Statewide Snippets

(What news outlets are reporting)

Amendment 4 Throttled

The Florida Supreme Court has sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative Republicans in an advisory opinion in which the court said 2018’s Amendment 4 requires ex-felons to pay any fines, fees or restitution before they recover their right to vote.

The case turned on what Amendment 4’s sponsors meant when drafting language restoring rights”upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation. “DeSantis and the legislature argued that “all terms” include “legal financial obligations” — meaning fines, fees and restitution.

From Senate Minority Leader Audrey Gibson’s comments on Gov. DeSantis’ “State of the State” speech

With pretty much the same budget priorities and leftover promises from last year, I hope this is not only the year of the teacher but the year the Governor does what he said he would do by ensuring the affordability of a healthy Florida, protecting our seniors from cutting their medication in half, allowing individuals to vote who have the constitutional right to do so, and protecting our economy’s growth by allowing those who have come to Florida to live and work, to do so without fear.

Bill requires parental consent for teen abortions

A bill requiring teenagers to have parental consent before obtaining an abortion is moving forward in the Florida Senate.

In a 3-2 vote, with Democrats in opposition, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill (SB 404) that would require women under the age of 18 to have the consent of a parent or legal guardian before ending a pregnancy. The bill now moves to the Senate Rules Committee, its last stop before the Senate Floor.

(Florida Phoenix)

Anti LGBTQ Bills Filed

Seven Republican Florida lawmakers have filed anti-LGBTQ bills, just hours before the deadline to file new bills for the current legislative session.

If passed, the bills would ban gender-affirming health care for transgender children, repeal municipal and county ordinances protecting LGBTQ workers and legalize so-called gay therapy in places that had banned the medically debunked practice.

The State Lawmakers – Rep. Anthony Sabatini, Senator Dennis Baxley, Rep. Bob Rommel, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Michael Grant, Sen. Keith Perry, and Rep. Byron Donalds — together introduced the four pieces of legislation, each with a companion bill in the House and Senate.

(NBC News)

Republican Party Chair in tough spot on Gun Bill

State Senator Joe Gruters, who is chair of the State Republican Party, is in a tough spot as a bill opposed by the National Rifle Association makes its way through the Florida Senate.

Gruters has to thread the needle between the Senate Republican leaders who support the bill and the single issue gun voters who would revolt if he supported any bill limiting gun ownership.

(Politico)

Mandatory Bible Classes?

A bill in the state legislature would make Bible classes mandatory electives in public schools. The original bill filed in the House in the last session died in committee.

But now, with a companion bill in the Senate, supporters say it might have a better chance of passing. Rep. Kim Daniels’ bill requires schools to offer electives in the Old and New Testaments for grades 9 through 12.

Daniels, a Jacksonville Democrat, has the support of Republican Senator Dennis Baxely of Ocala. He has a companion bill in the Senate.

(WMFE Orlando)

Medicaid Changes

Florida Lawmakers are proposing changes to a Medicaid program for people with disabilities this year that would contract out some of its functions and support services, the latest in a years-long effort to restrain state spending on some its’ most vulnerable Floridians. Advocates for people in the program say they fear the move could hurt the care they receive and add bureaucratic red tape to an already convoluted process.

(Miami Herald)

National Democratic Party spending on state races

Unprepared Democrats got bulldozed in 2010 by a $30 million Republican campaign to win state legislatures – and the right to draw political maps that would help them hold power for the next decade

Now, Democrats are readying a massive $50 million effort to shape the next 10 years of elections by flipping state legislative chambers next November in places as red as Texas and West Virginia.

(Politico)

Trump and the Republicans were very pleased with their assassination of the Iranian general. They told us it will make the world and the Middle East safer. Here are the results so far.

1. Iraq passing legislation to evict US troops

2. protests in Iran and Iraq

3. Iran completely backs out of nuclear arms deal

4. worldwide condemnation. I have to note, when even Russia and China are on the right side of things, it really makes one wonder.

5. Iran threatens retaliation

6. US sending thousands more troops to Iraq Kuwait. (correction)

… and thats just after a couple days

This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member.

________________________________