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Democratic lawmakers, Ag Commissioner, pressuring DeSantis to issue stay-at-home order
Florida Senate Democrats continue to pressure Gov. Ron DeSantis to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order for Floridians to combat the outbreak of COVID-19. “Experts in infectious diseases from around the world are in agreement that the only effective way to stop the transmission of this deadly disease is by limiting physical contact,” Sen. Audrey Gibson, […]
More than one out of every five Florida households has responded to the U.S. Census, data shows
A little over one in five Florida households has responded to the 2020 U.S. Census survey, with most responses filed online, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Some 20.9 percent of the Florida households had responded through Sunday, with 16.9 percent of the responses filed online, the data show. Other responses are being […]
As coronavirus crisis grows, FL Democrats slam Republicans for trying to repeal Obamacare
Ten years ago, the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, launched a landmark effort at overhauling America’s health care system. The legislation led to praise, criticism, lawsuits, and political debates, and is expected to be a major campaign issue in the 2020 presidential election. The 10-year anniversary comes as COVID-19 infections and deaths have expanded […]
GOP agenda won passage in 2020 FL Legislature, dovetailing with Trump election; Dems call it extreme, radical
Heading into a critical election year, the Republican-dominated Legislature used the annual session to advance conservative measures that dovetail with President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. In addition to a $93.2 billion state budget, lawmakers spent the last 67 days to impose new work restrictions on undocumented immigrants and erect new barriers for citizen groups seeking […]
Civil rights groups ask Florida and other states to protect prisoners and detained immigrants during the COVID-19 outbreak
The Southern Poverty Law Center and other civil rights groups are asking Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and federal officials to protect the health and safety of individuals being held in prisons, jails, and immigration centers during the COCID-19 crisis. “Imprisoned and detained people are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19,” said a […]
Fried, Florida’s top Democrat, endorses Biden in the presidential primary
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat holding a statewide office in Florida, has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden in his bid for the presidency. As Florida Democrats head to the polls today to cast their votes between Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and other candidates in the presidential primary, […]
Facing a big hit from the coronavirus, Florida lawmakers are expected to approve a $93.2 billion state budget
Florida lawmakers are poised to approve a $93.2 billion state budget on Thursday that includes higher salaries for teachers, a boost in affordable housing funds, and $25 million to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. But the ambitious spending plan for 2020-21, which takes effect on July 1 and is more than $2 billion higher than […]
FL Legislature passes weakened E-Verify bill; immigration groups are critical
Lawmakers have sent a scaled-back E-Verify bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis that will give Florida businesses the option of using the federal system to verify the immigration status of their workers. In his 2018 campaign, the Republican governor called for legislation requiring all Florida businesses to the use the E-Verify system. E-Verify is an electronic […]
Lawmakers send a bill to governor making it harder for citizen groups to advance constitutional amendments
Floridians looking to amend the state Constitution to expand Medicaid or allow recreational cannabis will face a more costly and complicated process under a bill headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Florida House on Wednesday voted, 73-45, for a bill (SB 1794) that would impose new barriers for citizen groups seeking to collect enough voter […]
The black swan phenomenon: FL faces potential shortfall in state funding
A black swan has descended on the 2020 Florida Legislature, causing lawmakers to extend their session beyond Friday’s deadline and to prepare for a potential shortfall in state funding. The black swan phenomenon, first described by statistician Nassim Taleb, is a rare, hard-to-predict, high impact event beyond normal expectations. The black swan confronting the Florida […]
Lawmakers face the coronavirus: FL House Speaker orders members out of the chamber; U.S. Rep. Gaetz has self-quarantined
Update: The five Florida House members who were isolated were allowed to return to the floor shortly before 5 p.m. Rep. Cary Pigman, who is a physician, said based on the guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the members were “at low risk” for carrying the virus. He said they were […]
A win for affordable housing in Florida
Florida lawmakers have agreed to fully fund the state affordable housing program in the coming year, a significant policy development that impacts struggling Floridians who face rising costs and low wages. Over the weekend, House and Senate budget negotiators agreed to spend $370 million for affordable housing initiatives. It is in line with Republican Gov. […]