Rubio, sounding a lot like Jeb, bashes both sides on immigration

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio criticized the political right and left for simplifying and exploiting immigration, appearing before a Hispanic group here Friday not long before President Barack Obama took the stage and accused Republicans of inaction on the contentious issue.

“As long as this issue of immigration is a political ping pong that each side uses to win elections and influence votes, I’m telling you, it won’t get solved,” Rubio told about 1,000 members of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

“Why is this issue simplified? I’ll tell you right now: because it is powerful politics,” the Florida Republican said. “I have seen people use it to raise money. I have seen people take the legitimate concerns about illegal immigration and turn it into panic. And turn that panic into fear and anger. And turn that anger into votes and money.”

Obama came to Orlando having pre-empted Rubio on a plan to help young illegal immigrants and was wildly cheered for the move blocking deportations. (Left unsaid: Obama has overseen the most aggressive deportation record in modern history.)

“I don’t care who gets the credit. I don’t,” Rubio insisted. “But it exposes the fact that this issue is all about politics for some people. Not just Democrats, Republicans, too.” Story by Alex Leary here.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/22/2863620/rubio-bashes-right-and-left-on.html#storylink=cpy

100-year future for South Florida, forecasters say: a chain of islands

The subject of global warming has become so politically unpalatable over the last few years that neither party mentions it much anymore.

A conference on climate change sponsored by Florida Atlantic University made it clear that ignoring the threat has done nothing to slow it down — particularly in South Florida, which has more people and property at risk by rising sea levels than any place in the country.

The two-day summit in Boca Raton, which wrapped up Friday, painted a bleak and water-logged picture for much of coastal Florida.

Under current projections, the Atlantic Ocean would swallow much of the Florida Keys in 100 years. Miami-Dade, in turn, would eventually replace them as a chain of islands on the highest parts of the coastal limestone ridge, bordered by the ocean on one side and an Everglades turned into a salt water bay on the other. Story by Curtis Morgan here.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/22/2864586/rising-seas-mean-shrinking-south.html#storylink=cpy

Rep. Vern Buchanan ducks CNN amid federal investigations of witness-tampering, fund-raising

Ouch.

Watching Sarasota Rep. Vern Buchanan scurry from a CNN camera is just what Democrats hope for. Now can they actually spin an ad out of this and beat him? The allegations have been reported for years in Sarasota and Bradenton. But so far, it hasn't made a lick of political difference at the ballot box.

 

GOP newcomer Amory Bodin bashes Rep. Fresen as lobbyist pal

Former Republican Party chairman Erik Fresen won't get a pass in this year's GOP primary where accountant Amory Bodin is putting in the time -- and taking the shots -- to give Fresen a spirited challenge in the state House District 114 race.

Bodin's opening press release:

Miami, FL – June 18, 2012 – Pledging to put the interests of everyday citizens ahead of political insiders and special interests, CPA Amory Bodin has formally announced his candidacy for Florida House District 114.

In remarks delivered to a gathering of supporters, Bodin declared: “The citizens of District 114 deserve to have their interests come first, not those of political insiders, lobbyists, cronies and vote-corrupting campaign contributors of a career politician.”

Obama Super PAC 's new FL 'coffin' ad keeps focus on Bain-Romney-layoff ties.

From a Priorities USA press release:

WASHINGTON, D.C—Priorities USA Action today released a new ad to illustrate Mitt Romney’s record in business, where he and his partners made millions, even when companies they took control of were driven into bankruptcy, employees saw their jobs shipped overseas, and promises for health and retirement benefits were broken.

The ad is the fourth in a series of a $10 million campaign running on television and online in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The first three ads, “Heads or Tails”, “Loris”, and “Donnie” have been airing since early May.

“Stage” features Mike Earnest, a former employee at AMPAD in Marion, Indiana, who was tasked with building a 30-foot stage, on which it was announced that and his colleagues had lost their jobs. Hundreds of workers lost their jobs and promised health and retirement benefits while Mitt Romney and his firm walked away with over $100 million in profit.

“Mitt Romney has made his experience in business his number one qualification to be President of the United States,” said Paul Begala, senior advisor for Priorities USA Action. “Romney will apply the same approach to the Presidency as he did as a corporate buyout specialist, pursuing policies that benefit the wealthiest Americans like himself while cutting promised Medicare benefits and slashing educational and job opportunities for the middle class.”