Florida Independent

Republican Party chairman fires back in Gingrich winner-take-all controversy

By Virginia Chamlee | 02.02.12 | 2:55 pm

The Newt Gingrich campaign is reportedly gearing up to challenge Florida’s “winner take all” policy, which allows the winner of the state’s presidential primary to gain all 50 of the state’s delegates, on the grounds that it violates the rules of the Republican National Committee. Republican Party of Florida chair Lenny Curry is defending the policy, arguing that it’s “a shame when the loser of a contest agrees to the rules before, then cries foul after losing.”

In Sarasota, Gingrich calls Obama a ‘Saul Alinsky radical,’ pledges to end Agenda 21 (Updated)

By Cooper Levey-Baker | 01.24.12 | 3:49 pm

GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich accused President Obama of being a “Saul Alinsky radical” who works to “appease the Taliban” at a campaign rally held in a Sarasota airplane hangar today.

Gingrich announces Florida campaign leaders

By Marcos Restrepo | 12.20.11 | 1:18 pm

GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich today announced campaign chairs and co-chairs for all of Florida’s 67 counties.

Lobbying disclosure data shows Automated HealthCare’s ongoing influence

By Virginia Chamlee | 11.18.11 | 9:02 am

A new report by the Florida Current examines the earnings of top legislative lobbying firms in Florida, which have increased since last year. Among the companies to have spent the most on lobbying is Automated HealthCare Solutions, a group whose co-chairmen have become fixtures on the political scene. According to the Current, Automated HealthCare has posted minimum lobbying expenditures greater than $300,000.

Romney’s Christian right Florida team

By Ashley Lopez | 11.14.11 | 11:27 am

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced the members of his Social Conservatives Statewide Steering Committee today; the list includes prominent anti-gay rights and anti-abortion rights activists in Florida’s Christian right circles.

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island (Pic via flsenate.gov)

Haridopolos, Bondi part of CPAC FL panel on ‘ending unconstitutional ObamaCare’

By Ashley Lopez | 09.08.11 | 9:43 am

The Conservative Political Action Conference being held in Orlando this month is set to feature a session that includes strategies to end “unconstitutional ObamaCare.” Included in the panel will be Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, and former Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Art Institutes included in for-profit college crackdown

By Virginia Chamlee | 09.07.11 | 4:16 pm

The Art Institutes are the latest for-profit colleges to be included in the federal government’s crackdown on for-profit colleges.

A concentrated oil burn near Venice, La., in May 2010 (Pic by Deepwater Horizon Response)

After one year, oil spill claims administrator says process now ‘current’

By Travis Pillow | 08.23.11 | 2:17 pm

Oil spill claims administrator Kenneth Feinberg marked the one-year anniversary of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility by saying the fund has at least looked at 97 percent of the claims it has received.

AP: ‘Increased scrutiny’ at for-profit schools, including several in Florida

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.09.11 | 11:55 am

A new piece by the Associated Press examines the increased scrutiny of for-profit schools, which have been subject to whistleblower lawsuits and, in Florida, an attorney general’s investigation.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota (Pic via Facebook)

Buchanan introduces bill ‘to crack down’ on pill mills

By Virginia Chamlee | 03.04.11 | 5:59 pm

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, today announced a piece of legislation “to crack down” on Florida’s pill mills. If enacted, the law will “double the penalties and triple the fines for drug violators” and use assets seized to fund prescription drug databases in states like Florida. According to a press release, it will also “reclassify one of the most abused and deadly narcotics to make it more difficult to obtain.”