Ohio GOP Senate hopeful: Middle class doesn't pay fair share
“The top 20% of earners in the United States pay 82% of federal income tax — and, if you do the math, and 45% to 50% don’t pay any income tax, you can see the middle class is not really paying any kind of a fair share, depending on how you want to define it,” Gibbons said.
news.yahoo.comGOP's Senate campaign chief won't back down from party fight
Rick Scott likes to think of himself as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Barely halfway through his first Senate term, the Florida Republican is already leaning into a fight against his own party's leadership as he navigates a delicate alliance with former President Donald Trump and pushes a handcrafted policy agenda that many Republicans reject. The 69-year-old former businessman likens his situation to that of Grant during the battle of Vicksburg, when the general ordered multiple bloody assaults on the Southern stronghold before delivering a victory that helped turn the war in the Union's favor.
news.yahoo.comLaurence Tribe: What Clarence Thomas did was illegal
MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell speaks to Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe about the mounting pressure that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is facing after text messages his wife sent in the lead-up to the January 6th Capitol riot were made public.
news.yahoo.comSen. Rick Scott proposed cutting the IRS budget by half. The agency's commissioner said 'you might be better off and save more money by just shutting it down completely'
"We got to make this system where we don't need a big IRS," Florida Republican Rick Scott told Insider in a brief interview.
news.yahoo.comAmerican couple in Kyiv accept their 'destiny to die' rather than flee
The centre of Kyiv is deserted, with the soundtrack of the approaching war audible in the distance. But John and Natasha, an American couple who refuse to leave Ukraine, go out quietly to walk their dogs, accepting that it may be their "destiny to die" rather than leave Ukraine.
news.yahoo.comMcConnell rejects GOP Sen. Rick Scott’s tax plan and agenda, insists he will remain Republican leader
“If we’re fortunate enough to have the majority next year, I’ll be the majority leader," McConnell said Tuesday as he rejected fellow Republican Sen. Rick Scott's agenda that calls for all Americans to pay some form of income tax.
washingtonpost.comMcConnell rebukes Scott over his 11-point plan that includes a tax hike on the poorest families: 'That will not be a part of the Republican Senate agenda'
"I'll be the majority leader," declared McConnell as Scott walked away. "That will not be part of a Republican Senate majority agenda."
news.yahoo.comTwo Republican members of Congress participated in a white nationalist’s conference. Mitt Romney called them ‘morons.’
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) later defended attending the conference organized by Nick Fuentes, saying she didn't know he has promoted white nationalist ideas.
washingtonpost.comWhite House hangs up on Rick Scott as senator calls about tortured Cuban human rights activist
Scott tweeted about his hang-up by the Biden administration, blasting the White House for their “shameful cowardice” in not connecting the U.S. senator with the president on the human rights issue.
news.yahoo.comChris Wallace Grills GOP Senator on National Debt: Should We Repeal Trump Tax Cuts?
Fox News SundayFox News anchor Chris Wallace repeatedly pressed Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) over his supposed concerns about the national debt and deficit, asking the Florida lawmaker if he would support repealing the 2017 Trump tax cuts to help balance the budget.With Republicans uniformly opposed to the Biden administration’s Build Back Better social spending agenda, Wallace welcomed Scott onto Fox News Sunday to react to the growing possibility that Democrats may finally pass a pared-down version
news.yahoo.comRubio, Rick Scott vote ‘no’ as Senate passes $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill
Florida’s two U.S. senators voted against a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill on Tuesday, rejecting a carefully negotiated agreement crafted during marathon meetings on Capitol Hill between Democrats and Republicans.
news.yahoo.comTWIJ: Doctor on coronavirus spike; lawmakers on crisis in Cuba
Dr. Sunil Joshi, president of the Duval County Medical Society Foundation, discusses the rise in coronavirus cases and the increase in hospitalizations. We also discuss the crisis in Cuba with Congressman Al Lawson, D-Tallahassee, and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, offer their analysis on Cuba as well as the American Rescue Plan and new child tax credits.
Democrats See Edge in Early Senate Map as Trump Casts Big Shadow
Six months into the Biden administration, Senate Democrats are expressing a cautious optimism that the party can keep control of the chamber in the 2022 midterm elections, enjoying large fundraising hauls in marquee races as they plot to exploit Republican retirements in key battlegrounds and a divisive series of unsettled GOP primaries. Swing-state Democratic incumbents, like Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Mark Kelly of Arizona, restocked their war chests with multimillion-dollar sums ($7
news.yahoo.comRNC and NRSC to intervene in DOJ lawsuit against Georgia voting restrictions
The Republican National Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee on Thursday announced plans to intervene in the Justice Department's lawsuit against Georgia over its voting restrictions. Driving the news: RNC chair Ronna McDaniel and NRSC chair Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) seek to fight the lawsuit because they say "the security of the ballot is more important than Democrat power grabs," per McDaniel.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Catch u
news.yahoo.comHealth care in Florida; Sen. Rick Scott; State’s legislative session
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” state Rep. Angie Nixon and Dr. Nancy Staats, both of whom have called for Florida to expand Medicaid, talk about how it could help people in need of health care and the money that would be involved in making it happen. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, of Florida, calls for states to send back federal relief money if they aren’t spending it on COVID-19 expenses. And state Sen. Travis Hutson talks about his energy bills and how he feels about proposed changes to the Bright Futures scholarship program.
Gov. DeSantis pushes back after Rick Scott asks states to return some COVID relief money
Let’s make sure we help our businesses get going again,” Scott told host Kent Justice. “If Florida were to send the money back, [Treasury Secretary Janet] Yellen is going to send it to Illinois, California, New York or New Jersey. DeSantis said the package penalizes states such as Florida that have lower unemployment rates than other states. The package includes $350 billion for states and the District of Columbia and would divvy up the money based on unemployment rates. Scott was asked if it was realistic to expect state governments will send federal money back.
Senators make another run at making daylight saving time permanent
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s two U.S. senators joined others across the country in another attempt to make daylight saving time permanent across the country, reintroducing the Sunshine Protection Act. AdIf the bill passes it would apply to the states who currently participate in daylight saving time, which most states observe for eight months out of the year. “Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is why the Florida legislature voted to make it permanent in 2018. Rubio and Scott introduced legislation last year citing the coronavirus pandemic as one reason why daylight saving time would be beneficial. In March 2019, Rubio re-introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country.
What Florida, Georgia senators said about their party-line votes on $1.9T relief bill
The U.S. senators from Florida and Georgia voted along party lines, like all of their fellow senators, for the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that was approved by a 50-49 margin Saturday. Here’s what the senators from Georgia and Florida had to say Saturday about their party-line votes:Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-GeorgiaThanks to Georgia voters, the United States Senate just passed the most generous economic relief package for working and middle class families in American history. — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) March 6, 2021Thank you to all who wrote postcards, made calls, knocked doors, texted friends, and chipped in a few bucks to deliver victory in Georgia and COVID relief for the country. — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) March 6, 2021Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-GeorgiaThis historic COVID-19 relief bill will bring billions of dollars in aid to Georgia, help our economy recover and give families the support they need to get through this pandemic. I’ve said all along that I want targeted relief for families and businesses suffering from the pandemic.
Report details troubles of Florida’s unemployment system
The initial report of Florida's inspector general detailed enormous cost overruns when the system was developed under then-Republican Gov. Rick Scott and problems that were exposed when unemployment skyrocketed during an increase in unemployment when Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered a business shutdown a year ago. As hundreds of thousand of Floridians sought unemployment compensation after losing their jobs, DeSantis called the online claim system a jalopy trying to compete in the Daytona 500 and ordered a review of why the system failed. In May, DeSantis ordered the state inspector general to investigate the contract awarded to Deloitte in 2011 to create the unemployment filing system.
States pass their own virus aid, not waiting on Washington
– Not waiting for more federal help, states have been approving their own coronavirus aid packages, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help residents and business owners devastated by the the pandemic's economic fallout. North Carolina's governor wants additional state aid for such things as bonus pay for teachers and boosting rural internet speeds. The spending also provides fuel for critics who say states don’t need another massive infusion of cash from Congress. “The cascading effect, it’s actually a problem that most states are grappling with ... waiting for the relief money out of the feds,” she said. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, unveiled a $695 million emergency budget proposal that would use state money to address needs related to the coronavirus.
Sen. Scott calls for study on use of canines to screen airport travelers for COVID-19
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – COVID-19 detecting dogs are being trained in North Florida, and they may have a future with the Transportation Security Administration. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is one of the lawmakers asking for more information about using canines in airports to detect COVID-19. Scott and U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., on Monday announced the Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act. It directs the TSA to conduct a feasibility study on the use of canines to screen travelers at airports for COVID-19. We asked him what he thinks about the Senate bill on using canines in airports and how it could work.
How senators from Florida & Georgia voted in Trump’s 2nd impeachment trial
The U.S. senators from Florida and Georgia voted along party lines in former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Here’s how each senator from Florida and Georgia voted and their statements:Sen. Marco RubioSen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., voted to acquit Trump. “In the 244 year history of our Republic we have never convicted and disqualified a former official in an impeachment trial. I’ll continue fighting to make Washington work and get things done for Florida families.”Sen. Jon OssoffSen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., voted to convict Trump. — Jon Ossoff (@ossoff) February 13, 2021Sen. Raphael WarnockSen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., also voted to convict Trump.
New report on JEA investigation; Sen. Rick Scott on upcoming impeachment trial; toxic political conversations
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond discusses the recent report on the JEA investigation. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, talks about the upcoming impeachment trial and holding people accountable for the Capitol siege. And Writer CEO May Habib explains how the ugliness in political conversations online has gotten toxic.
Donor backlash fuels GOP alarm about Senate fundraising
The GOP already faces a difficult Senate map in 2022, when 14 Democratic-held seats and 20 Republican ones will be on the ballot. That includes at least two open seats that Republicans will be defending because of the retirements of GOP Sens. One of those lawmakers, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, is the new chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, a post that makes him the public face of the Senate Republican fundraising efforts. But two senior Republican strategists involved in Senate races say the cumulative effect of the companies' decisions could have a bigger impact. That puts more pressure on the NRSC and the leading Senate Republican outside group, Senate Leadership Fund, to cover the difference.
Florida has nearly half of known US cases of COVID variant
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – New data from the Centers for Disease Control shows Florida has nearly half the known cases in the United States of a mutated and likely more contagious strain of the coronavirus. The development came Friday as Florida reported nearly 20,000 more cases in a single day. A CDC map shows that Florida had 22 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant that emerged in Britain. It showed other cases in California, which has reported 26 cases, Colorado with two, and New York and Georgia each with one reported case. Statistics from the Florida Department of Health showed Friday's total of new coronavirus cases — 19,530 — almost reached the previous day's record of 19,816 new daily cases.
Which Florida, Georgia lawmakers voted to overturn Biden’s electors?
Lawmakers were resolved to complete their constitutional duty despite frayed nerves, high tensions and the nation’s capital on alert. The only other challenge was to the Pennsylvania electors, but that was also debated and denied. Florida Sen. Rick Scott was one of only eight in the nation who voted to sustain one or both objections. Florida’s senior senator, Marco Rubio, voted with the majority to accept the Electoral College vote and called on Trump to do more to help restore order. In the House, 12 Florida congressmen and six from Georgia voted to object to either the Arizona or Pennsylvania slate of Biden electors.
Florida Sens. Rubio, Scott split on votes to certify Biden’s election win
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)The Senate overwhelmingly turned aside challenges to President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election, guaranteeing the result will stand. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. The Republicans -- both allies of outgoing President Donald Trump, split, however, on a later vote over a legal challenge to Pennsylvania’s election. Rubio and Scott were among a myriad of Florida Republicans who rushed to condemn Wednesday’s violence in the halls of Congress. Florida Democrats blamed Wednesday’s violence on Republican lawmakers who supported Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud.
Sen. Rick Scott votes against $900B COVID-19 relief package
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)There was minimal opposition when the U.S. Senate passed a $900 billion economic relief package Monday night, but one of six senators to vote against the spending bill was Florida Sen. Rick Scott. “I supported and fought for many of the Covid provisions in last night’s bill,” Scott tweeted Tuesday. “Unfortunately they were attached to an omnibus spending bill that was thousands of pages long and chock full of handouts to special interests and wasteful spending. Unfortunately they were attached to an omnibus spending bill that was thousands of pages long and chock full of handouts to special interests and wasteful spending. Scott expressed support for provisions intended to help buoy small businesses, ward off layoffs and give more help to the unemployed.
US gives Florida wider authority over wetland development
Florida accounts for about a fifth of the country’s wetlands and includes the Everglades, among the state’s most important environmental jewels. “The fact is that Florida’s proposed program to take over wetlands permitting doesn’t comply with federal environmental laws,” she said. Florida becomes the third state to gain broader permitting authority of wetlands under the federal Clean Water Act. Florida's request to gain sole permitting authority was launched under the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, took on that mantle and earlier this year formally petitioned the federal government to transfer that authority.