Debbie Wasserman Schultz's tax return claim gets a false from PolitiFact

Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz went on Fox News Aug. 12 to criticize Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

At one point, she turned the conversation to Romney’s tax returns.

PolitiFact gave Wasserman Schultz a False rating for her claim that "Mitt Romney is the first major party candidate for president of the United States in modern times not to release at least 12 years of tax returns."

.

'Angry' Ozzie & 'Say-anything' Karen square off in brutal GOP battle to beat Debbie Wasserman Schultz

WASHINGTON -- There's a wide field of Republicans hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who also serves as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, but so far, the candidates have spent more time bashing each other than the incumbent.

“We've clearly got a spirited primary on our hands here,” Richard DeNapoli, chairman of the Republican Party of Broward County, told a crowd earlier this summer when four of the candidates appeared in a debate.

The melee among the candidates was so eye-opening that veteran political reporter Michael Putney, who moderated one of the debates, wrote that sometimes their statements “bordered on the ludicrous, boorish and unhinged.”

The prize for taking off the gloves may go to Karen Harrington and Ozzie deFaria, the two frontrunners. Harrington, who lost to Wasserman Schultz by 22 points two years ago, sent voters a mailer calling opponent deFaria a “Democrat Dream Candidate,” and referenced 2005 and 2006 arrests over scuffles with his estranged wife's boyfriend. “Anger issues?” the flier reads. “Suited for Congress? Does he represent your values?”

deFaria countered with his own mailer to voters, featuring his ex-wife, Elaine Seibold: “While it was a mistake, it was completely understandable at the time. And they've both moved on and are now friends,” she said. Adds the mailer: “If Ozzie deFaria is willing to tell you about his imperfections, you know he'll be honest with you about fixing America's problems.”

Story is here.

Here's deFaria's newest ad:

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/08/2940919_to-republicans-wasserman-schultz.html#storylink=addthis#storylink=cpy

Wasserman Schultz remembers Bill Kling, Broward veterans' activist

From a press release:

PLANTATION, Fla. – World War II veteran William "Bill" Kling passed away today. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement:

“South Florida lost a hero today with the passing of Bill Kling. He was a devoted leader in the veterans community, from serving as the chairman of the Broward County Veterans Council for 27 years to bringing an outpatient VA clinic to Broward County and a Veterans Nursing Home to Pembroke Pines.

“While Chairman of my Military Academy Nominations Board for seven years, Bill helped the next generation of soldiers realize their dream of serving the country they love. I was honored to present the Civilian Marksmanship Program's Patriot Award to Bill Kling in 2010.

“After two decades of friendship, I know firsthand how much he devoted his life to helping veterans and improving his community. We are grateful for the remarkable legacy he leaves behind. My thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family and friends. This is certainly a tough loss for all of us in South Florida.”

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz' GOP challengers in gay-marriage controversies

From Gay South Florida

GOP Congressional candidate Ozzie deFaria (who hopes to challenge Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz in November) sent a blistering email today critical of his primary opponent, Karen Harrington, who in 2009 became vice president of the conservative gay Sunshine Republicans club.....

Harrington doesn't support gay marriage either, according to her campaign website... In May, however, the conservative website RedBroward.com posted photos [one is above] of Harrington toasting the marriage of Ron and Benjamin Bullard, founder and president of Sunshine Republicans.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/#storylink=cpy

Wasserman Schultz: Fla race is close but Obama's edge will be with seniors, Hispanics

The race for president may be close in Florida but President Barack Obama will "not cede any ground to Republicans," said DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

That may explain why Obama's two-day trip to Florida Thursday and Friday will include trips to Jacksonville, where he lost narrowly in 2008 and to Lee and Collier counties, where he lost badly before winning the state with a 2.5 percentage point margin.

Wasserman Schultz, a Democratic congresswoman from Weston, noted that the president announced the Recovery Act legislation in Fort Myers and "planted the flag in the South" by setting the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC. (History buffs will note, however, that the president also planted a hug on former Gov. Charlie Crist during that same Fort Myers visit, helping usher in Marco Rubio into the U.S. Senate.)

The president will also visit Century Village of West Palm Beach, the senior citizen retirement haven that remains a reliable but shrinking stronghold of Democratic senior citizens.

Wasserman Schultz talks up Allen West's likely Democratic opponent

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Weston) talked up Democratic candidates including Patrick Murphy, political newcomer and businessman who is expected to win the primary in Congressional District 18 and face Republican U.S. Rep. Allen West.

“Patrick Murphy will send the unhinged, McCarthy-esque West and his extremist views back home wherever that is where he belongs,” said the DNC chair speaking to about 1,000 Democrats at the annual Jefferson Jackson dinner in Hollywood Saturday night.

The McCarthy comments relates to when West riled up Congressional Democrats when he said about 80 are Communists -- a claim PolitiFact ruled Pants on Fire.

West was elected to the Broward/Palm Beach Congressional District 22 while he lived in part of Plantation that was in a neighboring district represented by Wasserman Schultz. Due to redistricting, West recently moved to the new Treasure Coast District 18 which is north of his current district. Murphy also recently moved to the district.

West has a major financial advantage: he raised about $7.6 million through the first quarter of the year while Murphy has raised about $2.3 million through the second quarter.

South Florida Democrats support walk out on Holder contempt vote

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus were joined by many fellow Democrats Thursday in walking out on a House Republican-led vote to hold U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress over the Fast and Furious controversy.

Among those supporting the walk out from South Florida: Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston; Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar; and Frederica Wilson, D-Miami. Here are their statements:

Wasserman Schultz: "Today I opposed the latest act of overt political theater staged by House Republican lawmakers who have made it clear that they would rather cast votes aimed at damaging the president instead of helping the American people. I joined my colleagues in walking off the House Floor to strongly oppose Republican lawmakers’ outrageous attempt to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. This is just the latest effort to distract and delay from the task at hand - creating jobs and strengthening the middle class.
 
"The Republican leadership has acknowledged that there is no evidence to suggest the Attorney General authorized, condoned, or knew about gun walking or engaged in a cover-up and as such, today’s vote was both unwarranted and unprecedented.
 
"Despite Democratic efforts to hold a real investigation, Chairman Darrell Issa has refused 10 separate Democratic requests for a hearing with Ken Melson, the former director of the agency in charge, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He has also refused to grant a single Democratic witness request during the entire 16-month investigation. This flawed investigation is yet another example of political theater and prevents concrete action to create jobs and build an economy built to last."

Hastings: “It is contemptuous that Republicans decided to cast a stain on this institution by finding the United States Attorney General in contempt of Congress.  No Cabinet official in the history of this country has ever been held in contempt.  I warned yesterday that if we did this, history will judge us harshly.  And it will.

“Brian Terry, a U.S. law enforcement agent, was killed. That is a terrible tragedy for his family and our country. I am eternally grateful to those law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line to protect the nation. However, this vote today was not about what happened to Agent Terry.  It was political, plain and simple. 

“We need to address the doubling of student loan interest rates in this country, and yet, Republicans have made it their priority to pass a measure that does nothing to help struggling Americans. Our nation’s transportation infrastructure is in serious need of repair, and yet, we have not passed a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill.   Americans need jobs to pay their bills, provide for their families, and keep their homes.  And yet, House Republicans believe that our time is better spent playing politics with this contempt vote, rather than actually creating jobs for the millions of Americans who are out of work. 

“Today’s vote was nothing more than a partisan political circus and House Republicans should be ashamed of themselves."

PolitiFact looks back at health care claims by Allen West, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and more

Florida politicians have used the health care law to make claims that range from declaring it the "biggest tax increase ever" to containing a slush fund to spay pets as part of an anti-obesity effort.

As the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to rule on the 2010 Affordable Care Act on June 28, 2012, PolitFact Florida reviewed some of our most interesting claims by Florida politicians and groups about the law. Florida, with its large senior population and crucial role in the presidential election, has played a significant role in the health care law debate. (To peruse all of PolitiFact Florida’s health care claims click here.)

Read PolitiFact's article with links to previous claims.

 

 

Reaction rolling in on health care decision

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.: "What’s important to remember is that what the Court rules on is whether something is constitutional or not, not whether it’s a good idea. And while the Court has said that the law is constitutional, it remains a bad idea for our economy, and I hope that in the fall we will have a majority here that will not just repeal this law, but replace it with real solutions that will insure more people and cost a lot less money."

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.: "A lot of us feel the health-care law wasn’t perfect.  ut it was needed.  Our system was broken and we had to do something.  Insurance companies were refusing to cover people or dropping those who got sick. So, we passed legislation to prevent insurers from running roughshod over people. And today, the Supreme Court upheld most of these reforms. Now, I think it’s time we finish the job of fixing our economy and creating more jobs."

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers: "Bill Nelson cast the deciding vote on the largest tax ever placed on the American people and he will be held accountable in November by all Floridians. ObamaCare not only kills jobs, burdens families and runs up our already-massive debt, it oversteps its bounds by stripping Americans of their freedoms and mandating compliance with a government edict by calling the law a tax."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston: "As a breast cancer survivor and one of 129 million Americans with a pre-existing condition, I am overjoyed that the Supreme Court upheld the right of every American to have access to quality, affordable health care insurance. Because of the Affordable Care Act, South Floridians like Lainie Schultz, a young woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks before her 25th birthday, will not be denied the health care coverage she needs because of pre-existing conditions. Thanks to the tax credit in the Affordable Care Act, small businesses like the GBS group in Pembroke Pines are, for the first time, able to offer health care coverage to their employees. The Affordable Care Act has already made it possible for American families and small businesses to have more control over their health care by reducing costs, increasing choice, and instituting common sense rules."

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami: “While I strongly disagree with the court’s judgment, today’s decision exemplifies why we are a system of checks and balances.  Our work is not finished, however. The court’s ruling underscores the critical role Congress must play by repealing ObamaCare.  America’s healthcare system should empower individuals and families instead of Washington bureaucrats. This ruling imposes a new huge tax on America’s already struggling families and this is unacceptable to those of us who believe that our money should stay in our pockets and not sent to Washington. I have already voted 30 times in Congress to defund, fully repeal or do away with parts of ObamaCare and I will vote that way again."

U.S. Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami: "It is in the best interest of our nation’s economy to repeal the job-killing health care law and replace it with common sense reforms that address what is wrong with the health insurance system in America. We must pass legislation that lower costs and protect American jobs, not threaten them. We must move toward a system that welcomes patient choice and flexibility, instead of more government involvement, by ensuring Americans the ability to make medical decisions without bureaucratic interference."

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar: "The Supreme Court’s ruling today is a real victory for the American people.  This decision upholds the principle that all Americans should have access to affordable, quality health care. Millions of Americans have already benefited from this important piece of legislation. I have always advocated for access to universal health care with a public option.  With the Affordable Care Act, we have taken a huge step towards putting patients and their doctors, rather than big insurance companies, in charge of an individual’s health care decisions.  While I am pleased that this important legislation was upheld by the Supreme Court, there is still work to be done.  I hope that my Republican colleagues will now do their part and end their partisan attacks by putting the interests of Americans’ health care needs first."

U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami: "The Affordable Care Act is already paying dividends for millions of Americans, with more improvements to the system going into effect in the next few years. In passing health reform, President Obama and a Democratic Congress made history for our country and progress for the American people. Because of the ACA, affordable health care is now a right for all, not a privilege for the few. Today, the Supreme Court affirmed our progress and protected that right, securing a future of health and economic security for working people and their families, students and seniors."

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami: “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a huge tax increase on the American people. The President’s healthcare bill, which was written behind closed doors, dramatically increases taxes, fees, and the cost of healthcare for all Americans. Obamacare was supposed to lower the price of healthcare. Instead, it has done the exact opposite – the price of healthcare has skyrocketed. With the individual mandate, President Obama is slamming the American people with a burdensome new tax. It has also been a major factor in the sluggish growth of our economy and anemic job creation. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to repeal Obamacare in order to protect Americans’ access to the care they need, from the doctors they choose, at a price they can afford." 

GOP hopefuls, minus one, who want to oust Wasserman Schultz will debate

A group of Republicans competing for the chance to take on U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Weston) will debate on June 28.

The debate will be held at 7 p.m. at the Old Davie School House, 6650 Griffin Road. It is sponsored by the Broward Republican Executive Committee and moderated by the Sun-Sentinel's politics reporter Anthony Man.

According to BREC, candidates Ozzie deFaria, Joe Kaufman, Gineen Bresso and Juan Eliel Garcia have confirmed. Karen Harrington won't be there because she had already scheduled a fundraiser for that night, said a campaign spokesman, Anthony Bustamante.

Bustamante said that BREC didn't give Harrington's campaign enough notice.

"We literally got notice like a week and a half ago," Bustamante said. "We already had prior engagements that evening. We have already been at two other forums -- it's not like we haven't participated in getting Karen's message out."

The Republicans face an uphill battle against DNC chair Wasserman Schultz who has raised more than $2 million.They are competing in Congressional District 23 which includes parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Both deFaria and Harrington have gotten the "On the Radar" nod from the National Republican Congressional Committee. Both have also earned some big endorsements: deFaria has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. John McCain and Harrington has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota).

The debate is open to the public. The candidates agreed on the format which includes GOP clubs submitting some questions in advance.