Comments: Here are some news articles that verify claims made by my U.S. Congressman, Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL-15th) – and a copy & paste[[**]] of the Facebook page in question. I'm highlighting it below (with red font, and, in the exact quote in question, boldfaced red with yellow highlighting), to show his integrity to “do the right thing,” even though he got persecuted for it. ([[**]]The Facebook page & news quotes below were viewed just now, early Monday morning, 04 April 2016.) ~~ Gordon Wayne Watts (Lakeland, Fla., USA)
Source: https://www.facebook.com/dennis.ross.376/info/?tab=page_info
Source: http://dennisross.house.gov/biography/ verifies this as accurate.
Source: http://www.gop.gov/member/dennis-ross/ verifies this as accurate.
Comments: While there is some dispute over this matter, Mr. Ross' treatment of me even after my infamous 'Heavy Hand' letter to the editor of The Lakeland Ledger, and his friendly demeanor towards me since then make me believe his version of events. Moreover, since The Orlando Sentinel notes that “demotions aren't without precedent,” this signals a pattern of behavior, and thus, I am more inclined to trust Mr. Ross, not Mr. Rubio. ~Gordon
See also: “He also allowed state Senate Democrats considerable influence over the legislative process and then demoted the two Republican committee heads, Don Brown and Dennis Ross, who voted against the measure.”
Source: “Marco Rubio's Insurance Spin: As speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, he ignored warnings that expanding the two taxpayer-backed funds would expose Floridians to fiscal risks when a big storm hit,” By Mary Kissel, The Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2011: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204026804577100502969224024
See also: “New House Speaker Marco Rubio has impressed a lot of people in Florida politics as someone who is intelligent, charismatic and quite possibly a future candidate for statewide office.
But now Rubio is beginning to draw some far less flattering reviews -- even comparisons in a few quarters to Johnnie Byrd, the most unpopular House speaker in recent memory.
The grumbling follows a week in which Rubio, R-West Miami, removed two Republican lawmakers from their leadership positions after they voted against the insurance package the Legislature approved in its just-completed special session. The bill passed the House 116-2.
Reps. Don Brown of DeFuniak Springs and Dennis Ross of Lakeland were forced to give up their posts as council chairmen -- the small group of legislators who make up most of the speaker's inner circle. Rubio replaced them with GOP Reps. Ron Reagan of Bradenton and Charlie Dean of Inverness.
In a three-sentence statement, Rubio said Brown and Ross "offered" their resignations. But Ross said he offered his only after the speaker told him to, and that Rubio did so because of his insurance vote. Brown would not discuss the matter.
The demotions aren't without precedent. In 2001, former House Speaker Tom Feeney, now a Republican congressman from Oviedo, stripped then-state Rep. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, of a council chairmanship after she voted against nursing home legislation Feeney wanted.”
Source: “Speaker's moves leave a bad taste,” FLORIDA - CAPITOL VIEW, January 28, 2007|By John Kennedy and Jason Garcia, Tallahassee Bureau, The Orlando Sentinel: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2007-01-28/news/CAPVIEW28_1_rubio-house-speaker-council-chairmen
About Rep. Dennis A. Ross
Page Info
Start Date
Born on October 18, 1959
Short Description
Husband, father of two wonderful sons, and U.S. Representative proudly serving Florida's 15th Congressional District. If you'd like to send me a message, please email me here: http://dennisross.house.gov/contact/.
Bio
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BIOGRAPHY:
Dennis
Ross was born October 18, 1959 in Lakeland, Florida. He was the
youngest of five children born to Bill and Loyola Ross who moved to
their Polk County home in 1955. Being raised on modest means, Dennis
attended Catholic school for nine years before going to high school
at Lakeland Senior High School, where he graduated in 1977.
Throughout his high school career, Dennis was active in Student
Government where he met his wife, Cindy. In 1977, The Ledger’s
prestigious Silver Garlands Award gave their first Award of
Citizenship to Dennis for his efforts in outstanding citizenship in
Polk County as a high school senior.
After high school,
Dennis attended the University of Florida for one year before
transferring to Auburn University where he graduated in 1981 with a
Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from the
School of Business. Dennis went on to work for a year as a
legislative aide in St. Petersburg to State Rep. Dennis Jones in
1982.
Following Rep. Jones’s successful re-election,
Dennis went to work in the newly developed micro-computer industry
working for several companies. With one company he was installing
computer systems throughout the Eastern United States in small-town
pharmacies, and with another company he was selling computer systems
throughout the Eastern United States to collection recovery
organizations.
YOUNG BUSINESSMAN & SMALL-TOWN LAWYER
In
1983, Dennis and his wife, Cindy, were married in Lakeland. Within
one year of their marriage Dennis went off to law school at the
Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham,
Alabama. Upon completion of law school, Dennis returned to Lakeland
to begin his work as an Associate Attorney for the firm of Holland &
Knight. After two years at Holland & Knight, Dennis then became
in-house counsel for Walt Disney World handling the workers'
compensation defense matters for the company.
Having always
wanted to have his own law practice and exercise his entrepreneurial
skills, Dennis borrowed $10,000.00 from a neighbor and started his
own law practice in October of 1989. He worked to pay off that debt
in less than a year. That firm grew to seven lawyers and 27
employees before Dennis had to divest himself when he became a
member of Congress. Not only did Dennis get involved in the practice
of law having served as past president of the Lakeland Bar
Association, but he also served as a Board Member of the Lakeland
Chamber of Commerce and on various charity and community boards as
well.
A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE
In 1990, Dennis was the
President of the Greater Lakeland Young Republicans and in 1992 was
elected as Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive
Committee. He served in that position until 1995. During his term as
Chairman of the Polk County Republican Executive Committee, the
party elected many local Republican officials and developed a
successful organization that helped spread strong principles of
individual freedoms, personal responsibility, less government, and
lower taxes.
In 1996, Dennis ran unsuccessfully for the State
Senate, losing to a very well-liked incumbent, Senator Rick
Dantzler. However, the race taught him many things about the
political process and about being true to one’s self and
community. In 2000, Dennis had an opportunity to run for the State
House of Representatives and was elected by an overwhelming
majority. Dennis continued to serve in the Florida House of
Representatives until he was term limited in 2008. Throughout
his term as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Dennis
distinguished himself as a strong proponent of conservative
principles and was well respected by members of both parties. In
2007, Dennis, along with Rep. Don Brown, were the only two
legislators to vote against the property insurance bill that made
Citizens the largest property insurer in Florida. For voting against
his party and with his free market principles, Dennis was stripped
of his Chairmanship and many said his career was over.
But Dennis is a conservative leader, not only of independent thought
but of independent action as well. In 2010, Dennis was
elected to the United States House of Representatives running on
those same principles. He was then selected as Chairman of the House
Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce,
U.S. Postal Service, and Labor Policy, making him one of the few
first-term lawmakers to serve as a chairman of a subcommittee. At
the beginning of the 113th Congress, Dennis was selected to serve on
the prestigious Financial Services Committee, another selection that
doesn’t often happen to newer members. Finally, during the
summer of 2014, Dennis was selected as a Senior Deputy Whip under
Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a leadership position that allows him
to better serve his constituents as a conservative Florida voice at
the leadership table.
THE ROSS FAMILY
Dennis and
Cindy have two children, Shane and Travis. The family enjoys
traveling throughout the United States. They have been to each of
the 48 continental states, predominantly by motor home and with
their several family dogs. The family shares a passion for American
history, national parks, and the great outdoors. Dennis is an avid
hunter and so are his sons who enjoy not only hunting, but also
fishing and camping. They are members of the First Presbyterian
Church in Lakeland.
Cindy serves the Lakeland community in
multiple ways, including on the Habitat for Humanity Community
Advisory Board, and has been Volunteer-of-the-Year at Rochelle
School of the Arts and George Jenkins High School.
Together
the family believes that community service, regardless of how it is
performed, is one of the most responsible acts a person can give to
his or her fellow man.
Work Info
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Gender
Male
Personal Information
Married to Cindy Ross
Hometown:
Lakeland, Florida
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