February 14, 2017

Gun bills line up in Florida Legislature

A measure that would reduce the penalty for people who briefly display a firearm in public and make it a non-criminal offense has been filed in the House.

The proposal (HB 779), filed Friday by Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, is identical to a bill (SB 646) filed by Senate Judiciary Chairman Greg Steube, R-Sarasota. Steube recently turned an omnibus gun measure (SB 140) into a series of bills.

Combee said his proposal would apply to people with concealed-weapons licenses. The proposal would change what is currently a second-degree misdemeanor charge — carrying a fine up to $500 and 60 days in jail — into a $25 noncriminal violation that can be paid to a county clerk of the court.

The proposal also would allow members of the state Cabinet — the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner — to carry concealed weapons when unaccompanied by full-time Florida Department of Law Enforcement security.

more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-nsf-gun-bills-20170213-story.html

February 14, 2017

Orlando housing investor emerges as 2018 Democratic contender for Florida governor

Christopher King, a 38-year-old housing investor from the Orlando area, is exploring a run for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2018 and sounds more likely to run than not. The President and CEO of Winter Park-based Elevation Financial Group has been interviewing with potential campaign staffers and we hear has all but lined up several top tier consultants, including Obama alums Larry Grisolano of AKPD Message and Media and Jeremy Bird of 270 Strategies.

"We have to make a decision in the next 30 to 60 days," said King, whose father, David King, was the lead attorney for the Fair Districts redistricting reform coalition in 2014.

King specializes in affordable housing and said what drew him initially into exploring a run was state leaders steadily depleting the state's affordable housing trust fund. That, combined with watching the redistricting process and state leaders balk at expanding access to health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Floridians, fired him up.

He has never run for office before and faces the prospect of taking on experienced politicians including mayors Bob Buckhorn of Tampa, Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee and Philip Levine of Miami Beach, as well as former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee and personal injury lawyer John Morgan. King said he would bring a businessman's perspective to the debate about best to grow jobs and opportunity in Florida.

more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2017/02/orlando-housing-investor-emerges-as-2018-democratic-contender-for-florida-governor.html

February 14, 2017

GOP senators write Trump on Guantnamo: Keep it, grow it.

Source: The Miami Herald

A group of Republican senators has written President Donald Trump to not only keep the detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, but to suspend the parole-style review board and grow the prison population.

Four of the 11 senators who wrote Trump represent Colorado, Kansas and South Carolina — states the Obama administration had considered as possible sites for relocation of the last 41 Guantánamo detainees.

They called the prison a “vital mission” and “an invaluable asset” and criticized former President Barack Obama’s releases and closure ambition as “blatant disregard for the safety of the American people.” About 780 captives have been held there across the years; most were released by former President George W. Bush, who opened the detention center in 2002.

The senators wrote that Guantánamo “should continue to serve in detaining terrorists who engaged in, aided, or abetted, or conspired to commit, acts of international terrorism and other adverse acts against the United States.”



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/guantanamo/article132579034.html

February 14, 2017

WikiLeaks: Flynn leaving due to 'destabilization campaign' by Dems, media

Source: The Hill

Wikileaks on Tuesday blamed a “destabilization campaign” by the media and Democrats for national security adviser Michael Flynn's resignation.

“Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigns after destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press,” the organization tweeted, including a screenshot of the press release from the White House announcing the President Trump accepted Flynn’s resignation.

WikiLeaks ✔ @wikileaks Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigns after destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press
6:41 AM - 14 Feb 2017

Flynn resigned late Monday after reports emerged that he misled Trump administration officials about a conversation he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/319386-wikileaks-flynn-leaving-due-to-destabilization-campaign-by-dems-media

February 14, 2017

GOP rep on Flynn: 'The coverup was worse than the crime'

Source: The Hill

National security adviser Michael Flynn became a "distraction" to the Trump administration when he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his calls to Russia, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Tuesday.

"In this case, the coverup was worse than the crime. And it's arguably or questionably a crime," Kinzinger said on "Fox & Friends."

"It was a bad decision to call Russia and talk about this in the middle of the past administration determining what sanctions were going to look like. But what happened, the big problem is when he lied to the vice president and he became a distraction to President Trump."

Kinzinger said he thinks Flynn did the "honorable thing" by calling the president and explaining he was a distraction.

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/319387-gop-rep-coverup-was-worse-than-the-crime

February 14, 2017

Gillum raises profile ahead of 2018

By BRANDON LARRABEE
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, February 13, 2017..........On a cool, clear day last week in Tallahassee, a handful of reporters were outside City Hall, listening to Mayor Andrew Gillum and a couple of activists attack a state bill that would essentially bar local governments from passing regulations on business.

"We are a very big state, and we are a very diverse state," Gillum said. "We bask in that diversity and richness, but we also know that Tallahassee, and Jackson County, and Miami-Dade County and Orange County and all over this state, there are differences."

The event was sponsored by Campaign to Defend Local Solutions, an organization Gillum founded to push back against legislative initiatives to dial back local control --- especially on issues like gun control. But the organization and its activities also serve as a reminder that Gillum likely has ambitions that go beyond Tallahassee.

For months now, the mayor of the state's capital city has been assuming a more outspoken role against the Republican-dominated state government that sets up camp in his municipality. Along with other Democratic mayors like Miami Beach's Philip Levine and Tampa's Bob Buckhorn, Gillum is a favorite to jump into what could be a crowded primary for governor.

more: http://www.sayfiereview.com/page/Gillum%20raises%20profile%20ahead%20of%202018

February 14, 2017

Jackson Lee welcomes Katy-area student from Jordan who was detained

A 16-year-old from Jordan stood silently midday Monday in the decorated downtown office of a Houston-area congresswoman, his hands folded in front of him.

For 20 minutes, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee spoke to media about the recent ordeals of the young man, Mohammad Abu Khadra.

A Katy-area student, Mohammad was detained in Houston at Bush Intercontinental Airport when he returned from his native country a day after President Donald Trump issued his immigration ban on Jan. 27.

The Democratic congresswoman called Mohammad an "innocent child," explaining that he had gone home to renew the documents that allowed him to be in America. They had expired after he spent a few months living in the U.S. with his brother.

more: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Congresswoman-welcomes-Katy-area-student-from-10929908.php

February 14, 2017

Matt Gaetz to host open house in Milton; protesters expected

MILTON — Matt Gaetz will be making his first stop as congressman next week in Milton to hear thoughts and concerns from his constituents.

"It's the inaugural 'Open Gaetz'," he said in between flights Monday afternoon. "There's many more to come."

On Feb. 23, Gaetz will tour the Milton area making several stops starting with coffee at the Kiwanis Clubs of Milton and Pace and ending with a town hall gathering at Oops Alley Bowling and Restaurant.

Gaetz will be met with some opposition as local Democrats have planned a peaceful protest against the freshman congressman at his 12 p.m. stop at Grover T's BBQ Restaurant.

more: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170213/matt-gaetz-to-host-open-house-in-milton-protesters-expected

February 14, 2017

Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller holds "campaign kickoff" to announce he's not running

At an event billed as a "campaign kickoff," Lehigh County Executive Tom Muller announced he will not seek a second term in office Monday — to the surprise of many who were gathered to hear him speak.

Muller's supporters had come to Brookside Country Club in Lower Macungie Township in response to an invitation that strongly implied that Muller, a Republican turned Democrat, was seeking re-election. A header at the top of the invitation included Muller's campaign logo, and donations were requested for the Government That Works political action committee.

But 15 minutes into his speech, Muller delivered news that caught many off guard.

"As great as this chapter of my life has been and continues to be, it will come to an end this year," Muller said to the silent crowd. "I know that will come as a surprise to most of you. This is not the kickoff of my campaign tonight."

more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-lehigh-county-tom-muller-election-20170213-story.html

February 14, 2017

Russian lawmakers cry foul over resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn

Source: ABC News

Russian lawmakers have been reacting with outrage to the resignation of President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Michael Flynn, calling it the result of American paranoia towards Moscow and a campaign by Trump’s opponents to damage relations between Russia and the United States.

Flynn resigned on Monday after it emerged that he misled White House officials about his discussions with Russia’s ambassador to Washington ahead of Trump’s inauguration.

In his resignation letter, Flynn said he had “inadvertently” briefed Vice President Mike Pence and others with “incomplete information” on calls with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak. Flynn came under fire for discussing U.S. sanctions on Russia with the ambassador back in December.

The Kremlin has confirmed the calls but denied the sanctions were mentioned.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-lawmakers-cry-foul-resignation-national-security-adviser/story?id=45478431