrat impeachment managers that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-CA) named earlier before Wednesday’s vote. The seven impeachment managers will act essentially as prosecutors, making their case before the GOP-controlled Senate that Trump should be removed from office. They include House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA), who will be the lead manager, House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler(D-NY), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Val Demings(D-FL), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries(D-NY), Rep. Zoe Lofgren(D-CA), and Rep. Sylvia Garcia(D-TX). “As you can see from these descriptions, the emphasis is on litigators,” Pelosi said in explaining how she chose the managers. “The emphasis is on comfort level in the courtroom. The emphasis is on making the strongest possible case to protect and defend our Constitution to seek the truth for the American people.”
“As impeachment trial looms, 51% of Florida voters don’t want Donald Trump removed from office,” by The Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man – As the impeachment of President Donald Trump moves toward a Senate trial, a poll released Wednesday shows 51% of Florida voters don’t want him convicted and removed from office. Showing the deep division among Floridians: 49% are for removal. The numbers come from a Florida Atlantic University poll. “I think it is evidence once again that Florida is a very sharply divided state,” said Kevin Wagner, an FAU political scientist and research fellow at the university’s Business and Economics Polling Initiative. “Whenever you ask a question about President Trump in Florida, roughly half are going to be supportive of the president and roughly half are going to be opposed. The number will move a few points either way, but the key takeaway is that a lot of people like him and a lot of people don’t.” Florida voters’ overall opinion of Trump hasn’t changed much, with 45% approving and 43% disapproving, a net positive of 2 percentage points. “Fundamentally, the approval number and the impeachment number, while they don’t exactly mirror each other, kind of represent a very similar kind of question to people,” Wagner said. “If you think he should be removed, you probably don’t think he’s doing a very good job and vice versa.” FAU’s last poll, in September, found 49% approving of Trump’s performance and 46% disapproving, a net positive of 3 percentage points.
“As House manger during impeachment, Florida Rep. Val Demings knows what it takes to prosecute” by Associated Press – U.S. Rep. Val Demings knows what it takes to prosecute a case. For 27 years, Demings worked for the Orlando Police Department, culminating with her being appointed the agency's first female chief more than a dozen years ago. On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named her as one of seven impeachment managers who will present the case against President Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate. Former Republican Congressman Bill McCollum, who served as a manager during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton thinks Demings is a good choice. "She’s a woman, she’s from Florida, she’s got a law enforcement background and she’s on the right committee. I think she’s articulate and I think she’ll do well,” he told FOX 35 News. Demings reminded colleagues about her law enforcement background during last month's impeachment proceedings in the House. Demings serves on two committees that played crucial roles in the House impeachment proceedings -- Judiciary and Intelligence. “The important thing for Val Demings and for any House manager to remember, as I tried very hard to do: however it comes out at the end of the day yes it matters, but it's most important you do your job. Like with a jury trial, you let those jurors decide. That’s the American system,” McCollum added.
“Moody, other state leaders talk business at annual Florida Chamber Fly-In event,” by The Capitolist’s Alyssa Parker – The state’s top elected officials and lawmakers trekked to Tallahassee’s Turnbull Conference Center Wednesday to update Florida Chamber of Commerce members on Florida’s business climate and outlook for 2020 and beyond. The event showcased big names in Florida politics, including State Senate President Bill Galvano, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, among a handful of others. During today’s event, Senate President Bill Galvano spoke frankly on subjects including Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing arm, and his interest in Florida’s advancing transportation research. He expressed that Florida’s transportation infrastructure
“Florida GOP chairman in political hot seat as gun bill advances,” by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon – Tallahassee — Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters, a state senator, is facing a politically tough spot as a bill opposed by the National Rifle Association makes its way through the Florida Senate. Gruters has to thread the needle between the Senate Republican leaders who support the bill and the single-issue gun voters who would revolt if he supported any bill limiting gun ownership. “I fully expect Joe Gruters to vote down any gun-control bill,” said Ed Shoemaker, Polk County’s Republican state committeeman. “He knows that it would be a serious disaster to vote for something that would create division in the party like that.” This year’s proposal, which is a priority for Senate President Bill Galvano, would make several changes to state gun laws. The most controversial would close the “gun show loophole,” a political phrase that references private gun sales, including those at gun shows, that are less-heavily regulated than sales by licensed firearm dealers. The bill would require non-licensed gun sellers to record, among other things, a purchaser’s identification and criminal background history, the make and model of the gun and the date of the sale. The information would have to be notarized and saved.
“South Florida lawmakers Jose Oliva and Shevrin Jones discuss important local issues” by Local 10 News’s Hatzel Vela – Florida Speaker of the House, Republican Rep. Jose Oliva, is from Hialeah. He knows South Florida as well as any politician and wields quite a bit of power at the State Capital in Tallahassee. Oliva sat down with Local 10 News' Hatzel Vela to discuss some of the local issues that are expected to come up during Florida's Legislative Session, which began this week. The first thing Oliva discussed was the traffic issues that commuters in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties deal with on a daily basis. "I think the matter of traffic in South Florida is a serious issue," Oliva said. Oliva knows there is no simple answer to this problem, and thinks that government help isn't the only solution. "We begin to fall into this place where we believe that anything, any issue that we have, becomes a responsibility of government to solve," he said. "It's often government that makes the problem worse than they were before they got involved." Another issue that is important to South Floridians is affordable housing. Local governments, Oliva said, have to create a system that allows builders to erect homes in a more affordable way. "Large impact fees and tremendous amounts of time for permitting, and sometimes very restrictive codes, make that difficult," said Oliva. Earlier this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said teacher pay and school funding is a priority in his agenda for 2020. Oliva believes something can be done, but there is a lot of unknown information that needs to get hashed out first.
“Republican leaders at odds over E-Verify” by News Service of Florida – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for a politically charged immigration proposal has begun to expose a clash between Republicans as this year’s legislative session starts. The governor kicked off the session Tuesday by reminding lawmakers about one of his top priorities: a proposed mandate for all Florida employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to check new hires to make sure they are not undocumented immigrants. But House Speaker Jose Oliva and Senate President Bill Galvano say they worry an E-Verify mandate would add too much burden on private businesses and are more open to considering a compromise that would have less effect on the private sector. “There’s a balance there somewhere,” Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, said. “It’ll be a tough road because we have to make sure not to infringe upon private employers.” But the governor’s office on Tuesday made clear DeSantis’ idea of an E-Verify bill would require “all private sector employees to be processed under the system.” “Assuring a legal workforce through E-Verify will be good for the rule of law, protect taxpayers and place an upward pressure on the wages of Floridians who work in blue collar-jobs,” DeSantis said during his State of the State address to formally start the session.
“Wasserman Schultz endorses Shevrin Jones for State Senate” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – State Senate candidate Shevrin Jones (D) just scored one of the most highly sought after endorsements in Democratic Party circles, the nod of approval from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D). The eight-term member of the House of Representatives says she is backing her friend Shevrin’s “people-powered campaign for State Senate. “Shevrin Jones has been a friend for many years and I am proud to back his people-powered campaign for State Senate. He is a proven champion for all Floridians as a State Representative, and I am very confident that he will continue to lead and fight for the same values of equality and opportunity for all, as our next State Senator,” Wasserman Schultz said Tuesday. “For years, I have admired Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz’s commitment to public service and the people of South Florida. It’s an honor to have her support in this race,” Shevrin Jones said. “Just as she has fought for our interests in Congress, I look forward to continuing to be a strong partner at the state level as we build a path to prosperity for the people of District 35 and everyone who calls Florida home.”
“Ron DeSantis: The State of The State Address” by News Service of Florida – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday gave his State of the State address to formally start the 2020 legislative session. Following is DeSantis’ address, as prepared for delivery: Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of the House and Senate, and fellow citizens: The Constitution requires me to “inform the legislature concerning the condition of the state” and “recommend measures in the public interest.” It brings me great satisfaction to report on the promising prospects of our public affairs and to commend the members of the House and Senate for your efforts to make Florida successful. — Florida’s unemployment rate is near a historic low. — We have a AAA credit rating. — Florida’s public university system is ranked #1 in the nation. — We are rated one of the top states in the nation for fiscal health. — Florida’s crime rate is at an almost 50-year low. — And we have no state income tax. It is said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. I’d like to suggest we append an asterisk to that statement here in Florida; no, we can’t forestall Father Time, but we can say with certainty that we won’t have an income tax. Or a death tax. Last session was productive on a number of fronts, and I want to thank Speaker Jose Oliva and President Bill Galvano for their leadership.
“Lawsuit alleges Jeffrey Epstein trafficked hundreds of women and girls as late as 2018, keeping database to track movements,” by The New York Times’ Ali Watkins – New evidence shows Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused and trafficked hundreds of young women and girls on his private Caribbean island as recently as 2018, significantly expanding the scope of his alleged conduct, a top law enforcement official said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday. Epstein, a wealthy financier who died by suicide in a Manhattan jail last year, was bringing girls as young as 11 and 12 to his secluded estate in the Virgin Islands, known as Little Saint James, and kept a computerized database to track the availability and movements of women and girls, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit, which was filed by Denise N. George, attorney general of the Virgin Islands, broadened the dimensions of the wrongdoing in which Epstein was said to have engaged. He had been charged by Manhattan prosecutors in July with sexually exploiting dozens of women and girls in New York and Florida, but they did not point to any actions beyond 2005. In August, Epstein hanged himself at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where he was being held awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Prison guards had not checked on him for hours...
“Pelosi Announces Seven Impeachment Managers for Trump’s Senate trial,” by HISPOLITICA’s Mona Salama – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-CA) announced seven Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday who will serve as impeachment managers in the Senate trial against President Trump. “Today, I am very proud to present the impeachment managers,” Pelosi said during the press conference. “It is their responsibility to present the very strong case for the president’s impeachment and removal. The impeachment managers represent the patriotism, pluralism and vibrancy of America.” The team will consist of seven Democratic Congress members: House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA), who will be the lead manager, House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Val Demings(D-FL), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX).
“Sanders Denies ‘Democrat Socialist’ label Wouldn’t Cost Him Election Against Trump,” by HISPOLITICA’s Mona Salama – Sen. Bernie Sanders(I-VT) denied Tuesday night that being labeled a “Democrat Socialist” will not turn off voters or hurt his chances because his campaign will “expose the fraudulence” to defeat President Trump. “Nope, not at all and that is because the campaign that we are going to run will expose the fraudulence of who Donald Trump is,” Sanders said at Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate when asked if being labeled a “Democrat Socialist” would risk his chance of defeat the president in November. Sanders added, “Donald Trump is corrupt. He is a pathological liar and he is a fraud.” The Vermont independent and self-described democratic socialist said the president had no grounds to decry socialism when he has received tax breaks and subsides to “build luxury housing.”
“Biden: Trump ‘Flat-Out Lied’ About Soleimani,” by HISPOLITICA’s Mona Salama – Former Vice President Joe Biden accused President at Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate of “flat-out” lying about the justification for killing Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. “What’s happened is, now that he’s gone ahead, the president, and started this whole process moving,” Biden said. “Quite frankly, I think he’s flat-out lied about saying the reason he went after — the reason he made the strike was because our embassies were about to be bombed.” Last week, President Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham in an exclusive interview that the imminent threat from Iran that provoked the United States to kill Soleimani involved planned attacks on four U.S. embassies.
“ICE subpoenas Denver law enforcement, ramping up sanctuary-city fight” by Fox News’ Louis Casiano – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a subpoena to Denver law enforcement Monday for information on four undocumented immigrants who are slated for deportation after arrests for violent crimes. The action comes as federal officials continue to criticize so-called sanctuary cities, which don't cooperate with immigration officials by refusing to hold jail inmates past their release date in order for ICE to collect them. “We are reviewing the administrative subpoenas from ICE, which were not issued by a court of law,” said Theresa Marchetta, the director of strategic communications with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's office. “We want to be very clear that our immigration ordinance fully complies with federal law.” The four men -- three from Mexico and one Honduran -- were previously deported, ICE said. Three of them have been released from a Denver jail and one is still in custody. They were arrested for violent offenses, such as sexual assault of a child and child abuse. The city has 14 days to respond with information in the three cases and three days to respond in the fourth. The agency said if the city doesn't respond, it will go to a federal judge to force compliance. “Since we have no cooperation at the Denver justice center, we are modifying our tactics to produce information,” said Henry Lucero, deputy executive associate director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. He called the subpoena a last resort, saying he doesn't want ICE to be in the business of subpoenaing other law enforcement agencies.
“House transmits Trump impeachment articles to Senate, paving way for historic trial” by Fox News' Brooke Singman – The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to transmit the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, formally paving the way for a historic trial over the president's dealings with Ukraine after weeks of delay. The resolution, which passed 228-193 largely along party lines, came nearly a month after lawmakers voted to impeach the president on two counts. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., officially signed the articles Wednesday afternoon during an "engrossment ceremony." Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving walked a note over to the Senate notifying the upper chamber of Congress that Pelosi had signed the articles of impeachment and appointed managers to the trial. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., was the only Democrat who voted against the resolution. Rep. Justin Amash, I-Mich., voted with Democrats. There were no Republican defections. Pelosi had been holding on to the articles -- charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress -- in a bid to extract favorable terms for the trial including a commitment on witnesses, but she ended her delay after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made clear he was not willing to negotiate. Lawmakers gave impassioned speeches on the House floor in the run-up to the vote. Pelosi said, "We are here today to cross a very important threshold in American history." “When someone is impeached, they are always impeached,” the California Democrat said. “It cannot be erased.” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., ripped into the Democratic efforts, saying, “This is not a moment this body should be proud of. As Pelosi says, impeachment is a national civics lesson. Let's use this blunder as a teachable moment.”
“Democrats clash with Republicans over prospect of calling Hunter Biden in impeachment trial” by Fox News’s Brooke Singman – Within moments of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing the impeachment managers to prosecute the case against President Trump, Democrats were already clashing with Republicans over the prospect of calling GOP-sought witnesses -- like Hunter Biden -- to testify as part of the Senate trial. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who will serve as one of the House managers, slammed the idea of calling former Vice President Joe Biden’s son to testify, claiming he is not a “relevant” witness. “The relevant question is relevance. In any trial you call witnesses who have information about the allegations, about the charges,” Nadler told reporters Wednesday. “The allegations, for which there is a mountain of evidence, is that the president betrayed his country by trying to extort Ukraine by withholding $391 million in military aid that Congress had voted in order to get Ukraine to announce an investigation of a domestic political opponent—that is the allegation. “Any witness who has information about whether that is true or not true, is a relevant witness,” he continued. “Anybody, like Hunter Biden, who has no information about any of that, is not a relevant witness.” He added: “Any trial judge in this country would rule such a witness as irrelevant and inadmissible.” The pushback comes as both sides have grappled with the question of whether new witness testimony will be sought in the Senate. Pelosi delayed transmitting the articles in a bid to extract a commitment on witnesses, but Democrats are mainly interested in hearing from top Trump lieutenants with knowledge of the push to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations of Democrats while aid was withheld.
“Exclusive: Warren accused Sanders in tense post-debate exchange of calling her a 'liar' on national TV” by CNN’s Kyle Blaine, Jeff Zeleny and Marshall Cohen – In a tense and dramatic exchange in the moments after the Democratic debate Tuesday night, Elizabeth Warren accused Bernie Sanders of calling her a liar on national television. Sanders responded that it was Warren who called him a liar and said they should not talk about it right then.
When the CNN/Des Moines Register debate concluded, the studio audience and viewers saw Warren walk over to Sanders and not shake his outstretched hand. The two senators seemed to have a heated and brief exchange before Sanders appeared to throw his hands up, turn and walk away. The video of the exchange aired live with no audio. But sound of the moment was caught by CNN's microphones and found Wednesday. "I think you called me a liar on national TV," Warren can be heard saying. "What?" Sanders responded. "I think you called me a liar on national TV," she repeated. "You know, let's not do it right now. If you want to have that discussion, we'll have that discussion," Sanders said, to which Warren replied, "Anytime." "You called me a liar," Sanders continued. "You told me -- all right, let's not do it now." After their exchange, fellow Democratic candidate Tom Steyer, who had been standing behind the two senators, can be heard saying, "I don't want to get in the middle. I just want to say hi Bernie."
“Buttigieg warns against 'going to the extreme' on election issues” by CNN’s Devan Cole – Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg on Wednesday warned against "going to the extreme" on important election issues a day after he was assailed by his liberal competitors at the CNN/Des Moines Register Democratic debate for being too moderate. "It's certainly the case that I would caution against going to the extreme when we can solve big problems like delivering health care to every American without alienating half the country. But I also believe we can be very bold at a time like this," Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, told CNN's John Berman on "New Day." "The point that I'm making to voters, to the American people, is that I'm prepared to be the boldest president we've had in a half century when it comes to big reforms, big game-changing improvements and advancements in our access to health care, education and more," he added. "And that there's a way to do it. That we can actually unite Americans around rather than chasing for the most extreme idea." Buttigieg's comments reflect some of the most significant fault lines among the party's top tier candidates. The former mayor has presented a more centrist alternative to the progressive views of Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, whose ideas have excited liberal voters but, according to moderates like Buttigieg, risk alienating the rest of the country in a general election. On Tuesday night, six candidates participated in the last debate before next month's Iowa caucuses, where voters will cast the first votes of this election cycle.
“Amy Klobuchar says there's a 'double standard' for women in politics but says she can win” by CNN’s Chandelis Duster – Sen. Amy Klobuchar argued Wednesday that there's a "double standard" for women in politics, but says she expects to win the 2020 Democratic nomination because she's "the best person for the job." During the CNN/Des Moines Register debate at Drake University Tuesday night, gender in politics became a focus amid a campaign feud between Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Warren said Monday that during a 2018 meeting between the two, Sanders told Warren that a woman couldn't win the election. Sanders has denied he made the remark, and Warren charged that a woman can beat President Donald Trump. She added that she and Klobuchar were the only candidates on the debate stage who have won all their elections -- and are the only women. "When we had that gender discussion last night, one of the things I wanted to add to it -- and I'm the one for months now that's been saying, 'Yeah, there's a double standard for women in politics, but I'll make it' -- one of the things I wanted to add is that you want to have someone that can win. Man or woman," Klobuchar told CNN's John Berman on "New Day," adding, "I bring people with me. I don't shut them out." Asked about touting her winning record, Klobuchar said, "I've got receipts." "I think one of the points is I have won every race in a big, big way. And when I have won in these state races, it has actually been against men," she said. "But yet I brought a lot of men with me, voting for me." Klobuchar and other female candidates have made taking ownership of their frustration with the political status quo focal points of their campaigns.
President Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump -Here we go again, another Con Job by the Do Nothing Democrats. All of this work was supposed to be done by the House, not the Senate!
Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi- The President has fought tooth-and-nail to keep thousands of documents away from the public. And no wonder – each time new pieces come out, they show President Trump right at the center of the effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
Rick Scott @SenRickScott -.@SenWarren ’s plan to eliminate all student loans is a fairytale that would just make the underlying problem worse. Rather than just make student loans magically disappear, we should be focused on bringing down the cost of higher education.
Marco Rubio @marcorubio - UK, France & Germany warned #Iran not to break the limits of the #IranDeal And Iran responded by threatening to attack their troops in Mideast This behavior by Iran,not U.S. policy,is the reason why the threat of escalation exists
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell @RepDMP - I just voted to pass a bipartisan bill to restore strong workplace protections for older workers. More than half of workers age 45 and older have seen or experienced age discrimination. We cannot accept ANY form of discrimination in our country! #POWADA
Debbie Wasserman Schultz @DWStweets Proud my FLA colleague @RepValDemings is on the Congressional impeachment beat. Orlando's first female police chief knows how to persue justice. #DefendOurDemocracy
Rep. Michael Waltz @RepMichaelWaltz - .@SpeakerPelosi called this a sad, “somber” moment. Yet here she is, smiling for dozens of cameras at a signing ceremony, which are typically reserved for legislative celebrations and victories. Ridiculous.
Rep. Ted Deutch @RepTedDeutch - The House impeached President Trump for abusing his power and obstructing Congress. These articles are now with the Senate. I urge the Senators to remember their oath to the Constitution & hold a fair trial of the President's offenses, including by hearing from fact witnesses.
Casey DeSantis @FLCaseyDeSantis -It was such a privilege to host legislative spouses today at the Governor’s Mansion. As partners of those who serve in public office, we can not only provide support, but also use our voices to raise awareness and positively impact our great state.
Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis - Enjoyed speaking at @FlChamber’s #FCCFlyIn20 today to discuss Florida’s low taxes, reasonable regulatory climate and positive disposition toward business. Our state continues to thrive, and our business leaders continue to pave the way for Florida’s success
Byron Donalds @ByronDonalds - Today I joined Senator Doug Broxson & Rep. Bob Rommel to discuss much needed tort reform in Florida’s civil judicial system and lawsuit abuse. Excess torts fees cost $719.01 per person in Florida!
Rep. Carlos G Smith @CarlosGSmith - It's hard to believe that this is a legislature where three LGBTQ members are proudly and openly serving, but it is. THIS is what it feels like to be kicked in the gut by your colleagues. I am so utterly offended and disappointed.
"Police in Florida arrest Iranian national carrying knives, machete, and pickaxe," by Fox 35 Orlando - Lake Mary, Fla.
- Police officers in Palm Beach, Florida have detained an Iranian national who was found to be in possession of several knives, a machete, and a pickaxe.
Officers located the man along the Flagler Memorial Bridge on Friday afternoon, as they were responding to a call about a suspicious person. During the investigation, they determined a vehicle located at Palm Beach International Airport was also tied to the man, and he was carrying approximately $22,000 in U.S. currency.
