This disgraced politician will give back $500,000 to donors. But hea s keeping millions

Former state Sen. Jack Latvala announced this week that he has begun the process of returning half of the $1 million raised for his failed campaign for governor. But while it's virtually unprecedented for a candidate for governor to return money to nearly all 1,288 of his contributors, even donors who didn't asked for the money back, Latvala is doing what politicians have been doing in Florida for years - retaining his political committee even after his campaign has been dismantled to buy influence, contribute to campaigns and finance expenses under Florida's loose campaign-finance laws.

Trump wants to fund veterans cemetery in Queens

Tucked into President Trump's budget is funding to construct a cemetery in Queens for at least 50,000 veterans as part of a new effort to expand burial options in densely populated cities for families of service members. Unlike a traditional cemetery, the site in St. Albans would be an outdoor columbarium only for the cremated remains of New York City area service members and their spouses.

Source: Pillich to leave governora s race, back Cordray

Ohio Democrats' lone female gubernatorial candidate will leave the race Wednesday to back rival Richard Cordray, as the former federal consumer watchdog positions for his hoped-for bid against Republican Mike DeWine, a source said. A Democrat close to Cordray's campaign told The Associated Press that former state Rep. Connie Pillich will drop out and endorse Cordray at an event the campaign announced Tuesday.

How Trump’s budget would cut the safety net for the poorest Americans

Trump's vision for the budget adds to the deficit while cutting domestic programs such as food stamps that benefit people in need Harvey, Illinois, is a depressed suburb of Chicago that was hit hard by the sluggish economy. The president is also proposing work requirements for several federal programs including housing subsidies and Medicaid.

Kamala Harris Asks FBI Director If Trump Should Recuse From Trump-Russia Intel

HARRIS: If the president asked you tomorrow to hand over to him additional sensitive FBI information on the investigations into his campaign, would you give it to him? WRAY: I am not going to discuss the investigation in question with the president, much less provide information from that investigation to him. HARRIS: And if he received that information and wanted to declassify it, would he have the ability to do that from your perspective? HARRIS: And do you believe the president should recuse himself from reviewing and declassifying sensitive material related to this investigation? WRAY: Happily, I am no longer in the business of doing legal analysis.

Kirsten Gillibrand Pledges To Stop Accepting Donations From Corporate PACs

Dozens of Russians Are Believed Killed in U.S.-Led Syria Attack - MOSCOW - Four Russian nationals, and perhaps dozens more, were killed in fighting between pro-government forces in eastern Syria and members of the United States-led coalition fighting the Islamic State, according to Russian and Syrian officials. Rising star in Michigan Republican Party blasts Trump and resigns - BAY CITY, MI - Expressing disappointment over President Donald Trump and vowing to no longer be affiliated with any political party, the chairman of the Bay County Republican Party has stepped down from his post.

The Latest: Mulvaney backtracks comment on Trump budget

Mulvaney, a former tea party congressman, flubbed a response at a Senate hearing Tuesday that made it sound like he was opposed to the very budget he came to testify in favor of. Senior panel Democrat Patty Murray of Washington asked Mulvaney, "If you were in Congress would you have voted for this budget that you're presenting?" Budget Director Mick Mulvaney testifies before the Senate Budget Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018, on President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal.

Gov. Deal opposes medical marijuana cultivation in Georgia

Possessing medical cannabis oil may be legal in Georgia, but Gov. Nathan Deal says he opposes allowing medical marijuana to be grown in the state. GOP Rep. Allen Peake, who uses cannabis oil, had been spearheading a push to allow for in-state cultivation of medical marijuana to treat certain conditions.

House Democrats just gave this N.J. rookie some help

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, rated as just a slight favorite to win a second term, is getting some re-election help from his fellow Democrats. The House Majority PAC, a super political action committee aligned with the House Democratic leadership, began running online ads Tuesday in support of Gottheimer, D-5th Dist.

Trump Urges Lawmakers to Make Deal on Immigration Reform

President Donald Trump, right, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 17, 2018, as, left to right, Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, look on. U.S. President Donald Trump urged congressional lawmakers to find a solution to the vexing problem of immigration reform, saying the window of opportunity is closing fast to protect young immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children.

Blumenthal Dubious of White House Interim Security Clearance Trend

Democratic lawmakers have grown increasingly concerned - and frustrated - over the White House's position on matters of security confidentiality. Last week, President Donald Trump withheld the release of a Democratic House Intelligence Committee memo rebutting one from the Republican side, citing the need for heavy redaction to protect national security interests.

Kochs launch $4M campaign against Dems in Missouri, Indiana

The Koch-backed group Americans For Prosperity plan to launch a $4 million advertising campaign against Missouri's Sen. Claire McCaskill and Indiana's Sen. Joe Donnelly. An AFP spokesman said Tuesday the ad campaign will run on TV and the internet for three weeks beginning Thursday.

A Koch Brothers Group Is Targeting These Democratic Senators for Voting Against Tax Reform

The political arm of the network helmed by conservative and libertarian mega donors Charles and David Koch is investing millions in an ad buy targeting two Democratic Senators up for reelection this year in states President Trump won by a landslide for failing to support the tax reform bill. The group, Americans for Prosperity, is launching the $4 million ad campaign on Feb. 15 against Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill and Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly.

Fights over voting rights a prelude to November midterm election

Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, second from right, is seen during a rally outside the Supreme Court on January 10, 2018, to oppose Ohio's voter purging system. The court heard arguments on whether Ohio has been too strict in setting in motion a voter registration removal process if the individual hasen't voted in a federal election for two years.

Some Answers, More Questions for Mysterious Club for Conservatives PAC

Club for Conservatives PAC has given to the Senate campaigns of Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Barletta and Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn. Inflammatory, hyperpartisan fundraising emails are a standard part of the election process, but who's behind them can sometimes be a mystery. Take the case of a political action committee set up last fall that raised over $160,000 by sending out roughly a dozen emails.

Conservative Group Targets McCaskill, Donnelly on Tax Vote

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., is the target of a new ad on the tax overhaul. The conservative group Americans for Prosperity is launching a multi-million dollar ad campaign Monday aimed at two vulnerable Senate Democrats over their vote against a bill overhauling the tax code.  Americans for Prosperity, which is backed by billionaires Charles and David Koch, is dedicating $4 million  for television and digital ads targeting Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joe Donnelly of Indiana.