Tag: dings

  • Donald Trump Jr. dings DeSantis for not canceling travel during Florida flooding

    Donald Trump Jr. dings DeSantis for not canceling travel during Florida flooding

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    Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area received more than two feet of rain, forcing the city’s international airport to shut down and flooding homes and highways.

    DeSantis, who traveled to Ohio Thursday to attend a Butler County Republican Party event, declared a state of emergency for Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale later in the day. Reports indicate the rainfall and flooding may continue to disrupt critical infrastructure — including county roads, airports, hospitals and schools.

    The governor’s office also authorized funds from the state’s emergency preparedness and response fund to pay for disaster relief.

    The Florida Division of Emergency Management deployed staff to assist in recovery efforts including collecting damage assessment data. The Florida Highway Patrol increased staffing to coordinate coverage in response to the flood.

    But Fort Lauderdale’s mayor, Dean Trantalis, a Democrat, said during a press conference Thursday that the governor hadn’t called him about the flooding and the ongoing cleanup effort.

    “I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m sure he’s very interested in what’s going on here, and we’re happy to work with his office,” Trantalis said. “I’m not sure if the governor himself needs to be involved, but the state agencies have been very helpful in working with us to take on this challenge.

    In response, the governor’s office said it is wrong for the media and political critics to rush to politicize every national disaster.

    “The governor left yesterday, and the unprecedented flooding intensified later in the night. He returns today,” DeSantis’ spokesperson Bryan Griffin said in a statement.

    “Nonetheless, at the direction of Governor DeSantis, the state emergency response apparatus is in full swing responding to the flooding and the needs of the localities as they are communicated to us. This now includes issuing a state of emergency in Broward County,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Democratic state senator Shevrin Jones criticizes DeSantis in a statement issued Thursday.

    “It is disgraceful and telling about his priorities that Gov. DeSantis chose to campaign and continue his book tour in Ohio instead of govern in Florida. He has failed as a leader,” the statement says.

    Gary Fineout contributed to this report.

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • Club for Growth endorses Scott and dings McConnell

    Club for Growth endorses Scott and dings McConnell

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    A spokesman for Club said the group’s super PAC intends to spend on Scott’s behalf in next year’s election, which as of now features no Republican primary opponents. The group spent $60 million on Senate races this past cycle.

    The Club for Growth supported Scott in his 2018 Senate campaign and McIntosh praised the Senator as a “proven conservative who has promoted economic growth.” Scott, a former healthcare executive turned Florida governor, narrowly defeated a Democrat in his bid for Senate that year after spending more than $60 million of his own cash. As of now, there are no notable Democratic challengers for his seat.

    The dig at McConnell by the Club for Growth comes at a tense moment between the Senate Minority Leader and Scott.

    During the 2022 midterms, Scott chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee, clashing with McConnell throughout the cycle on matters of strategy. A super PAC aligned with McConnell, the Senate Leadership Fund, stepped in to pour $240 million into Senate races last year as the NRSC’s resources were strained. But they eventually cut off funding for poorly performing Republican nominees in Arizona and New Hampshire. Republicans ultimately lost a seat during an election in which they were favored to win back the Senate majority, as Scott, McConnell and their allies each pointed fingers over whose strategy was to blame.

    But the persistent clashes have been over Scott’s campaign season proposal to require Congress to reapprove federal programs, including Medicare and Social Security, every five years. McConnell has sought to distance the party from the idea and even recently said he believed Scott’s own election would be endangered because of it.

    After the midterms, Scott announced he would challenge McConnell as GOP leader — which he did unsuccessfully. McIntosh, in an interview at the time, said he did not foresee McConnell losing the position, but predicted “a sea change in terms of how much power he has as the leader.”

    A spokesperson for McConnell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Despite no current threat in his 2024 reelection bid, Scott has already begun to build up a campaign operation, bringing on additional campaign staff in Florida and ramping up his political activity in the state. Next week, Scott has a series of campaign events planned, followed by small rallies and roundtables in March.

    The Club for Growth’s endorsement comes as Scott is poised to also have the backing of SLF and the NRSC, which have no plans to oppose his reelection bid, both groups said.

    Scott in a statement to POLITICO said he is “proud” to have the Club’s endorsement.

    “The establishment in Washington has failed and they’re the only ones who don’t realize it,” Scott said. “We need more champions in Washington who are willing to fight the status quo and work to rescue America from the failures of Joe Biden, Democrats, and the Washington establishment.”

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )