By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., and many Florida fishermen oppose restrictive federal fishing regulations they say are patterned after Agenda 21, the UN’s all-encompassing plan for globally centralized wealth-redistribution and environmental regulations. Southerland, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee’s Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Subcommittee, marina manager Pam Anderson, and…

By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., walked October 22 in Perry’s annual Forest Day Parade. Dressed in jeans, he ran from one side of the crowd to the other, chatting and shaking hands. That afternoon Southerland spoke with Zayida Baker of Tea Party Patriots. Find more of the interview here and here. ZAYIDA BAKER:…

By Zayida Baker After walking October 22 in Perry’s annual Forest Day Parade, Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., sat down for an interview with Zayida Baker of Tea Party Patriots. Find more of the interview here and here. ZAYIDA BAKER: I’ve heard you say a few times that you’re not planning to be a career politician….

By Zayida Baker The top-down dynamic of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce mirrors that of the federal government that it lobbies. This has affected its relationship with local chambers and with freshman Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla. Southerland is former chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. In his discussion of the national chamber, featured…

By Zayida Baker The U.S. Chamber of Commerce does not necessarily represent local chambers and often acts against their wishes. Its relationship with freshman Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., has reflected this pattern from the beginning of his political career. In the fall of 2010, shortly after Southerland won the Republican primary to challenge Democrat incumbent…

By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., voted in September to keep government running through November 18. At a Tallahassee fundraiser September 26, he discussed D.C. budget battles and looked ahead to 2012. Southerland voted September 23 for the 2012 Continuing Appropriations Act, part of a package to fund government at current levels past September…

By Zayida Baker Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., serve, respectively, on Senate and House committees that reached a temporary, last-minute truce September 15 over the Federal Aviation Administration. Congress extended FAA operations through January. Nelson sits on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety,…

By Zayida Baker Some in the tea party want to replace the current, chaotic tax code with the Fair Tax, a national sales tax. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., refrains from a total embrace of it. The Fair Tax, H.R. 25, is gaining popularity and attention, yet many are unfamiliar with its details. It consists of…

By Zayida Baker Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., occupy opposite sides of the congressional battle over the Federal Aviation Administration. Another FAA shutdown is possible if House and Senate cannot agree by September 16. Nelson sits on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and its Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety,…

By Zayida Baker Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., bolstered his tea-party credentials Monday, August 1, standing against the debt deal struck by President Obama and congressional leaders. It became law Tuesday afternoon. The Budget Control Act raises the debt ceiling in two stages by up to $2.4 trillion total, which should fund government through the 2012…