Free Republic

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has decided not to enter the Republican primary for U.S. Senate after briefly considering a late bid. “As much as Carole and I are humbled by your calls, notes and messages to enter the US Senate race and carry our banner into the fight we believe we have a responsibility to finish the job Floridians elected us to do,” Atwater said in a weekend Facebook post. He’s less than 16 months into his four-year term as Florida CFO. Atwater, a North Palm Beach resident, said last week he was mulling a Senate bid after...

George LeMieux pointed to a laundry list of policy differences between himself and Congressman Connie Mack, his most formidable opponent in the U.S. Senate race, even questioning Mack’s fitness to run for office, in a conference call Friday. Mack’s record of misconduct recently documented by the Miami Herald was only part of the conversation with reporters, LeMieux also scheduled the call to remind the press of Mack’s history and voting record. LeMieux's campaign released this video, calling Connie a "half Mack" on Monday

Republican Congressman Connie Mack now runs dead even with incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in Florida’s 2012 U.S. Senate race. But Nelson outdistances two other potential GOP challengers, former Senator George LeMieux and businessman Mike McCalister. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Florida Voters finds Mack and Nelson earning 41% support each. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, and 12% remain undecided at this early stage. (To see survey question wording, click here.) In Rasmussen Reports’ first survey of the Florida Senate race last November, Mack, a congressman from the Fort Myers/Naples area, posted...

After Gingrich Newt scored a surprise blow-out victory in South Carolina last week, the former Massachusetts governor not only unleashed a political broadside of epic proportions. "It not about winning here anymore," one Romney staffer told BuzzFeed. "It's about destroying Gingrich — and it's working." After two standout debate performances that put him up 9 points in recent polls, Romney is keeping the pressure on Gingrich, looking to score a blow-out victory of his own here. To that end, Romney has rolled out a team of surrogates in the Sunshine State to take the fight to Gingrich in person: from...

Port St. Lucie, Fla. -- Whether or not he wins Florida, Newt Gingrich says, "I will go all the way to the convention. I expect to win the nomination." Mitt Romney's surrogates have been appearing at every one of Newt Gingrich's rallies in the Sunshine State, but the tactic hasn't seemed to draw much reaction from the former House speaker, who on Saturday turned most of his attention to President Obama on the stump. He focused on three things "that matter to Florida ... jobs, housing, and space." (snip) "People ask me what can we do about getting more jobs...

Forget the indirect attacks and distant exchanges between the Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich campaigns through the media. The Romney campaign pledged this week to run a “a full racketing operation,” right in Gingrich territory. A source close to the campaign told ABC News there will be a Romney surrogate at every public Gingrich event in Florida standing by to rebut Gingrich’s speeches to the media. “The campaign is entering a phase now where we are defining the terms of the Florida race,” a Romney staffer said. The staffer said it wasn’t a sign of fear on the Romney campaign’s...

Republican Congressman Connie Mack changed his mind late last month about challenging longtime Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in 2012, and now he finds himself with a modest edge over the incumbent in the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Florida’s U.S. Senate race. The latest statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state shows Mack with 43% to Nelson’s 39%.

Hillary Clinton:‘No Evidence’ DOJ Sought Required License to Send Guns to Mexico in ‘Fast and Furious’ By Fred Lucas October 28, 2011 (CNSNews.com) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified in the House Foreign Relations Committee Thursday that there was "no record" that the Justice Department had given the State Department a "head up" about Operation Fast and Furious, in which guns were allowed to flow from the United States to drug traffickers in Mexico, and that the State Department had found "no evidence" that DOJ had applied for a license or waiver to send guns to a foreign country,...

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday said the Justice Dept. did not give the State Dept. a "heads up" about the botched gunwalking scandal known as "Operation Fast and Furious."

[Click here for a PDF version of this document.]1. It Would Cut Federal Spending By One Percent for Six Consecutive Fiscal Years. The Penny Plan would require Congress to cut just one penny out of each dollar it spends every year for six years. These gradual cuts over the next six years will balance the federal budget. 2. It Would Cap Overall Spending at 18 Percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Starting in Fiscal Year 2018. Congressional spending consumes approximately 25 percent of GDP. Federal revenue from taxes over the past 40 years has averaged about 18 percent of...

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis admitted Thursday morning during a congressional hearing that she and the Obama administration believe driving a bus that happens to run on “clean energy” should count as a “green job.” Florida Republican Rep. Connie Mack, questioning Solis during a House oversight committee hearing about why she and the Obama administration consider a man driving a “clean energy” bus to have a “green job,” pushed her on the absurdity of her argument. “Driving a bus is driving a bus, right?” Mack asked her. “I mean, you turn the wheel, you push the gas, you use...

Congressman Connie Mack did not vote to raise the debt ceiling before the August recess. He was looking for a long-term solution to the nation’s deficits, which are leading to unsustainable debt. After working with some grass-roots groups, Mr. Mack designed the “One Percent Spending Reduction Act,” or, the “Mack Penny Plan,” which, he says, will cut and cap federal spending, and balance the federal budget in eight years. In short, the “Mack Penny Plan” would: • Cut federal spending by 1% each year for 6 years • Cap spending at 18% of GDP in the 7th year • Balance...

Now that the national debt-ceiling deal is done — and liberals like me are unhappy and conservatives deservedly have more to cheer about — Thanksgiving 2011 will be more than about good turkeys. This is the deadline for the so-called “super” congressional committee of six Democrats and six Republicans from the House and Senate to cut at least $1.2 trillion in the projected budget deficit for the next 10 years. I favor at least one-half of this $1.2 trillion to be funded by a combination of tax reform — closing tax loopholes — and increases in marginal tax rates of...

Rep. Connie Mack says the American people want a solution to the debt and deficit problem, not more “gimmicks and schemes,” so the Florida Republican cannot vote for a compromise that ensures continued skyrocketing debt. I don’t think the American people are looking for a deal or a compromise — they’re looking for a solution to the problem,” Mack said today (snip) And with this plan moving forward, we ensure ourselves that we are going to have over $17 trillion in debt without solving the problem, which is cutting spending.” Read more on Newsmax.com: Rep. Mack: 'Gimmick' Deal Fuels Debt...

U.S Latin American Policy Last Wednesday, the House Committee on Foreign Relations also voted 22 to 20 to withdraw this year’s funding of $48.5 million to the Organization of American States on the basis that the organisation is controlled by left-wing states such as Venezuela and Cuba. The House Committee also passed multiple amendments to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, including; cutting off all U.S. aid to the governments of Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and to those countries that oppose the U.S. more than 50% of the time in the United Nations. Obama’s travel reforms allowing increased travel...

Speaker John Boehner pushed his debt-ceiling bill through the House Friday night with the support of 218 Republicans. Here are the 22 no votes: Justin Amash (Mich.) Michele Bachmann (Minn.) Chip Cravaack (Minn.) Jason Chaffetz (Utah) Scott Desjarlais (Tenn.) Tom Graves (Ga.) Tim Huelskamp (Kans.) Steve King (Iowa) Tim Johnson (Ill.) Tom McClintock (Calif.) Mick Mulvaney (S.C.) Ron Paul (Texas) Connie Mack (Fla.) Jim Jordan (Ohio) Tim Scott (S.C.) Paul Broun (Ga.) Tom Latham (Iowa) Jeff Duncan (S.C.) Trey Gowdy (S.C.) Steve Southerland (Fla.) Joe Walsh (Ill.) Joe Wilson (S.C.) CORRECTED: Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) voted YES on the Boehner...

The following twenty-two House members stood firm and opposed the Boehner bill, which is nothing more than a vehicle which will be sent to the Senate, reworked by Harry Reid into something even worse than it already is, and then returned to the House. Boehner will dutifully bring it up and the Tea Partiers who voted for it will then vote against it, but it will not matter. Boehner and Reid will pass the Bill in the House with Democrat votes and Obama will sign it. The votes today cast by conservatives, many of whom are good people, are very...

Sean will have Conni Mack on next. Mack has a plan with REAL cuts that balances the budget in 6 years.

The Honduran constitutional crisis has, unfortunately, fallen out of the media spotlight. But one US Congressman – Florida’s Connie Mack – was determined to turn a spotlight on the merits of the government’s removal of former president Manuel Zelaya and the situation that caused the Honduran courts to order his expulsion from office. Last weekend Congressman Mack took the first Republican-led congressional delegation to Honduras to see for himself. While there, he spoke not only with new President Roberto Micheletti but also to American and Honduran businessmen, members of the Honduran congress and a broad range of others. Mack described...

Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), the Ranking Republican of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, tonight stated strongly that the report in today’s New York Times is utterly untrue, and is deeply concerned that the Obama Administration appears to be siding with Hugo Chavez against the people of Honduras. Today’s New York Times asserted that Honduran President Roberto Micheletti is working on a deal to bring former President Manuel Zelaya back to power. Mack said: “I spoke to President Micheletti today by telephone. The New York Times story is utterly untrue and there is no deal to bring Manuel Zelaya...

Here is video of Republican leaders speaking out for Democracy in Honduras. They are seeking to support the people of Honduras against the actions of Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya was removed by the military after doing what the Honduran Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. He was exiled to Costa Rica. Republicans support the people of Honduras who say Zelaya was seeking to become a virtual dictator, while President Obama has supported Zelaya, a vocal critic of the United States and close ally of Venezuela's dictator - Hugo Chavez. Rep. Connie Mack has introduced a resolution to condemn Zelaya, and voice support for...

Cornyn: Fla. Senate race 'open field' By POLITICO STAFF | 2/9/09 4:25 AM EST  Pressure Mounts On GOP Supporters The three Senate Republicans who say they’ll support the $827 billion economic recovery plan are facing pressure from both sides of the debate. A group of stimulus opponents led by Free­Republic.com founder Jim Robinson and Move America Forward chairwoman Melanie Morgan plans to protest outside the office of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) at 10 a.m. Monday before moving on to the offices of Maine Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. Meanwhile, the group Americans United for Change is running...

Link only to Gannett rag per FR posting instructions.

Stimulus Summary: The Pelosi-Obey Stimulus bill includes $358 billion in spending under the Appropriations Committee's jurisdiction. When combined with new spending that will be considered by the Ways and Means Committee, the estimated cost of all spending will reach more than $550 billion. Additionally, there is an estimated$,275 billion tax component, which will bring the total cost of the bill to $825 billion.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Mary Bono, who was married to late singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono and replaced him in Congress after his death, married U.S. Rep. Connie Mack on Saturday, according to Bono's sister. The news of the marriage was first reported by the Asheville Citizen-Times. Bono's sister, Katherine Whitaker, told The Associated Press the couple were married in a private ceremony attended by 35 family members. "It was fantastic," Whitaker said. "It was a very quiet ceremony. A spokeswoman for Mack had said in November that Asheville was selected because it is Whitaker's home. Mack, a Republican representative from Florida,...

Mack is for Mitt. Congressman Connie Mack announced this morning that he is endorsing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president. Mack, sent to Washington to represent Southwest Florida in 2004, will also chair Romney’s statewide steering committee. Mack said he met and talked with all the leading GOP candidates before choosing Romney. “Most people jumped on a bandwagon before now,” he said. “I took time to learn about each one and talk to each one.” Mack, son of the former U.S. Senator and great-grandson of the Hall of Fame baseball manager, said Romney is best able to instill the...

When they're not bickering, once in awhile members of Congress fall in love. GOP Reps. Mary Bono of California and Connie Mack of Florida announced their engagement Friday after dating for two years. Mack proposed a week ago while the couple were on a camping trip in Arches National Park in Utah, said Bono's chief of staff, Frank Cullen Jr. "Happy news," Cullen said. Congress returned from its summer recess this week and the couple have been informing colleagues. Bono, 45, was married to the late singer-turned-politician Sonny Bono, and replaced him in a special election in Congress in 1998...

House Approves Mack Amendment Promoting Voice of America Broadcasts to Venezuela June 21, 2007 - “While we in this chamber can debate in freedom, the American people can hear and see our every word thanks to a free press. But in Hugo Chavez’s Venezuela, the only thing the people can see or hear are the things that Hugo Chavez lets his media print and broadcast.” – Congressman Connie Mack WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14) today that will provide an accurate and comprehensive alternative source of news to the people of...

WASHINGTON - A Florida congressman ripped into former Rep. Joe Kennedy for airing television commercials promoting his Citizens Energy Corp. that heap praise on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, "a sworn enemy of the United States." In the ad, Kennedy, founder and president of Citizens Energy Corp., a nonprofit energy company, lauds Venezuela and Citgo, a Houston-based oil company owned by the Chavez government, for contributing heating oil to low income senior citizens. "I am Joe Kennedy. Help is on the way. Heating oil at 40 percent off from our friends in Venezuela at Citgo," Kennedy says in the commercial. In...

thedesertsun.com material cannot be posted [on FR] due to copyright complaint However, here's a link to the article.

2006 Congressional Election Cycle Has Begun  50 Republican Incumbents Undeserving of Support by Pro-life Voters   The Republican National Coalition for Life PAC is currently receiving phone calls from Republican candidates for Congress in the 2006 Republican primaries. Our usual practice is to mail our Candidate Questionnaire to Republican candidates in each district as soon as the filing deadlines are reached. When we receive the results of the questionnaire, they are recorded on our website at www.RNCLife.org so that voters can see for themselves it those seeking to represent them in Washington are truly pro-life. We hope that this service...

Panel to Review U.S. Tax Code By Warren Vieth, Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON — A presidential commission today launched what it promised would be a top-to-bottom review of the U.S. tax code, but acknowledged that it might make more sense to modify the income tax than to try to replace it. Members of the president's advisory panel on federal tax reform said all options were on the table, including proposals to replace personal and corporate income taxes with variations on a national sales tax. "The president is committed to major tax reform, to real tax reform, to something more than...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Friday appointed two former senators -- Florida Republican Connie Mack and Louisiana Democrat John Breaux -- to head a panel to come up with recommendations on reshaping the tax code. snip Bush said Mack, the chairman, and Breaux, the vice chairman, would lead an effort to come up with recommendations on how to make sure the tax code "encourages economic vitality and growth," instead of discouraging it and requiring Americans to spend billions of hours filling out tax forms. snip The tax panel is to look at a broad array of options, ranging from...

Aug 31, 9:06 PM EDT Castor wins Senate nomination; Martinez leads GOP race By STEVEN WINE Associated Press Writer MIAMI (AP) -- Betty Castor won the Democratic nomination Tuesday for the Senate seat being vacated by a retiring Bob Graham, and Mel Martinez led the Republican race in a primary election that tested Florida's much-maligned voting system. Castor, a former state education commissioner and university president, led U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch by nearly a 3-to-1 margin with half the precincts reporting. Castro had 64 percent of the votes to 23 percent for Deutsch. Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas was third...

The Associated Press 10/7/2003, 12:10 a.m. ET FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — State Rep. Connie Mack IV said Monday he's moving back to southwest Florida to run for the congressional seat once held by his father, a newspaper reported. Mack, a Republican, told the New-Press of Fort Myers that he'll make a public announcement Tuesday. Mack, 36, said he's buying a house in the district that includes Lee County and parts of Collier and Charlotte counties. He was first elected to his state House seat in 2000, and said he will resign that post. Mack is pursuing the House seat...

<p>State Rep. Connie Mack IV, R-Fort Lauderdale, said Friday he’ll be calling people in Southwest Florida to further explore whether he should move here and run for Congress.</p> <p>While Mack legally does not have to live in Southwest Florida to run for or hold the seat left vacant by the retirement of U.S. Rep. Porter Goss, R-Sanibel, next year, it helps.</p>