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GOP-led Florida Legislature approves bill requiring parental consent for minors to get an abortion
The Florida House of Representatives passed a controversial bill requiring a minor to have parental consent before receiving an abortion, paving the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign the bill into law. The Florida Senate previously approved the bill and the state House followed suit on Thursday, with a 75-43 vote. House members debated […]
FL state House debates a controversial parental-consent bill that is expected to pass
The Republican-led state House debated a controversial parental-consent bill Wednesday, and it’s expected to be approved at a later time. The legislation has already been passed by the state Senate. The legislation requires women under the age of 18 to have the consent of a parent or legal guardian before ending a pregnancy. State law […]
New digital ads target Trump’s proposed safety-net budget cuts
President Trump promised to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security during his State of the Union address. Days later, the administration proposed a budget for the next fiscal year that includes large cuts to those safety-net program. Priorities USA, a Democratic-aligned super PAC, is running a series of digital ads to bring attention to the […]
Bill to repeal the death penalty in Florida will not get a hearing
Lawmakers and advocates gathered in the Florida Capitol Tuesday to express their disappointment that a bill that would have eliminated the death penalty for capital murder will not receive a hearing during the 2020 session. “Unfortunately, when it comes to implementation of the death penalty, Florida is leading the nation in a very, very bad […]
Fl Senate approves parental-consent bill; opponents fear an “abortion desert”
In a civil but strenuous debate, the Florida Senate Thursday voted 23-17 to approve a controversial bill that requires parental consent for a minor to get an abortion. The vote came after a crowd of protesters in and around the Capitol rallied for and against the bill earlier this week. And approval of the legislation […]
“Shame on you:” Protesters rally against parental-consent bill in FL Legislature
Abortion rights advocates rallied Tuesday against a parental-consent bill that would limit access to abortions for minors, protesting against lawmakers who support the bill as well as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who favors the legislation. A poster board reading “Governor DeSantis, shame on you” was one of several large signs showcased at the rally in […]
Licensing reforms for occupations: Will they help or hurt the public?
Stacey Reiser, a barber at Meena’s Spa & Salon, has been cutting hair for decades and she’s worried about what’s going on in the state Capitol. Lawmakers and the governor are pushing to reform the way future professionals enter their trade, from reducing education requirements to eliminating licenses for certain fields. Essentially, lawmakers are asking […]
“We Can’t Afford Florida” shouted renters at a news conference in the state Capitol
Frustrated renters spoke out Wednesday at a Florida Housing Justice Alliance press conference in the state Capitol. Trenise Bryant, housing organizer of Miami Workers Center and leader of the press conference, brought attention to statewide housing dilemmas and urged more lawmakers to prioritize accessible housing options for Floridians. A varied group of supporters rallied behind […]
Dignity for incarcerated pregnant women: Lawmakers push for reforms
Advocates for pregnant women inmates came to the state Capitol Tuesday to retell the traumatic story of Tammy Jackson, an inmate at the Broward County jail who was forced to give birth in an isolation cell. Jackson miraculously performed a seven-hour labor by herself without medical assistance or medication. Another horrific tale comes from an […]
The FL Legislature is a male bastion: Several committees that create state laws have few, or even zero, women
Senator Annette Taddeo is the only female on the Florida Senate’s Banking and Insurance committee, a big-money committee that deals with financial regulations and weighty insurance matters. That’s it. No other female is sitting with the seven other senators who help create policies and laws for Floridians. “It is a male world, it really is,” […]