Alan Grayson

(WASHINGTON) – Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) today praised the implementation of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights (H.R. 627).  Rep. Grayson helped to shepherd this bill through the House Financial Services Committee, and then voted for it in the House.  It contains several strict protections for consumers, including banning unfair interest rate increases, and forbidding abusive fees and penalties by credit card companies.

Congressman Grayson said, “Credit card companies will no longer be able to stick it to middle-class families in Central Florida.  These huge banks charged exorbitant interest rates, and used gimmicks to burden people with unnecessary fees.  These reforms will help hard-working people pay off their debt.”

The so-called “Credit CARD Act” was signed into law on May 22, 2009, and takes effect this week.  A recent report by the Pew Charitable Trusts concluded that unfair or deceptive credit card practices hurt families badly before this important law was enacted.  For example, interest rates climbed an average of 20 percent in the first half of 2009, on credit cards representing more than 90 percent of outstanding balances.

As part of the new law, consumers are now given the right to refuse to accept rate hikes, and pay off existing credit card balances under the old rate. Credit card companies also are required to give 45 days’ notice of any rate increases on new purchases.  If a consumer receives notice of a rate hike, he or she can now simply ask the card company to reverse the rate hike and close the account.

Additional provisions of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights (H.R. 627):

·       Account statements must be sent 21 days in advance of the payment due date.

·       Interest rate hikes on balances are prohibited.

·       Penalty rate increases for payments less than 60 days overdue are banned.

·       Charging interest on debts paid on-time is banned.

·       “Due-date” gimmicks, such as setting morning times for payments before mail is delivered or charging fees for paying a bill by phone or internet, are banned.

·       Promotional rates must last at least six months.

·       A consumer under 21 must demonstrate an ability to pay, or have a parent co-sign, to be eligible for a credit card.

Armando Gutierrez

Armando Gutierrez Jr., son of local power player Armando Gutierrez Sr., has dropped his bid to challenge insane Orlanda-area Congressman Alan Grayson.

Lori Edwards

Lori Edwards last quarter campaign report shows that she is going to be a great congresswoman.  She already has deficit spending down.  Her campaign finance reports show that she brought in $35,270 and spent $51,294.83.   I wonder if this quarter will be different since Lori had the congressman from ACORN.  No word yet   how much Grayson was able to bring in for her.

Below is a list of contributions to her campaign

Tania C. Allam
2418 Wildwood Ct
Winter Haven, Florida 338843000 Information Requested 10/30/2009 500.00 Information Requested
500.00

John M Belohlavek
702 S Fielding Ave
Tampa, Florida 336062724 University of South Florida 11/13/2009 250.00 Professor
250.00

Susan McIntosh Bentley
3 Casa Loma Way
Lakeland, Florida 338132806 Retired 10/15/2009 125.00 Retired
225.00

Patricia Burnetti
2106 Kirkland Lake Dr
Auburndale, Florida 338232043 Information Requested 10/30/2009 500.00 Information Requested
500.00

Elizabeth Castor
1298 Millstream Rd
Tallahassee, Florida 323122548 University of South Florida 11/13/2009 500.00 Educator
500.00

Sharon McManus Comkowycz
7 Bridgewater Dr
Winter Haven, Florida 338843005 Our Children’s Academy 10/30/2009 250.00 Principal
500.00

Amy N Dean
2600 Island Blvd Apt 1706
Aventura, Florida 331605210 Self employed 10/29/2009 500.00 Arbitrator
500.00

Pat T DiCesare, II
2846 Chatsworth Ln
Lakeland, Florida 338123875 Dicesare, Davidson & Barker, PA 10/30/2009 250.00 Attorney
500.00

Jason Eberstein
1001 G St NW
Washington, DC 200014545 Dewey Square Group 12/17/2009 250.00 Government Affairs
250.00

Sherida Lynn Ferguson
17581 Fairmeadow Dr
Tampa, Florida 336472501 Principal Financial Group 10/21/2009 100.00 Certified Financial Planner
450.00

Sherida Lynn Ferguson
17581 Fairmeadow Dr
Tampa, Florida 336472501 Principal Financial Group 10/30/2009 250.00 Certified Financial Planner
450.00

Sherida Lynn Ferguson
17581 Fairmeadow Dr
Tampa, Florida 336472501 Principal Financial Group 11/06/2009 100.00 Certified Financial Planner
450.00

Mary J Figg
18406 Timberlan Dr
Lutz, Florida 335495829 Retired 11/13/2009 250.00 Retired
250.00

Fassil Gabremariam
345 Bayshore Blvd 1607
Tampa, Florida 336062354 U.S. Africa Education Foundation 11/13/2009 250.00 President & Founder
250.00

Leigh Graham
2003 E Hernandez St
Pensacola, Florida 325035717 USPS 10/07/2009 100.00 Postal Carrier
300.00

Lorna Taylor Gregory
3009 W Villa Rosa Park
Tampa, Florida 336112839 Premier Eye Care 11/24/2009 1000.00 CEO
1000.00

Kathryn Jeri Hammond
216 Boxwood Dr
Davenport, Florida 338375548 Lake Wales Charter 10/20/2009 250.00 Teacher
1750.00

Kathryn Jeri Hammond
216 Boxwood Dr
Davenport, Florida 338375548 Lake Wales Charter 10/20/2009 500.00 Teacher
1750.00

Kathryn Jeri Hammond
216 Boxwood Dr
Davenport, Florida 338375548 Lake Wales Charter 11/23/2009 250.00 Teacher
1750.00

Kathryn Jeri Hammond
216 Boxwood Dr
Davenport, Florida 338375548 Lake Wales Charter 12/29/2009 250.00 Teacher
1750.00

Lois Cowles Harrison
2311 Nevada Rd
Lakeland, Florida 338032339 Retired 10/15/2009 250.00 Retired
750.00

Homer Hooks
2311 Nevada Rd
Lakeland, Florida 338032339 Retired 10/15/2009 250.00 Retired
250.00

Kenneth Kaminga
2823 Grapefruit Dr
Auburndale, Florida 338234901 Retired 12/31/2009 100.00 Retired
400.00

Jane Frank Katcher
4197 S Douglas Rd
Miami, Florida 331336832 Retired 10/07/2009 1000.00 Retired
1000.00

Homer D. Kern
223 Indian Hill Ln
China Spring, Texas 766332862 Retired 12/17/2009 300.00 Retired
550.00

Alan Joseph Kromholz
3213 Par Rd
Sebring, Florida 338721263 None 11/23/2009 25.00 Retired
275.00

Nora Leto
915 South Blvd
Lakeland, Florida 338031137 Kaylor & Kaylor 11/13/2009 250.00 Attorney
250.00

Mark A Linsky
503 W Platt St
Tampa, Florida 336062245 Self 11/10/2009 200.00 Attorney
450.00

Toni W. Maloney
PO Box 1006
Auburndale, Florida 338231006 Self 10/30/2009 100.00 Forensics
350.00

William Malzone
3465 Turnberry Dr
Lakeland, Florida 338035462 Clark and Daughtrey 10/30/2009 250.00 Physician
250.00

A. Melissa Maxfield
8947 Donna Lu Dr
Odessa, Florida 335561908 Comcast Corporation 12/31/2009 250.00 Vice-President, Federal Government Aff
250.00

Daniel D Moody
4281 Old 9 Foot Rd
Eagle Lake, Florida 338394105 Moody Law 10/01/2009 180.00 Attorney
1690.00 * In-Kind: Office Space

Daniel D Moody
4281 Old 9 Foot Rd
Eagle Lake, Florida 338394105 Moody Law 11/01/2009 180.00 Attorney
1690.00 * In-Kind: Office Space

Daniel D Moody
4281 Old 9 Foot Rd
Eagle Lake, Florida 338394105 Moody Law 12/01/2009 180.00 Attorney
1690.00 * In-Kind: Office Space

Michael E Musetta
2314 N Riverside Dr
Tampa, Florida 336021838 Michael Musetta & Associates, Inc. 11/24/2009 250.00 Court Reporter
450.00

Michael E Musetta
2314 N Riverside Dr
Tampa, Florida 336021838 Michael Musetta & Associates, Inc. 12/30/2009 100.00 Court Reporter
450.00

Charlotte Perret
707 S Gulfstream Ave
Sarasota, Florida 342367710 Retired 10/03/2009 400.00 Museum Educator
400.00

Clay Phillips
3033 W Asbury Pl
Tampa, Florida 336112805 Congresswoman Kathy Castor 11/13/2009 250.00 Chief of Staff
250.00

Catherine Williams Real, Esq
2110 W Platt St
Tampa, Florida 336061759 Catherine W Real PA 11/05/2009 500.00 Attorney
500.00

Jeffrey W. Reddout
310 Hernando Rd
Winter Haven, Florida 338841030 Self 11/23/2009 100.00 neuropsychologist
250.00

James W Schroeder
621 Nadina Pl
Celebration, Florida 347474960 None 12/18/2009 250.00 Retired
250.00

Donna Edna Shalala
8565 Old Cutler Rd
Coral Gables, Florida 331436217 University of Miami 12/31/2009 250.00 President
250.00

Nancy M. Simmons
124 Mirror Ln NW
Winter Haven, Florida 338811316 Retired 10/29/2009 200.00 Retired
700.00

Alicia Smith
1401 K St NW Fl 12
Washington, DC 200053464 Smith-Free Group 12/17/2009 250.00 Government Affairs
250.00

Barbara Stampfl
2435 Jonila Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33803 Bartow Library 10/29/2009 250.00 Librarian
1000.00

Barbara Stampfl
2435 Jonila Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33803 Bartow Library 11/28/2009 250.00 Librarian
1000.00

Barbara Stampfl
2435 Jonila Avenue
Lakeland, Florida 33803 Bartow Library 12/22/2009 250.00 Librarian
1000.00

E. Bruce Strayhorn
2125 1st St Ste 201
Fort Myers, Florida 339013092 Self Employed 10/20/2009 1250.00 Attorney
1250.00

Andrew Tobias
787 NE 71st St
Miami, Florida 331385717 self 12/09/2009 250.00 writer
250.00

Susan Douglas Turner
702 S Fielding Ave
Tampa, Florida 336062724 Retired 11/13/2009 250.00 Retired
250.00

Mary Kay Vona
3112 W Oakellar Ave
Tampa, Florida 336112918 aon consulting 11/24/2009 500.00 executive
500.00

Kerry M Wilson
1906 18th St NW
Winter Haven, Florida 338811216 Peterson & Myers 10/30/2009 150.00 Attorney
400.00

Robert A. Young
301 Lake Pansy Dr NW
Winter Haven, Florida 338819620 Retired 11/13/2009 150.00 Retired
650.00

Andrea Ellen Zelman
3033 W Asbury Pl
Tampa, Florida 336112805 Fowler White Boggs 11/13/2009 250.00 Attorney
250.00

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 217014756
12/31/2009 1000.00

1000.00

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AN
1625 L St NW
Washington, DC 200365665
12/07/2009 2000.00

2000.00

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN DIVERSE GEOGR
499 S Capitol St SW Ste 422
Washington, DC 200034028
12/31/2009 5000.00

5000.00

International Assn of Fire Fighters – F
1750 NEW YORK NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
12/31/2009 2500.00

2500.00

NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCI
1325 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 200054171
11/13/2009 1000.00

4000.00

Armando Gutierrez

It took a few days, but Armando Gutierrez, the South Florida transplant running for the Republican nomination to face U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando, announced today he’s siding with much of Florida’s GOP Establishment and endorsing Sen. John Thrasher as state party chairman.

Thrasher was named Tuesday as the favored candidate of everyone from former Gov. Jeb Bush to incoming legislative presiding officers Rep. Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos to a host of GOP moneymen including Charlie Crist confidante Al Sembler. Oh yeah, and Crist also endorsed Thrasher as a replacement for Jim Greer, the former Oviedo city councilman who managed to alienate huge chunks of the party’s membership by his arrogance and his penchant for taking sides in primaries.

Said Gutierrez in a statement: “John Thrasher is a true public servant.  His experience serving on a School Board, a County Commission, in the Legislature, and running a business will serve Florida Republicans well. “John Thrasher is a solid conservative and proven leader we can count on.”

I had the pleasure of speaking with Armando some time ago and asked if he would be supporting Marco Rubio since he was from South Florida as well.  He told me that he would be supporting Charlie Crist for Senator.  So this really comes as no surprise since Charlie is supporting Thrasher as well.

This shows us that Gutierrez is not a grassroots candidate but more of an establishment pawn.

Florida state Rep. Kurt Kelly (R) filed the paperwork Tuesday for a campaign to take on Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.), joining a wide, though not particularly prominent, field of Republicans vying for the chance to knock off the liberal firebrand.

Kelly, whose district covers part of Grayson’s 8th district, has been eyeing the race since the fall, but was waiting to see how the field shaped up.

“I am grateful and excited about the encouragement and support that I have received district wide,” Kelly said in a statement, noting early endorsements from local state Reps. Stephen Precourt and Eric Eisnaugle, Lake County Commissioner Jimmy Conner, and former House Speaker Pro-Temp Dennis Baxley.

The self-described “conservative businessman” is serving his second term in the state House, and is also the CEO of a company that conducts background searches for employers.

Kelly joins seven other Republicans who have formed campaign committees for the race, including attorney and conservative activist Todd Long, retired pilot Dan Fanelli, physician Ken Miller and Armando Gutierrez Jr., a wealthy restaurateur and developer.

Republican officials have been working to recruit Orlando businessman Bruce O’Donoghue, who has indicated he is likely to get into the race.

Alan Grayson

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Alan Grayson successfully steered an important bipartisan amendment through the House Financial Services Committee today.  The Paul-Grayson amendment clears the way for the first independent audit of the Federal Reserve since the central bank was created in 1913.

Congressman Grayson said, “The Federal Reserve has conducted secret bailouts that range in the hundreds of billions of dollars.  Congress never voted on them, and the President never approved them. This cannot go on any longer.  It’s bad enough that we have bailouts at all.  But it is really bad if they are secret, with the Fed transferring money to banks without the public knowing about it.”

The amendment will be part of a larger bill aimed at reforming and regulating the financial markets, in order to prevent another massive collapse.  Exposing how the Federal Reserve operates is a crucial component to any meaningful reform.  “We need to figure out what they’ve done and then we can figure out how to respond,” Congressman Grayson said.

The non-partisan Government Accountability Office will conduct the audits.  The Paul-Grayson amendment closely mimics H.R. 1207, the Audit the Fed bill.  Representative Ron Paul first introduced the idea of auditing the Fed 26 years ago.  It never garnered much support until this year, when Congressman Grayson became the first Democrat to co-sponsor H.R. 1207.  He literally walked it around the floor of the House during votes, encouraging Members to support it.  The bill now has 310 co-sponsors out of the 435 Members, including well over 100 Democrats and every single Republican.

The amendment passed the Committee by a vote of 43-26.  You can read the entire Paul-Grayson amendment here.

“I did not support this because it is a Democratic bill or a Republican bill, I supported it because Ron Paul is right,” Congressman Grayson said.

“I’ve worked for years in the legislature with leaders like Governor Jeb Bush and Speaker Daniel Webster to bring conservative government to the citizens of Florida,” stated Senator Steve Wise.  “Armando Gutierrez will fight for our values.  He has what it takes to be a great Congressman.”

Steve Wise, a retired Vice President of Florida Community College,was elected to the Florida Senate in 2001.  He previously served as a State Representative from 1988-2000.

Gutierrez is endorsed by a growing number of Republican leaders, such as former RPOF Chairman Al Cardenas, George P. Bush, Congressman Tom Rooney, Congressman Gus Bilirakis, State House Majority Whip Carlos Lopez-Cantera, State Representative Chris Dorworth, State Representative Bryan Nelson, State Representative Charles Van Zant, State Representative Erik Fresen, State Representative Mike Weinstein, former State Representative Randy Johnson, former Orange County Commissioner Tom Dorman, and the Florida Federation of Young Republicans.

For more information, please visit: www.GoGutierrez.com

Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, has his eye on being Speaker of the Florida House in 2014. One way he’s chosen to raise his profile is endorsing local candidates for Congress. Last week, Dorworth went on record backing South Florida transplant Armando Gutierrez, who wants to take on U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, R-Orlando, next year. Today, he backed a challenger to Grayson’s fellow Democratic freshman, Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.

That would be Winter Park City Commissioner Karen Diebel, who’s battling state Rep. (and one of Dorworth’s legislative colleagues) Sandy Adams, R-Orlando, for the Republican nomination. “Karen Diebel is a breath of fresh air – a true conservative who understands the challenges businesses and families face every day,” Dorworth is quoted as saying in a release sent out by the Diebel campaign.

Alan Grayson

Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson has launched a website, NamesOfTheDead.com, to honor the 44,000 people who die every year because they don’t have health insurance.

“I have created this project in their memory. I hope that honoring them will help us end this senseless loss of American lives,” Grayson writes on the site. “If you have lost a loved one, please share the story of that loved one with us. Help us ensure that their legacy is a more just America, where every life that can be saved will be saved.”

Grayson announced the site on the House floor today and the NRCC already has a clip of it up under the title, “Alan Grayson’s most shamless stunt yet?”

He begins talking about the website at about 2 minutes in:

Alan Grayson

Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., warned Americans that “Republicans want you to die quickly” during an after-hours House floor speech Tuesday night.

His remarks, which drew angry and immediate calls for an apology from Republicans, were highlighted by a sign reading “The Republican Health Care Plan: Die Quickly.”

Veteran Tennessee Republican Jimmy Duncan abandoned customary reticence to chastise Grayson.

“That is about the most mean-spirited partisan statement that I’ve ever heard made on this floor, and I, for one, don’t appreciate it,” Duncan said.

“It’s fully appropriate that the gentleman return to the floor and apologize,” said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, another Tennessee Republican.

But none was forthcoming from Grayson, who said the first part of the GOP approach to health care is: Don’t get sick.

“If you get sick, America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly,” he said.