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WASHINGTON Ebullient Republicans celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration today see so much opportunity: Rid America of the Obamacare scourge, slash stifling government regulations and taxes, overhaul the tax system, reassert America's authority on the world stage and finally push the teachers union out of the way of school accountability.

"We'll employ more people and get people back to work, bring more businesses back to our country and help our inner cities," gushed Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, an early Trump supporter. "And being chief legal officer of the state of Florida, I'm thrilled we'll have a new Supreme Court justice who will follow the rule of law."

The moment is indeed historic, at long last near free reign for Republicans to put their ideals into practice and show Americans what conservative governing can mean to their day-to-day lives. With the Supreme Court tilting to GOP control, as well, they stand to shape America for generations to come.

Since World War II, Republicans have controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress for only six years four during the George W. Bush administration and two during Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration.

So among the Floridians in tuxedoes and ball gowns streaming into the gilded Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Wednesday night for an inauguration ball, we heard appropriate hints of anxiety.

"We have the biggest opportunity in the world. It's like catching a unicorn and we just cannot screw it up," said U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Okeechobee. "We've got to make sure we're working together because we can do some good things. I've been waiting for eight years to do some of the things we've talked about."

The GOP has been formidable and effective as the opposition party. Now, it's the governing party.

The last time Republicans held the trifecta of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives, they sent the national debt soaring and helped birth the tea party rebellion against a party widely seen as having lost sight of its core principles. George W. Bush left office with an approval rating of 22 percent, while Barack Obama leaves with 60 percent approval.

"We have to avoid falling back to what got us in trouble in the first place, which is not listening to what people want. As much as I love George W. Bush, that was an era of big spending that we can't fall back into," Florida Republican Party Chairman Blaise Ingoglia said.

"Our opportunity here is to show the people we are the antithesis of what happened in 2008, when the Democrats had all three and we got the disaster that is Obamacare and Dodd-Frank," said Ingoglia, a state representative from Spring Hill. "We sat around for eight years complaining about everything, and now we have a chance to show it wasn't just complaining for the sake of complaining. If we can show people tangible results in their daily lives, then we can control the narrative for a generation."

What we don't know yet is whether America is about to see a period of virtual one-party government or a de facto coalition government made up of Democrats, Republicans and Donald Trump, the populist/nationalist with no clear ideology.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott rode into office on the no-compromise tea party wave of 2010 (and more than $70 million of his own money). He hosted the Florida inauguration ball in Washington on Wednesday night, and many of his guests sounded just fine with the prospect of Trump serving as a check on bad instincts of Republican lawmakers.

"You have to be willing to make some compromise to get things done. It requires sometimes not being completely true to your principles," said Miami lawyer Guillermo Fernandez.

St. Petersburg retirees John and Vicki Majors said they trust Trump's instincts more than the Washington crowd. Businesspeople focus on how to get things done, she said, while members of Congress too often focus on how best to raise campaign donations.

"I don't believe he is 100 percent committed to either party, so he'll call out Republicans if he has to as quickly as he'll call out Democrats. That's what we like about him," she said.

Majors pointed to Trump's response when Republican House members this month moved to gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.

"Trump said, 'What are you doing?' and they backed off. I think if we don't see progress and moving in the right direction, he'll call them out," he said.

Entering office with the lowest approval ratings of any president-elect in the history of polling, Trump may find Republican leaders more willing to challenge him than they would if he enjoyed wide support.

"He's going to be given a lot shorter honeymoon than most presidents have been given," said former Florida Republican Party Chairman Al Cardenas. "You go in with 40 percent approval rating, the runway gets a lot shorter. He's going to have to do well and do well early."

Trump probably will score early points with the conservative base when he chooses someone to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, but he also is promoting potentially budget-busting initiatives, including a massive infrastructure program, replacing the Affordable Care Act and a large military buildup.

He has no interest in reforming entitlement programs, long a top priority of House Speaker Paul Ryan.

"If we don't seize this moment to enact bold conservative reform, shame on us," said newly elected U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach, who serves on the House Budget Committee. "Paul Ryan understands this nation's structural financial challenges as well as anyone in the county, and I think you're going to see a fiscal discipline under his leadership that you did not see under John Boehner."

Democrats, even after winning the popular vote in six of the past seven presidential elections, are in disarray and in little mood to cooperate with the GOP majority that spent eight years opposing virtually everything Obama wanted.

In Washington, Republicans control the executive branch and legislative branch, and Trump could appoint as many as four Supreme Court justices. Outside of Washington, they control more than two-thirds of the partisan state legislators, 33 governorships, and in Florida and 24 other states hold both the legislature and governor's mansion.

Welcome to the Republican era.

"It's exciting and a little bit scary, because it's now fair for voters to say, 'Okay, you guys control the government. It's time for you to deliver. If you don't, we're going to hold you responsible,' " said Orange County Republican Chairman Lew Oliver. "Democrats have done a lot of damage over the last eight years, and it will take a little bit of time to fix it. It can't happen overnight. But if we don't deliver, I'll be mad at us, too."

Times Washington bureau chief Alex Leary contributed to this report. Contact Adam C. Smith at asmith@tampabay.com. Follow @adamsmithtimes.

Donald Trump presidency gives Republicans free rein at last: Time to deliver 01/20/17 [Last modified: Friday, January 20, 2017 10:34am] Photo reprints | Article reprints

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Donald Trump presidency gives Republicans free rein at last: Time to deliver - Tampabay.com

Its hard to imagine at this particular moment, but Republicans and Democrats can be friends.

Courtesy of Ritesh Desai

This is Ritesh (his friends call him Rick) Desai and Tony Patel. Theyre in Washington D.C. for the inauguration. Desai is the one in the red sweater. He is a staunch Republican and believed all along that Trump would win. Patel is the one in the blue tie and shirt. Hes a die-hard Democrat. He supported Hillary Clinton. He calls her Hillary.

The two Indian-American men own an architectural and construction material business together in Georgia and have been politely bickering about politics for years. At a time when partisan politics seems to have split the country into a bitter place, Desai and Patel offer proof that its entirely possible for Ds and Rs to be Fs (friends, that is).

Right now hes on a high. He gets to put Trump stickers everywhere, the 52-year-old Patel says of his Republican friend. Im letting him enjoy the moment.

Desai laughs remembering the time in 2008 he came into work one day, and Patel had put up Clinton stickers everywhere. It was OK, the 40-year-old Desai says now. He put up Romney stickers at work in 2012.

The morning after Election Day this year there was no rubbing it in. Desai knew his friend was in shock like a lot of other people Patel had thought Trump didnt have a shot. Desai gave him his space. I took the high road in not rubbing it in, he said.

They traveled up to D.C. from Georgia on Thursday afternoon to attend a fundraiser with a business partner. Desai told The Huffington Post on Friday morning that he was feeling amazing to be at Trumps inauguration.

Patel had a different take. Honored to have seats to witness the inauguration, he said in a text message. Campaign 2020 starts soon for my team, but today is about America.

Over the years their discussions about politics have been heated, for sure, they said. Recently they had some intense exchanges over Donald Trumps tweets about revered civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).

However, both agreed that its pointless to demonize the other side. You have to be able to talk to those you disagree with, they said. You can have a conversation, Patel said, adding that you cant just reflexively shoot down everything a Republican says. Some Republicans were doing that to Obama. Thats not the right move. You should meet in the middle.

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Proof That Republicans And Democrats Can Actually Be Friends - Huffington Post

The Colorado Republican congressional delegation is talking a lot about replacements for Obamacare, as if they have something in mind, or many options to choose from, without actually pointing to an actual factual replacement.

As an example of how Republicans disguise their absence of a plan as a plan, check out this passage from a Jan. 13 Denver Post opinion piece, authored by all of Colorado's GOP members of Congress (with the glaring exception of U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.)

And speaking of replacement plans, the narrative that Republicans have offered no plan to replace Obamacare is false. Republicans have introduced multiple alternative health care plans since 2010, and we encourage you to review them. The most recent replacement plan was offered by the Republican Study Committee, called the American Health Care Reform Act. The Empowering Patients First Act was a plan put forth in the 114th Congress by future Health and Human Services Secretary, Dr. Tom Price. Our Better Way Agenda also includes a blueprint for replacing Obamacare that is centered on more choices, lowers costs, and greater flexibility.

Many plans does not mean you have a plan. Gentlemen, which plan do you favor, if any?

Even though Gardner didn't join his colleagues in the Denver Post opinion, he made a similar statement on KOA 850-AM Jan. 13 (audio below):

Gardner: "We have introduced several bills -- hundreds of bills, really -- small and big over the past several years to replace Obamacare. Some are very targeted, some are much more comprehensive: legislation by Tom Price --soon to be the Secretary of Health; legislation by Dr. Barrasso, a Senator from Wyoming who is a physician; legislation from Bill Cassidy, a physician himself from Louisiana that will be introduced next. These are all going to be considered as part of the replacement once it's repealed."

Hundreds of bills! Small and big! Very targeted! All will be considered! (But, alas, still, no plan.)

But, it's worth noting, and it's in fact newsworthy, that Colorado's congressional Republicans are saying the Price plan is in the mix, because analysts say that millions of people would lose their health insurance under Price's proposal. And Price is Trump's nominee for the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Cassidy plan, also mentioned by Gardner, would leave millions of people uninsured or underinsured, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

In fact, Trump's promises aside, I can't find someone who's making a credible case that any of the floated Republican plans, either individually or combined with one another, won't throw millions of people off the health insurance rolls. (Here's a look at a few more GOP plans.)

9News anchor Kyle Clark noted Gardner's awareness of the problem, reporting that Gardner "would not commit to having an Affordable Care Act replacement that covers everyone with insurance now."

But the big numbers involved might explain why Gardner literally turned and walked away from Vox.com editor Sarah Kliff when she asked about coverage under the Price plan, because millions lose it.

The numbers and obfuscation also are the reason reporters should press for an answer to the questions about a replacement plan and its impact. And not mince words in informing us of non-answers.

Listen to Cory Gardner on 850-KOA Jan. 13.

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Beware of Colorado Republicans Claiming to Have Multiple Replacements for Obamacare - Huffington Post

State Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston(Photo: Courtesy photo)

Some Louisiana House Republicans are breaking ranks with members of party leadership who oppose tapping the Rainy Day Fund to soften$304 million in midyear budget cuts, though they agree they are likely in the minority.

House GOP Chairman Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, and other Republican representatives have said they won't vote to unlock $119 million from the Rainy Day Fund. Since it takes a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to use the Rainy Day fund, the Republican majority in the House could block its use.

Rep. Bubba Chaney, R-Rayville(Photo: Courtesy photo)

But Rep. Rob Shadoin, R-Ruston, called USA Today Network to say House leadership doesn't speak for him on this issue. Harris told USA Today earlier this week that he didn't speak for all members.

"I can't speak for anyone else;they don't speak for me," Shadoin said. "I'll do whatever it takes to spare colleges and hospitals more cuts. They've had enough. If I had to vote today I would vote to use the Rainy Day Fund."

Harris made public Thursday his own plan to clear the $304 million midyear deficit without using the Rainy Day fund and without having to call a special session, which Gov. John Bel Edwards has promised to do in February. Edwards has said he will ask lawmakers to approve tapping the Rainy Day Fund.

State Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles(Photo: Courtesy photo)

The bulk of Harris' cuts $147 million would come from the Louisiana Department of Health, but state prisons and K-12 education, among other agencies, would also take hits.Colleges and universities would be spared under Harris' plan. Members of the Edwards' administration have said Harris'cuts would threaten safety net hospitals and other services.

Rep. Bubba Chaney, R-Rayville, a member of the House Appropriations Committee that crafts the budget, said he willlikely support using the Rainy Day Fund.

"With this deficit looming we have to consider using every tool in the tool box to make cuts that would impact the fewest number of people," Chaney said. "I'm not opposed to using the Rainy Day Fund as part of an overall plan to help mitigate the total amount of the deficit and to lessen the blows to higher education and health care. I don't think we can afford to take anything off of the table."

That Shadoin and Chaney would break with the party isn't surprising. They're seen as among the more moderate faction of the GOP and Shadoin in particular has been a consistent ally of the governor.

"I have to say a two-thirds bar would be hard to chin," said Chaney, referring to the two-thirds vote needed in the House to tap the fund.

Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles, who is also a member of the Appropriations Committee, said he will also consider using the Rainy Day Fund depending on the deficit reduction plan that emerges.

"I'm not opposed to using it, but I'm going to weigh everything before I decide for sure," Abraham said. "The Rainy Day Fund was designed for specific relief during difficult budget times. If we don't use it now, when do we ever use it?"

Shadoin said he believe other members will come around to using the Rainy Day Fund.

"My prediction is those who say they aren't going to vote for it will change their minds," Shadoin said.

GregHilburncovers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

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Some Republicans break ranks on Rainy Day Fund - Alexandria Town Talk

On Saturday, the Womens March on Washington will kick off what opponents of the incoming administration hope will be a new era of demonstrations against the Republican agenda. But in some states, nonviolent demonstrating may soon carry increased legal risks including punishing fines and significant prison terms for people who participate in protests involving civil disobedience. Over the past few weeks, Republican legislators across the country have quietly introduced a number of proposals to criminalize and discourage peaceful protest.

The proposals, which strengthen or supplement existing laws addressing the blocking or obstructing of traffic, come in response to a string of high-profile highway closures and other actions led by Black Lives Matter activists and opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Republicans reasonably expect an invigorated protest movement during the Trump years.

In North Dakota, for instance, Republicans introduced a bill last week that would allow motorists to run over and kill any protester obstructing a highway as long as a driver does so accidentally. In Minnesota, a bill introduced by Republicans last week seeks to dramatically stiffen fines for freeway protests and would allow prosecutors to seek a full year of jail time for protesters blocking a highway. Republicans in Washington state have proposed a plan to reclassify as a felony civil disobedience protests that are deemed economic terrorism. Republicans in Michigan introduced and then last month shelved an anti-picketing law that would increase penalties against protestors and would make it easier for businesses to sue individual protestors for their actions. And in Iowa a Republican lawmaker has pledged to introduce legislation to crack down on highway protests.

Protesters demonstrating againstthe Dakota Access oil pipeline stand on a burned-out truck near Cannon Ball, N.D., whichthey removed a day earlier from a long-closed bridge on a state highway near their camp, Nov. 21, 2016.

Photo: James MacPherson/AP

The anti-protesting bills have alarmed civil liberties watchdogs.

This trend of anti-protest legislation dressed up as obstruction bills is deeply troubling, said Lee Rowland, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, who views suchbills as violations of the First Amendment. A law that would allow the state to charge a protester $10,000 for stepping in the wrong place, or encourage a driver to get away with manslaughter because the victim was protesting, is about one thing: chilling protest.

In North Dakota, the author of the bill that would permit the killing of protestors has linked his legislation directly to anti-pipeline activists successful protests that involved obstructing roadways. Although the bill ostensibly requires drivers to have acted negligently or accidentally in killing a protestor, the bills co-sponsor, Republican state Rep.Keith Kempenich, has said that some accidents might occur if motorists punched the accelerator rather than the brakes, according to the Bismarck Tribune.

If you stay off the roadway, this would never be an issue, saidKempenich. Those motorists are going about the lawful, legal exercise of their right to drive down the road.

Republican legislators behind the anti-protesting bill in Minnesota have also said that their effort is in response to an increasing number of highway closures by activists. In recent months, Black Lives Matter protests have made national news for shutting down major freeways in Minneapolis, most recently in July when a group of protestors blocked a main downtown thoroughfare to protest the police shooting of Philando Castile. The bill elevates such protesting to a gross misdemeanor, punishable by both a year in jail and a fine of $3,000.

In addition to the highway-protesting bill, Minnesota lawmakers also proposed a separate piece of legislation that greatly increases penalties for nonviolent cases involving obstructing the legal process. Under the bills language, nonviolent obstruction of authorities would carry imprisonment of not less than 12 months and a fine of up to $10,000.

Jordan S. Kushner, a Minneapolis civil rights attorney who has represented Black Lives Matter protesters, said this latter bill was most alarming because of its dramatic penaltyenhancement and its apparent targeting of nonviolent protests.

The statute is very heavily abused by police to charge people with crimes in response to minor resistance to police based on good faith disagreements with what they are doing, Kushner told The Intercept in an email.It is frequently used in response to people who verbally challenge or try to observe/record police at protests.

While other anti-protesting proposals in Washington state and Iowa focus on protesters blocking transit routes, a bill that was floated in Michigan appeared to target labor unions. The legislation, which was passed by the Michigan House of Representatives before being set aside by the state Senate last month, would have enabled the state to fine individual picketers $1,000 per day of picketing and would place a $10,000 daily penalty on a union presiding over such a protest. A companion bill would have made it easier for employers to replace striking workers.

Although its unclear whether Michigan Republicans will reintroduce the legislation, Democrats are not optimistic. I think they absolutely will revive it, Democratic state Rep.Leslie Love told The Intercept.

In Washington, a state where Democrats control both houses of the state legislature, there is little chance that the plan to label protestors as economic terrorists will advance. Prospects are better for the anti-protesting bills in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, all of which have Republican-dominated legislatures.

In the case of Minnesota, Kushner says the bills in question are seen as a serious cause of concern, and he characterized the states new legislation as being purely political.

I think that the motivations for the Republican legislators proposing bills to penalize protests are to cater to the general public hostility towards Black Lives Matter in the overwhelmingly white suburban and rural districts they represent, said Kushner in an email.The goal is to criminalize protesting to a greater degree and thereby discourage public dissent.

Correction: Jan. 19, 2017

An earlier version of this article referred to Philando Castile as unarmed. In fact, Castile told the officer who shot him that he was armed and had alicense to carry the weapon.

Top photo: Police form a line across the road as demonstrators shut down the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles a day after President-elect Donald Trumps election victory, Nov. 9, 2016.

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Republican Lawmakers in Five States Propose Bills to Criminalize Peaceful Protest - The Intercept