The Supreme Court’s ruling on tax increases contained in The Affordable Care Act has galvanized opposition against Florida’s only Senator to vote for it.  The House has again voted to repeal President Obama’s signature legislation, but a Senate vote has not yet been held. Democratic leadership in the Senate has made no indication that a…

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…

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli joined 14 other states in challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of greenhouse gases. Attorney Generals are challenging the EPA’s rule on greenhouse gases. In discussing the EPA rule Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli referred to the EPA as the “Employment Prevention Agency“ and voiced concern that the EPA’s policies…

By Zayida Baker Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Broward County, wants to oust incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, in November. To win the Republican primary, LeMieux must first shed his image as a “Charlie Crist Republican” beholden to green energy. LeMieux served in the Senate from September 2009 to January 2011, after being appointed by…

By Zayida Baker Republican candidate and former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, asked a Perry audience January 23 to send him to the U.S. Senate. He decided days later to switch races. At a meeting hosted by the Taylor County Republican Executive Committee, Hasner proclaimed that he wanted to win the Senate…

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 Retired Army Col. Mike McCalister, R-Plant City, is running to replace Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and be “the last line of defense” against politicians who do not properly protect the U.S. and its Constitution. McCalister spoke June 18 at the Republican Leadership Conference. In November he debated competitors at the Florida Tea…

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…