RPOF raises $2.9 million and Dems bring in $1.3 million for quarter

Florida’s political parties faced a more subdued fundraising quarter to begin this year as legislators were forced into a self-imposed fundraising ban during an early legislative session and Gov. Rick Scott steered cash to his political committee. 

The Republican Party of Florida raised $2.9 million in the first fundraising quarter of the year, substantially down from the $7.4 million raised in the previous quarter when legislative leaders weren’t bound by a legislative fundraising ban. By contrast, Scott raised $1.3 million for his “Let’s Get to Work” committee in the period from Jan. 1 through March 31 alone. 

The Florida Democratic Party raised $1.1 million for the quarter, down slightly from the $1.7 million raised for the preceeding quarter. 

Rubio, Nelson split votes on birth control repeal

The U.S. Senate voted 51-48 Thursday to block Republican legislation that would have repealed an Obama administration rule requiring most health insurers to cover contraceptives for women.

The proposal, sponsored by Sen. Roy Blount, R-Mo., would have allowed employers and insurers to deny coverage for health care services beyond birth control if those companies have either religious or moral objections.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who had proposed similar legislation, voted for Blount's proposal. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., voted against it.

In a sign of the polarizing nature of the vote, Democrats immediately attacked Rubio's position.

"Marco Rubio championed a dangerous and extreme measure which would have denied women the lifesaving health care they need," said Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith. "Make no mistake: Sen. Rubio, along with Mitt Romney, tried to turn women's health care into a political football in order to advance their own extreme agenda — a shameful, partisan tactic which threatened the lives of women in our state and across our country. This dangerous legislation would have stripped a Florida woman of her ability to make her own decisions about her health care. Rubio's attack on women was rightfully defeated."

Here's Rubio's response: "The Senate’s failure to pass Senator Blunt's amendment is a setback for religious freedoms in America," he said. "Telling religious based organizations that they must, by mandate of the federal government, pay for things that that religion teaches is wrong. You may not agree with what the religion believes, but that's not the point. The point is the First Amendment still applies. Religious freedom still exists."

And Republicans fired back, singling out Nelson's vote.

"This is just another example of how Obama’s job-killing healthcare law gives the federal government – not the people of Florida – the power to decide what type of healthcare services are best for them," said Jahan Wilcox, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Enthusiasm gap? Florida Republicans are narrowing registration gap with Dems

From a Republican Party of Florida press release:

When 2011 began, Democrats in Florida had a voter registration advantage of more than 580,000. By the end of 2011, that was cut to a little less than 503,00. As of January 31st, 2012, the Democrats' advantage was reduced again to 483,869!

RPOF started a voter registration program in 2011, but has dramatically accelerated it statewide in recent weeks. This successful outreach program has yielded the following results:
    
* Since Jan. 1, 17,073 Floridians have registered as Republicans, while in the same timeframe 14,337 registered Democrat.
* In the 18 to 25 age group, 5,358 registered Republican and 4,390 registered Democrat. So much for the Obama youth movement!
* More females who are new registrants in this timeframe registered Republican, 7,805 to 7,720.
        

Obama for America launches "Truth Teams"

The Florida branch of Obama for America today announced the launch of its "Truth Teams," which Democratic leaders say were formed to combat lies about President Barack Obama put forth by Republicans during the 2012 campaign.

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith said the teams would refute negative adds about Obama, but do not aim to pour more poison into the political atmosphere.

"You can't let things go unanswered, you have to respond," said Smith, standing alongside Rep. Darren Soto, Orlando-D, Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando, and Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee.

Soto said one aim is to make sure people don't believe the Republican mantra that the economy is still in the dumps.

"We are moving in the right direction," he said.

 

In Tampa, strong criticism of Florida voting laws

Election experts and Democratic voting advocates told U.S. senators Friday that a Republican-backed overhaul of Florida election laws will suppress Democratic turnout in the nation's biggest battleground state next fall.

Democratic Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Dick Durbin of Illinois held a field hearing at the Hillsborough County Courthouse that drew a racially diverse crowd and at times resembled an orchestrated Democratic rally. In packed pews in a sixth-floor courtroom, people wore yellow stickers that read "Our voice, our vote" and hissed a witness who defended the law.

Testimony centered on the most controversial changes: reducing early voting from 14 days to eight, from 96 hours to a minimum of 48, and ending it on the Saturday before the election; requiring third-party groups to register and face fines if they turn in voter registration forms after 48 hours; and requiring voters to cast provisional ballots if they moved from another county since they last voted if they did not update their addresses.

The crowd erupted into loud applause when Durbin said: "There are people literally fighting and dying for the right to vote in countries like Syria, and we are finding ways to restrict the right to vote?"

Two county election supervisors, both Republicans, gave sharply contrasting views of the law.

Ann McFall of Volusia County criticized the law for not allowing more variety in early voting sites such as churches and she complained of being forced to "turn in" long-time friends and neighbors for turning in voter registration forms after 48 hours, including New Smyrna Beach teacher Jill Cicciarelli, who got a warning letter from the state.

"This is a bad law," said McFall, who predicted students at historically black Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach would be caught by the provisional ballot rule because of its traditionally high number of address changes on Election Day.

-- Steve Bousquet

PolitiFact: Florida Democrats say Mitt Romney called middle-class tax cuts 'little Band-Aids'

 The Florida Democratic Party recently called out Republicans who opposed extending President Barack Obama's payroll tax cut.

"With Republicans like Mitt Romney belittling middle class tax cuts as nothing more than 'little Band-Aids,' the Republican Party is sending a clear signal to the American people: they are willing to raise taxes on middle-class Americans just to pay for more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires and big oil," executive director Scott Arceneaux said in a Dec. 1 news release.

PolitiFact Florida wondered — did Romney really say that?

 

Democrats Rich, Saunders offer views on 2012 legislative session

Both Democratic caucus leaders in the Legislature offered contrasting views Wednesday about the upcoming 2012 legislative session. Speaking to reporters and editors at the annual AP planning seminar, Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, and Rep. Ron Saunders, R-Key West, talked about redistricting, gambling, the budget and other topics.

Saunders predicted Republicans would unveil redistrict maps in the first couple weeks of the session, and that the first maps are likely to alienate some House GOP members because there aren't enough Republican voters in Florida to maintain their 81-member super-majority.

The veteran Key West lawmaker said a proposal to create destination gambling casinos in South Florida can't pass the House without significant Democratic support, because dozens of House Republicans are opposed to any more gambling in Florida.

Rich called it "incredibly disappointing" that Republicans are posed to make more cuts to programs while at the same time turning away federal grants, instead of evaluating Florida's tax structure.  Rich, who's considering running for governor in 2014, said she's on alert for "the right-wing social agenda" in the election-year session that opens Jan. 10, including a prayer-in-school bill and proposals to expand vouchers in schools.

-- Steve Bousquet

Six degrees of Rick? Democrats launch 'Rickpublicans.com'

The Florida Democratic Party has launched a fund-raising Web site - Rickpublicans.com -  that takes aim at some of the state's most prominent Republicans by pointing out their ties to unpopular Gov. Rick Scott.

The site opens up by defining the new term from Democrats:

[rick-puhb-li-kuh´n] noun 1. Proper name for Florida Republicans wrought with greed and corruption who are hell-bent on selling out to the corporations and special interests while leaving Florida’s middle class families out-to-dry.

The Republicans in the FDP's scope: U.S. Senate candidates George LeMieux, Adam Hasner and Mike McCalister and U.S. Reps. Allen West, David Rivera and Vern Buchanan.

Republican Party of Florida spokesman Brian Hughes responds:

"With the most recent state reports showing RPOF outraised Florida Democrats by 5-to-1, it’s no surprise they are desperate to raise money," Hughes said. "But this lame website demonstrates a level of desperation that is even worse than we thought possible. Instead of touting their anointed leaders, Barack Obama or Debbie Wasserman Schultz, they recycle ridiculous, cheap attacks. This tactic is more evidence why Floridians reject Democrats on Election Day."

Fla. Dems react to RPOF chair's resignation

After Republican Party of Florida Chairman David Bitner announced his resignation Wednesday morning, his Democratic counterpart, Rod Smith, issued this statement:

"I have known Chairman Bitner for a number of years. While we often differ on our views, I have always respected him as a talented andable spokesman on behalf of his party. Party allegiance aside, we all wish Bitner the very best in the difficult days ahead. We pray God's grace is upon him and his family."

Dems create 'Rick Scott Email Recovery Fund'

The Florida Democratic Party is attempting to leverage the flap over Republican Gov. Rick Scott's transition e-mails - a potential violation of public records law - into cash for the party.

"After months of dragging their feet on a public records request, the Governor’s Office finally dropped the bomb in the dead-of-night that these emails were 'accidentally' deleted," Democrats write in an e-mail to supporters today.

Accident? Accident? This is the 21st century, one stop at any computer store could have solved this problem. The truth is this Governor has a proven pattern of lying to the public and has shown outright disdain for public records laws.

Help us hold this Governor accountable. Donate today to the Rick Scott Email Recovery Fund to help the Florida Democratic Party as we continue to investigate the case of the missing emails.

Floridians deserve answers and a Governor who tells the truth.