Beckner Strikes Back

A diversity council is no place for bigotry

There is much discussion in the community regarding the Diversity Advisory Council and my objections to the appointment of Terry Kemple to that council. Some find it hypocritical that I would purposefully exclude a prospective member from a council designed to promote diversity and inclusiveness.  My strong objections to Kemple's appointment are not ideological or philosophical. I question his motivation and intention to serve on this committee, as well as the gross misrepresentations he made in the application and essay he submitted to the county.
__________
On Sept. 13, Kemple distributed an email attacking my sexual orientation, warning readers of the homosexual agenda of the council and my attempts to create county law with special rights that exclude heterosexuals. Kemple applied for an appointment to the Diversity Advisory Council on the same date he circulated his hate-filled email. He has opposed the rights of students to form Gay/Straight Alliances, recognition of Gay Pride events, and equal protection under the law for members of the GLBT community. He has fought to keep representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations from speaking in public schools, and he has fear-mongered about those who
are Muslim or practice the Islamic faith.
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Kevin Beckner is a Hillsborough County commissioner elected countywide. He wrote this exclusively for the Tampa Bay Times.

Hands Across the Sand 2013 - Treasure Island

Tampa Bay residents protest against oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Amnesty International Report 2013: Cuba

Repression of independent journalists, opposition leaders and human rights activists increased. There were reports of an average of 400 short-term arrests each month and activists travelling from the provinces to Havana were frequently detained. Prisoners of conscience continued to be sentenced on trumped-up charges or held in pre-trial detention.

here
I hear this from the anti Castro folks down in South Florida all the time but when it comes from an organisation i trust it is disheartening. I am sure this isn't what
Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Camilo Cienfuegos and all the others who fought and died to free Cuba from Batista wanted.

Say No to Bloomingdale Big Box

Residents opposed to big-box retail and apartment construction have been meeting under the auspices of the Coordinated Active Neighborhoods Development Organization (CAN-DO), also known as, "Say No to Bloomingdale Big Box.
Visit them on Facebook and Sign Petition.
Hillsborough County government has an online page on the Proposed Development on Bloomingdale Avenue Near Lithia Pinecrest Road.
here
Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham said he plans to meet with — "and listen to" Bloomingdale residents on June 10 from 6-8 p.m, at the Brandon Recreation Center, at 502 East Sadie Street.
For more info. More on the May 7 protest here.

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Thomas
He is from  Indiana and has been homeless 3 years.

Pam Bond Thinks Banksters Get A bad Rap

Imagine that. Republican Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, is somewhat bored with mortgage fraud, advocates say. When they attend meetings with her staff they get the distinct impression that Bondi feels the banks are the victims, not the borrowers, so why should she investigate them? What does bother Bondi is Urban Outfitters selling funny shot glasses.

here

According to Miami New Times, Bondi has joined a group of 22 other state attorney general in writing to Urban Outfitters to urge them to stop poisoning America’s children.

West Tampa Art

Main Street

GaYBOR Proclamation

In the recent past, it would seem almost unthinkable that the Hillsborough County Commission would salute a group promoting the region to gay business owners and tourists. But something stirred at Hillsborough County Center this week, when the commission's gay board member circulated an annual proclamation heralding GaYBOR Days in the Ybor City historic district. For the first time in the event's six years, a majority of the seven-member board has signed it.  Ken Hagan signed it, a Republican who in the past has declined to sign the proclamation. So did Republican Mark Sharpe. Republicans Sandra Murman Al Higginbotham and Victor Crist did not. Mr. Crist said he first wanted to review marketing brochures for the event that he said in the past have not been "family friendly."
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Is it just me or does Crist remind you of Gene Hackman's character Monroe 'Eagle' Cole in the film
Welcome to Mooseport?

Invest In Florida GOP INC.

For an investment of only $110.00, you can make $52 million
Two months after contributing $110,000 to Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign, an upstart property insurance company is likely to reap a $52 million windfall, paid from the coffers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Heritage has donated more than $140,000 to Scott and the Republican Party of Florida in recent months, and spent tens of thousands more lobbying the Legislature. Now it's in line to get special treatment from Florida's state-run insurance firm in the form of an unusual and lucrative "reinsurance quota share" agreement.
here

Hispanic Commission District

From one of my favorite local writers, Sue Carlton,

That's right. The very same commission that could not muster the goodwill to pass a domestic partner registry, the one that thought an applicant opposed to Muslims and gays would be great for a diversity board, agreed to explore giving a Hispanic representative a better shot. Interestingly, in the past when this came up, Republicans on the GOP-dominated board helped kill it, presumably not willing to weaken the stranglehold they enjoy. One of the best things about Tampa and the county around it is who built it. In Miami where I come from, relationships between ethnic groups can be fractious. So it was interesting to settle in a place where Cuban, Spanish and Italian roots have long been part of the fabric.
here
She asked Charlie Miranda, a longtime Hispanic leader in these parts: If this new district thing happens — and that's a big if — might he run? (What fun: outspoken, no-nonsense Miranda, a Democrat by the way, in that political mix.) "No," he says at first, and then, "Possibly."
Charlie Miranda For Hillsborough County Commissioner?

Good Job Governor Scott

Palm Beach County's "Snitch On Your neighbor" Program
One place where liberals and libertarians can find common ground is government intrusion into private lives, and Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw’s “Violence Prevention Program” has all the earmarks of authoritarian overreach. Bradshaw, a Democrat, stoked anger amongst conservatives when he suggested the program would be used to target political free speech deemed potentially violent by authorities.
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Florida Governor Rick Scott said, no thanks.
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However, (Please note) Scott’s reason for vetoing funding was because the whole state would have been paying for a local program, and apparently had little to do with public rancor over the proposal. Scott called the program a “very-well-intended project.”

Chris P. Bacon Of Groveland

Join his fan club
here

Tampa's City Council To Exploit The Cuban People

 According to Alberto de la Cruz of the Uber right-wing anti-cuban blog Babalu.
Whose hatred of the cuban  revolution is so strong they rather see their countrymen suffer then to give an inch on this ridiculous outdated embargo.
"Nearly half of Tampa's City Council will be following in Castor's footsteps in May, embarking on a visit to Cuba to meet with officials of the vile and murderous Castro dictatorship so they can "learn" how to exploit opportunities on the island. As if having the Castro regime exploit them was not enough, now the Cuban people have council members from American cities seeking advice from their slave masters on how they can exploit them."

here About the trip Sue Carlton 

"I think that, clearly, the approach we've taken for the last half-century has not gotten us anywhere. It's time to do something different.".....Harry Cohen 

"Tampa is where the future of the relationship between the United States and Cuba will unfold. I truly believe that."..... Yvonne Yolie Capin

The flight is expected to be out of Tampa, not Miami.
Good luck ladies and gentlemen.We are proud of you.

The Story Of Ybor City

Rolling by on Adamo Drive, thousands of motorists have gotten glimpses under the scaffolding of the work in progress, but a huge mural painted to tell the story of Ybor City makes its official unobstructed debut next week. Michael Parker, an adjunct instructor of art at Hillsborough Community College in Ybor City, recruited students to help paint and interviewed residents as part of his research.

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Kathy Castor: What I learned in Cuba

Cuba is changing, however, as I learned on my recent fact-finding visit. Cuba has embarked on meaningful economic reforms, which deserve encouragement by the United States, not continued isolation. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have a window of opportunity to engage and encourage reform in Cuba and should act now. These developments remind me of the historic economic changes in the former Soviet bloc countries. Indeed, I traveled to the former East Germany and Czechoslovakia in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Velvet Revolution. The United States was directly engaged with those nations during their transition, and Americans were free to travel and interact with their people.If America officially acknowledged changes under way in Cuba, it would strengthen the hands of Cubans who want these reforms to succeed, and we could encourage Cuba to go further and faster.
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What They Are Saying
In Cuba, Fidel Castro is the last person to feel the pain caused by the U.S. measures...Cato Institute
The Cuban embargo may well be a case where America can truly declare victory and get out....Patrick J. Buchanan
the US - to take the first step by allowing unrestricted travel and repealing the trade embargo.....Jimmy Carter
The time has come for a fundamental change of direction in our Cuba policy. We can start by ending the embargo.....Chris Dobbs
Sign Petition

The Citrus Taliban: Bigots In Indian River County?

 An 18-year-old girl was arrested for statutory rape over a same-sex relationship in Florida because of bigoted parents, according to the mother of the arrested teen.
Kaitlyn Ashley Hunt was arrested February 16 by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office on two counts of lewd or lascivious battery on child.
Her mother, Kelley Hunt Smith, explained on Facebook that Kaitlyn began a “mutual consenting” relationship with a girl at Sebastian River High School who was about three years younger. The parents of the younger girl were upset by the situation and contacted police, she wrote. “They were out to destroy my daughter, they feel like my daughter ‘made’ their daughter gay,” Kaitlyn mother’s said. “They are bigoted, religious zeolites [sic] that see being gay as a sin and wrong, and they blame my daughter.”
The parents of the younger girl also pressured the Indian River County School Board into expelling Kaitlyn, she added.
  friends and family setup a “Free Kate” Facebook page and online petition in hopes of having the case dropped. Support for the young girl appeared to be strong. The petition had more than 27,000 supporters on Sunday morning.
more, sign petition here

Our Castro-Loving Commie

Al Fox,  an outspoken activist for normalized American relations with Cuba, gets pulled over on  Dale Mabry for driving 63 mph in a 45 mph zone by Tampa PD super DUI cop Ray Fernandez. The same guy that was involved in the Shnitt, Bubba the Love Sponge DUI arrest. Fernandez called Officer Dean Uno to administer field sobriety tests. Uno arrested Fox after he said Fox failed tests of walking in a straight line and maintaining balance on one foot. Fox said he failed the tests because he is an old man.
He blew a 0.000 blood alcohol level, twice, records show, at the Hillsborough County Jail,
and his urine tested clean.
In an interview Thursday, Fox, who was joined by attorney Joe Lopez, said he thinks something other than public safety motivated the officers. Fox has made enemies with his advocacy of ending the trade embargo and travel restrictions to Cuba.Fox says Uno acknowledged knowing him that night.

"I recognize you," Uno said at the jail, according to Fox. "You're that Cuba guy, aren't you? You do that Cuba stuff."

"I took it to mean you're that Castro-loving commie, aren't you?" Fox said.

Lopez said he intends to file a federal lawsuit against the city for violation of Fox's civil rights. He called the actions of Fernandez and Uno "suspicious." In a report, Fernandez wrote he observed Fox "to have glassy eyes, very slurred speech and had the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath." Lopez's replies: Fox was wearing glasses that night, his speech does not sound slurred in the video of sobriety tests, and Fernandez must have had an amazing sense of smell to detect less than one beer on Fox's breath.

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Good luck Mr. Fox

Did They Really Say That?

Rubio captivated more than 700 people at the Hillsborough
GOP's annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday night.
"We are watching the growth of the greatest messenger that American exceptionalism has ever known,"
Hillsborough Republican Chairman and state Sen. Tom Lee.

"Marco is moving from being a Republican leader to an American leader,"
gushed Republican consultant Adam Goodman of Tampa.
here

Ireland Nugent Meets Winter The Dolphin

Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old Palm Harbor girl who lost part of her legs in a lawn mower accident, met a new friend today: Winter the dolphin.
here

Heart And Rush

2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to 2 of my favorite bands Heart and Rush.

SEIU Florida Endorses Darden Rice

- Service Employees International Union

“Our members have decided to stand behind Darden Rice in this important election, because we believe we share a common vision for a stronger and more sustainable St. Petersburg. We are confident she will bring people together and has the skills necessary to get the job done.”
– SEIU Florida President, Monica Russo
here

Call Rep. Castor

Please ask her to sign the letter urging President Obama to reject Keystone XL.
Rep. Castor hasn't signed Rep. Grijalva's letter urging President Obama to reject Keystone XL - she needs to hear from you. Please make a quick call now.
Rep. Kathy Castor: (813)871-2817, Report your call here

Obama Administration: Power to Wage Endless War

Obama Administration Claims Power to Wage Endless War Across the Globe
"This is the most astounding and most astoundingly disturbing hearing that I’ve been to since I’ve been here," said Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine. "You guys have essentially rewritten the Constitution here today."

Nicco Is Looking For A Home

Nicco Is The Man
This colorful German Short-Haired Pointer mix was given up by his owner
for reasons no one can figure out.
info, Check out the cats here.
Cheaper then kids.

2,275 Homeless In Hillsborough County

Advocates for the homeless found a total of 2,275 homeless people in Hillsborough County — about half the number from two years ago — in a count and recount this year. The good news: The drop suggests that several new efforts to address homelessness are making a dent in the number of people living on the streets, in emergency shelters, in transitional housing or in jail.
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Pic: Cowboy, i first met him on September 21 of 2011. He is now working at the yellow food stand across from
the Marion Transit Center and living in a motel. Stop in and say hello, try their chili dog.

Alexander Rosario and Douceaymee Lopez-Alvarez Of Tampa

Hillsborough deputies: 23-month-old boy left in car for 8 hours, parents arrested .

Local Views - Kathleen Peters

Letters To The Tampa Bay Times
What is more interesting than the hypocrisy is how easily one representative wants to mislead the public on the Medicaid expansion's viability. Rep. Kathleen Peters at Tiger Bay on Tuesday said that she voted against the health care expansion because it was going to be run by the Florida Healthy Kids program, and she spoke to a pediatrician who said that they do not like the program and do not have the ability to take more of "those" patients. Peters is worried that doctors will be too busy and overly burdened in treating all of these sick kids. The health care expansion, under Sen. Joe Negron's plan, was to be run by Florida Healthy Kids, as well as other Florida agencies, but that does not mean that it covers only kids. Lets look at Peters' statement. Either she thinks that 1 million poor Florida children should not get health care because the one pediatrician she called doesn't want to treat them, or she grossly misunderstands the entire health care expansion and how it is meant to benefit a much broader swath of Floridians in a more cost-effective manner. In either case, her judgment is severely flawed.Josh Shulman, St. Pete
She spoke to one (1) doctor. I wonder what party he belongs to
More locals: Bonnie Sklaren, Gulfport, Robert White, Valrico

Tell Rubio To Support Common-Sense Immigration Reform

Maria came to the United States several years ago after fleeing physical abuse by her father in Honduras. While attempting to cross into Canada, she was stopped at gunpoint and beaten by border patrol agents who placed her in a civil immigration detention center for more than a month. In the facility, she was placed in solitary confinement for two days and at no point did she receive a bond hearing. Maria is now several months pregnant and is facing deportation in June, despite ICE memos stating that pregnant individuals should receive prosecutorial discretion.

Sign the petition, and let Senator Rubio know that you demand common sense reform.

here

Tampa's 50-Foot Rule

No not lap dances, car stereos

Tampa City Council gave its preliminary approval to an ordinance Thursday that would make it illegal for drivers to blast their car stereos. The proposal would allow police to ticket drivers if their music can be heard from at least 50 feet away and would include possible jail time for a third offense.
more
Jail time for playing your stereo too loud? I like this idea better.
Council member Lisa Montelione cast the only vote against the ordinance. She said she supported it, but objected to incarcerating repeat offenders. "Jail time is going to put a lot of young people behind bars who are going to get records and who are not going to be able to get jobs," she said.Better, Montelione said, would be to impound the cars of the offenders.But she was alone on that. "The only way this ordinance is going to work is if the penalties attached to it are steep enough to keep people from repeatedly violating it," council member Harry Cohen said.

A Fired-Up Kevin Beckner

Sue Carlton: Duking it out in the name of diversity

 If you are forming a panel to empower minorities, should a racist get a seat at the table? Does tolerance mean tolerating bigots — who are, by definition, intolerant? And does Terry Kemple — conservative Christian activist and Hillsborough School Board candidate who speaks out against gay rights — belong on a board that's supposed to be about diversity?

Kevin Beckner, the openly gay commissioner who proposed the panel, put it this way:
 "Why would you want to serve on a board you don't believe should be in existence?"

Which led to one fired-up discussion between Beckner and
Victor Crist, who with three other Republicans voted for Kemple.
Commissioner Les Miller voted to table it indefinitely!
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Families Homeless In Florida Foreclosures

Rubio Votes Against Everglades Funding

The Senate voted 84-13 to approve a wide-ranging water bill today that includes millions in funding for the Everglades and other Florida-related projects. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) could have had a positive effect on Florida’s natural resources, industries and residents.   Every Floridian is impacted by the work conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers in our state.  Unfortunately, politics were chosen over sound public policy, and the state’s best interests were left out of the final bill. Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson voted yes,  Marco Rubio voted no.

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Rubio doesn't care about the Everglades or south Florida, he has his $800,000 book advance and is moving to DC.

Blackballing Terry Kemple

Several Hillsborough County commissioners ( Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan) are steamed about the process a national diversity organization used in disqualifying local conservative activist Terry Kemple from a diversity advisory council. The council recommended Kemple be disqualified because of an e-mail he sent to his supporters in September disparaging the new diversity council as a vehicle to promote homosexuality. Kemple also used the e-mail to attack Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who is gay and who proposed creating a local diversity council in the first place. The council cut its ties with the county on Monday.Commissioners are scheduled to approve members for the new council. The discussion is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

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Kemple does not belong on any diversity advisory council, he is a bigot and doesn't even know what  diversity means.

High-Speed Ferries On Tampa Bay

Ed Turanchik
Local treasure and Visionary
Is pitching a proposal to some civic leaders and elected officials on behalf of a client hoping to operate a commuter ferry service in Tampa Bay.
"Proceeding with this project expeditiously would be a great and a pleasant unexpected step forward for our whole region, and unquestionably convey the message that Tampa Bay is back and is building for a more sustainable future."
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While we are at it lets buy a train and bring people in from Brandon in the morning and take them back in the afternoon. The tracks are already there.

RNC Florida Hispanic Director: GOP Is Racist

From: Pablo Pantoja: I have changed my political affiliation to the Democratic Party.

It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the
intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.
more, At Pushing Rope

Un-Fucking-Beliveble!

A construction company has essentially destroyed one of Belize's largest Mayan pyramids with backhoes and bulldozers to extract crushed rock for a road-building project. . The ceremonial center dates back at least 2,300 years and is the most important site in northern Belize, near the border with Mexico. The Belize community-action group Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action called the destruction of the archaeological site "an obscene example of disrespect for the environment and history."
here, At Google
"The only way to stop it is by showing that it is a major crime and people can and will go to jail for it."
Francisco Estrada-Belli, a professor at Tulane University's Anthropology Department.

Investigate IRS And DOJ

U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy of Florida made the following statement in regards to reports of misconduct by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ):

"The news regarding the IRS is completely unacceptable. Congress should swiftly and thoroughly investigate this matter, and the administration should provide its complete cooperation to ensure that this never happens again. Additionally, the reported actions of the Department of Justice in relation to the Associated Press are deeply troubling and those responsible must be held accountable for any illegal or unethical actions taken. The American people must have faith that their government isn’t abusing its powers, which is why I am calling for full investigations into both of these troubling matters.”

here

Tampa 'Ride of Silence

The third annual Tampa/Hillsborough Ride of Silence to remember cyclists killed or injured in traffic crashes will be held this Wednesday. The ride begins at 6:30 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

info

Lt. Gov. Allen West?

Get this - after his first pick for Lieutenant Governor resigned in disgrace, Rick Scott is searching for a replacement and as luck would have it, former Congressman Allen West is on the job hunt. Floridians already fired West for his extreme views on pretty much everything. Remember  when he called 80 members of Congress communists? I guess it shouldn't surprise me (yet it still did) that Rick Scott said he thinks West would "be a great Lieutenant Governor." But they're two peas in a Tea Party pod.

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Culture Of Corruption: Florida House Republicans

House members say yes to cheap health insurance — for themselves

Florida House Republicans last month loudly and proudly rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million poor Floridians. Quietly, they kept their own health insurance premiums staggeringly low. House members will pay just $8.34 a month for state-subsidized health care next year, or $30 a month to cover their entire family. Eleven of Tampa Bay's 13 Republicans voted against accepting federal Medicaid money and are receiving state-subsidized health care. Rep. Jimmie Smith, R-Inverness, voted against taking federal money but does not participate in the state health care plan. Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, has the state health care plan but wanted the state to take the federal money. The area's House Democrats receive subsidized health care but voted to accept federal money.

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Pic: Will Weatherford, Land O' Lakes wake up, send this man packing at the end of his term.

End The CrackDown On Travel To Cuba!

The U.S. government is escalating its attacks on socialist Cuba and U.S. residents who try to travel there. These attacks have now been directed at U.S. labor union activists. Five U.S. union activists who tried to register to participate in the U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange in Havana, Cuba over May Day had their funds frozen and seized without explanation by the Labor Exchange’s bank,

Charter One Bank in Detroit, Michigan.
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Mistake In Tampa

Whats Wrong With this Picture?

I have been to New Orleans and Atlanta many times to see the Bucs play. When we stay outside the inner city to get a better hotel rate we always take the bus or in Atlanta's case the train. Why then does Hart close their center right across the street from Raymond James Stadium on game days. I can see the  traffic  causing hovac on their schedule, but when i asked a driver why they did this i was told the city uses the center for parking. This place is not very big, i am guessing they can get 20 cars in here at best. Does the city need the money that bad? Alot of people could be taking the bus to the games or other events.

Nan Rich In Tampa

Gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich, a state senator from 2005 to 2012, will be the special guest at Tuesday's joint meeting of the East Hillsborough County Democratic Club and the Hillsborough County Young Democrats from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Barnacles, 926 Providence Road, Brandon.

here

PBA endorses Darden Rice

Darden Rice announced today she has received the endorsement of the
Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association.
more, At Pushing Rope, Vote Darden Rice

Tell Rep. Castor: Sign The Letter

Republicans in the House are gearing up for yet another symbolic vote to force approval of Keystone XL. Of course, Keystone XL is President Obama’s decision – not the climate deniers who make up a majority of our Congress – but we know that he is sensitive to pressure from Congress as he considers his decision. Now we have an important opportunity to build pressure on the President from those in Congress who actually accept science.

Sign Petition  

Stogie Recommends

In Time

Is a 2011 dystopian science fiction action film starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy, Olivia Wilde, Matt Bomer, Alex Pettyfer, Vincent Kartheiser, and Johnny Galecki. The film, written, directed and produced by Andrew Niccol,

more

We Want The Dixie Chicks

HOWARD STERN: Natalie Maines says the Dixie Chicks are "tainted permanently"
 I bought Natalie Maines new CD, Mother, it is nice but just not the same. I totally disagree that the Dixie Chicks brand is tainted permanently. She needs to stop being so stubborn and get back with Martie and Emily. We miss them.
Sign Petition  

Florida HB 655: Stop the Home Rule Hypocrites!

Last week the Florida legislature passed a bill that prevents local governments from writing and passing earned sick time laws and voters from petitioning to put earned sick time initiatives on the ballot such as the pending referendum in Orange County. Our last hope is to convince Governor Rick Scott to veto the bill and stand up for moms, families, and democracy. You can send him a message here with one click.

Sign Today!

More info on this bill.

Don't Forget What Gov. Scott Has Done

From his record
We need to make sure Floridians don't forget what Gov. Scott has done – and continues to do – to our great state. Will you help us defeat Scott and his allies' propaganda campaign? Rick Scott is singing a different tune at the close of the 2013 legislative session. More money for education! A pay raise for state employees! Just forget about the fact Scott proposed more than a billion dollars in cuts to education his first year in office. Never mind about Scott standing idly by as our teachers, firefighters, and police officers had their pay cut by three percent. And all the while, Scott and his buddies in the legislature have lavishly handed out hundreds of millions of our tax dollars to their corporate campaign donors. It's a smokescreen covering up how Scott and his allies continue to do the bidding of out of state corporations and the well-connected. Here's what's really going on:

•Thanks to Gov. Scott's inaction, and obstruction by the Republican majority in the Florida House, access to health insurance for more than 1 million uninsured Floridians was blocked.
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•Rick Scott’s legislative allies pushed legislation that would lay the ground work for out-of-state corporations to take over our public schools. They failed this year…but they’ll be back next year.
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•Scott's allies passed legislation banning local communities from enacting earned sick time benefits for hard working Florida families.
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•They caved to mega campaign donor Blue Cross Blue Shield and failed to close an unnecessary tax loophole for big insurance companies, yet they killed legislation that would have lowered vehicle registration fees for everyday Floridians.
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Scott and the special interests say this session was a victory for Floridians, but we know what this was: a 60 day corporate special interest feeding frenzy. Will you help us make sure Floridians know the truth?
We won't back down in the face of Gov. Scott's multi-million dollar, special interest fueled propaganda machine. Floridians deserve an efficient, effective government that fights for the needs of middle class families throughout our state.
Thanks for helping us move Florida forward.
Contribute today and help us make sure Floridians never forget Gov. Scott's anti-middle class record.
here

Compassionate Conservative Frank D. Lucas

The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla., is proposing to cut $20 billion from the food stamp program in the version of the farm bill that lawmakers will began working on Tuesday.  The food stamp program, which is officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides nutritional assistance to low-income families and individuals.
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Got to pay for those tax breaks.