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, of many Republicans who call Florida home at least part ...

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."...

Allen West gets job as Fox News contributor

Fox News said today it has hired fomer Florida Rep. Allen West as a contributor, offering political commentary across various daytime and primetime programs.

“Representative West’s congressional and military experience along with his fearless approach to voicing key issues will provide a valuable point of view to the FOX News lineup," said Bill Shine, executive vice president of programming....

Trey Radel says he'd 'kill it' in old school rap battle with Rubio

Jessica Ehrlich and Gwen Graham make Emily's 'List'

Florida congressional candidates Jessica Ehrlich and Gwen Graham are among a handful of women being highlighted by the Democratic group Emily's List.

" 'On the List' is a new way to make sure EMILY’s List members can engage with and support promising candidates all across the country even earlier in the election cycle. By putting these women 'On the List,' EMILY’s List is ensuring that they have access to this powerful network of supporters," the group said....

Rubio's book brings big payday

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who likes to joke in speeches that his book An American Son is available on Amazon, earned $800,000 off it in 2012, his newly filed financial disclosure shows.

The Florida Republican used the money to strike an albatross from previous disclosures: more than $100,000 in college loan debt.

The $800,000 advance from publisher Penguin Group puts Rubio in a league with other recent senators who have become national figures. Former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts got a $700,000 advance for his book in 2010. In 2006, then-Sen. Barack Obama listed $147,000 in royalties for one book and a $425,000 advance for another....

Mark Sanford has a John Mica moment

From The New York Times:

In some ways, Mark Sanford, the newly elected Republican representative from South Carolina, felt as if he had never left Capitol Hill.

“I walked in and C-SPAN was on, with John Mica talking,” Mr. Sanford said, referring to Representative John Mica, Republican of Florida, with whom Mr. Sanford served in Congress during his first spin through the House in the 1990s. “Is it 13 years or is it just one minute?”...

Acting commissioner of IRS has resigned, as Rubio and others called for

President Obama just announced from the White House East Room that Steven Miller, the acting commissioner of the IRS has resigned, a step Sen. Marco Rubio and other Republican lawmakers sought. Obama also promised to take other action in light of the news that the IRS was singling out tea party and other conservative groups....

Democrats target Bill Young, Ros-Lehtinen with Obamacare robocalls

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today launched robocalls in the districts of two Florida Republicans as the GOP-led House plans its 37th vote to repeal Obamacare.

The calls target Reps. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami. President Obama won both districts in 2012, though Young and Ros-Lehtinen have consistently voted against the health care law....

Rubio votes against Senate water bill; Nelson votes for it

The Senate voted 84-13 to approve a wide-ranging water bill today that includes millions in funding for the Everglades and other Florida-related projects. But Florida's senators were at odds.

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio voted no despite offering several amendments, including one yesterday that jumped on the IRS scandal. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes and has touted Everglades funding....

Rubio moves quick to capitalize on IRS scandal

Sen. Marco Rubio has moved swiftly on the IRS scandal, calling for the acting commissioner to be fired, introducing legislation and even seeking to raise money off the situation.

"If there was ever a time for conservatives to take a stand against an expanding federal government, it is now. With this issue, the very message of the Tea Party movement has been validated." Rubio, who has faced some difficulty with the tea party over his involvement in immigration reform, wrote this afternoon to followers of his PAC. "Together we can use this scandal to demonstrate to Americans of all backgrounds just how dangerous the status quo has become in Washington. But we’ll need all hands on deck. You can help by contributing to the Reclaim America PAC today."...