Big Sugar buddies: Nelson and Rubio help defeat plan to curtail federal sugar quota

Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio helped defeat, for the second straight year, a move to curtail the federal sugar quota, underscoring the industry's strength in Florida and in influencing politics.

The lawmakers were among 54 senators to vote yesterday afternoon against the proposed amendment to the farm bill. A big industry in Florida, sugar has close ties to Nelson and Rubio. The Democrat Nelson got more money in the 2012 election cycle than any other member of Congress, $71,250, according to maplight.org. Rubio got $17,400 in his 2010 election and $5,000 in the 2012 cycle....

Senate immigration bill passes key test, headed to floor

Ending on an emotional note over same-sex couples, the Senate Judiciary Committee tonight passed a sweeping immigration bill that would create a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people while spending billions on more border security and other enforcement.

The vote was 13 to 5, with Democrats joined by three Republicans Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham and Orrin Hatch, who secured a last-minute change adding more visas for tech workers. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration. Even tougher prospects lie in the House, which has yet to produce its own bill....

Florida lawmakers outraged as IRS official plans to take the 5th

Florida lawmakers are outraged that Lois Lerner, the IRS official who oversaw a program that singled out tea party groups for scrutiny, plans to invoke the 5th Amendment tomorrow before the House oversight committee.

“What’s she hiding?” said Rep. Vern Buchanan, who has said Lerner should be fired. “The American people demand and deserve answers. Pleading the fifth is a direct slap in the face of every American taxpayer betrayed by the IRS’s gross abuse of power.”...

Senator backs off move to change cutoff date in immigration bill

On Sunday, we explored the issue surrounding the cutoff date in the immigration bill and efforts to change it to bring more undocumented people out of the shadows.

Today, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., withdrew his amendment to move the date to April 17, 2013 -- when the bill was introduced -- from Dec. 31, 2011. He explained why in a message to the Tampa Bay Times:...

Tampa tea party groups to protest at IRS office

From our Tampa staff:

TAMPA — Members of Tampa 912 and other tea party activists plan to protest from noon to 1 p.m. today in front of the Tampa office of the Internal Revenue Service at 3848 W Columbus Drive.

Karen Jaroch, who co-founded the Tampa chapter of Glenn Beck's 9–12 group, last week told the Tampa Bay Times that when the group applied for tax-exempt status in 2010, it not only had to complete a 17-page application but was later asked for copies of its educational literature, a breakdown of how members would spend their time and the names of political candidates the group would support....

Allen West, other conservatives ask Congress to redo immigration bill

A large group of conservative and tea party figures, including former Florida Rep. Allen West, have sent a letter to Congress opposing the Senate immigration bill.

"We write to express our serious concerns regarding the Gang of Eight's immigration bill, S. 744. We oppose this bill and urge you to vote against it when it comes to the Senate floor," it reads. "No matter how well-intentioned, the (Charles) Schumer-(Marco) Rubio bill suffers from fundamental design flaws that make it unsalvageable. Many of us support various parts of the legislation, but the overall package is so unsatisfactory that the Senate would do better to start over from scratch."...

Allen West joins long list of conservatives opposing 'Schumer-Rubio' immigration bill

A large group of conservative and tea party figures, including former Florida Rep. Allen West, have sent a letter to Congress opposing the Senate immigration bill.

"We write to express our serious concerns regarding the Gang of Eight's immigration bill, S. 744. We oppose this bill and urge you to vote against it when it comes to the Senate floor," it reads. "No matter how well-intentioned, the Schumer-Rubio bill suffers from fundamental design flaws that make it unsalvageable. Many of us support various parts of the legislation, but the overall package is so unsatisfactory that the Senate would do better to start over from scratch."...

Rubio: 'No doubt' immigration bill 'heading in the right direction' but border still issue

The Senate Judiciary Committee resumed work today on the immigration bill and adopted several amendments that Sen. Marco Rubio said are critical in gaining support.

"There’s no doubt that the bill is heading in the right direction. Probably not fast enough for some people but certainly it’s better than the day we started," Rubio said in an interview, singling out an amendment that would require fingerprint systems at major airports to track visa holders....

Rubio: Probes into national security leaks should focus on gov't employees, not reporters

Sen. Marco Rubio issued a statement on a report that that Justice Department spied on a Fox News reporter in an attempt to find out a leak dealing with North Korea. The Washington Post story came after revelations that DOJ had tracking phone calls by The Associated Press....

Ann Coulter to help Vern Buchanan fundraise

Ann Coulter will be in Sarsota on Friday to help Rep. Vern Buchanan raise campaign money, according to an invite.

The event will be held at the home of Kim Githler. Admission: $250 per person.

Coulter has a home in Palm Beach, one of many national Republican figures who reside in Florida at least part of the year....

Cutoff date in immigration bill would leave many in shadows

WASHINGTON — Huber David Hernandez got a surprising phone call from a friend a few months ago. Congress is working on immigration reform, she said, and it would benefit both of us.

"It was great news," said Hernandez, who is from Colombia and arrived in Orlando in May 2012 on a three-month travel visa and never left, eager "to secure a better future, to achieve what they call the American Dream."...

Older and 'more aggressive' Bill Young gears up for another election

UPDATE Sunday evening: Ehrlich statement: "I welcome Congressman Bill Young's active engagement in the race for the FL-13 congressional district and I look forward to a spirited and candid debate of the issues facing the people of Pinellas County for the first time in twenty years. ... The voters of Pinellas deserve better. That is why I invite Congressman Young to a series of debates whenever and wherever over the course of the campaign to make sure we both directly answer the questions and concerns of the voters of Pinellas and share our visions for the future."...

Tom Rooney: Dump the IRS

As the House Ways & Means Committee today grills outgoing IRS Acting Director Steven Miller, Florida Rep. Tom Rooney has another idea:

Dump the agency.

“The revelations of the last week have confirmed that it’s time to reduce or completely eliminate the IRS, and build a new tax system that treats American taxpayers with the fairness, honesty and integrity they deserve," Rooney said in a statement. "That is why today I have cosponsored three bills that will significantly reduce or eliminate this sinister, out-of-control agency, and I hope the House and Senate will consider them promptly."...