The controversial proposal in the Legislature to combine the three campuses of the University of South Florida has drawn the ire of U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg. In a letter to Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Crist said he is “deeply concerned” over the bill offered by state Rep. Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican. It would bring the campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee under control of the main USF campus in Tampa. It also would phas...
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ST. PETERSBURG — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist will host a nonprofit programs expo Feb. 3 at the Childs Park Recreation and Fitness Center, an event he hopes will be a small but meaningful piece in the ongoing fight to stem Pinellas County’s juvenile auto theft epidemic. The expo is supposed to connect local teens to organizations that can help them stay out of trouble. Crist, a St. Petersburg Democrat, held several meetings last year to gather community input on the car theft crisis. Adults and kids...
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(WFLA) -- "Disgraceful." "Callous." "They've let us down." Members of Congress are lashing out at Bay Pines after our Target 8 investigation revealed veterans were kept in a cold building with no heat or hot water. Several members of Florida's Congressional delegation say it's time to look at the job performance of the people running Bay Pines. "I think it's outrageous," said Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D)-Florida. Our investigation confirmed that since September, veterans living in building 102...
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WASHINGTON (Gray DC) -- This week, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will come together in hopes of building a better working relationship. This informal group hopes to inspire Congress to set aside tensions and build a more positive tone -- something they hope can trickle down to state and local governments, too. "We don't have to agree on everything, but if we disagree, we can do it without being disagreeable," said Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL). Crist and Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) are teaming ...
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With a year in Congress under his belt, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., is now turning his focus to animal rights issues, including serving in the Congressional Action Protection Caucus. Last month, Crist and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., who also serves in the caucus, unveiled a bill reforming the Animal Welfare Act and another on how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) handles commercial breeding licenses. Crist’s and Fitzpatrick’s “Puppy Protection Act” tweaks USDA regulations...
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If passed, the bipartisan bill would stimulate the economy and create jobs, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist said. WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-St. Petersburg, has proposed a bill designed to make it easier for small businesses to get loans. U.S. Rep. Rod Blum , R-IA, is co-sponsoring the Access Business Credit (ABC) Act (H.R. 4424). The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to incentivize community banks to provide credit for small businesses. Specifically, interest received by a lender f...
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This week, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., teamed up with fellow congressional freshman U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to launch the Honor and Civility Caucus. Crist’s office noted that the new group was formed to “uphold and promote the ideals of civility and statesmanship and to restore trust and confidence in America’s political institutions" and “will work to foster more productive dialogue in Congress and to advance specific initiatives to improve the tone of the nation’s politics and pub...
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Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is coming out strong against the FCC’s upcoming Net Neutrality vote. Next Wednesday, Dec. 14, the Federal Communications Commission will vote to end net neutrality rules that have been in place since 2015. Net neutrality is the idea that all internet traffic should be treated the same, and that internet providers cannot play favorites, giving certain sites or services priority over others. Democratic U.S. Representative and former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says...
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The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus, representing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Floridians, today commended Florida Members of Congress for cosponsoring HR 4222, The Ruthie and Connie LGBT Elder Americans Act of 2017. Rep. Darren Soto (FL-9) today signed on as a cosponsor, joining Florida Reps. Charlie Crist (FL-13), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23). The bill, introduced by Crist, Deutch and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), has 11 other cosponso...
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Last week, two congressmen from Florida brought out a bill to crack down on arms sales to Iran. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., unveiled the “No Arms Sales to Iran Act” which is being co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla. The proposal would have the State Department report to Congress on countries providing Iran with restricted weapons and technology. Crist’s bill would also prohibit aid to countries providing Iran with weapons or helping develop its nuclear program. Crist, who was fi...
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