Florida GOP Complain Their Rights Are Being Violated

 To ilegally 
gerrymandered districts.

Echoing the theme of a lawsuit filed last week in federal court by two Pensacola Republican Party officials, several lawmakers used their opening day speeches to accuse the court of violating the legislature’s First Amendment rights by requiring it to justify its map-drawing decisions in an open and transparent way. here

“We are under direction by a court that continues, over and over again, to exceed their constitutional authority,” 
GOP. Richard Corcoran of Trinity

Welcome Lenny Our New Tour Guide

He will be showing you around town. 

UNITED FOR CARE HOLDS DAY OF ACTION AT FLORIDA COURTHOUSES

August 14, 2015, Noon

HillsboroughCounty courthouse!

Also @ County courthouses in Leon, Alachua, Lake, Orange,

 Polk, Miami-Dade and Broward.

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

Florida GOP "Cannot Be Trusted"

Florida’s new fatwa against Planned Parenthood

Gov. Rick Scott, like the police chief in the movie “Casablanca,” has dispatched his quislings to barge into the 16 Planned Parenthood offices in Florida to find something, anything, wrong. here

United for Care Slams Marco Rubio

"It's unfortunate that Florida's senior senator and leading Republican presidential contender, Marco Rubio, has taken a position in clear opposition to the rights of the states to determine their own course on marijuana laws. As a Floridian, it seems to me Rubio is proactively telling our state that he doesn't respect the will of the people. Can you imagine if a President Rubio sent federal agents to Florida to raid legal marijuana businesses and patients in the case that he became president and we passed a constitutional amendment?" Ben Pollara

"This man will never be President." YCS
 Have you signed yet?

here

For press inquiries please contact Bianca Garza at press@unitedforcare.org.

New "Welcome To Tampa Postcard"

Lenny will be your tour guide

Marco Rubio Is Going To Shut It Down

On Sunday, Marco Rubio told Meet the Press that he'd use Federal Law to go after states that have marijuana laws that contravene current federal law. here 

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Isiah

He is a vet from Dade City

Florida's Partisan Balance

The proposed map rolled out last week 

would affect most of the state’s 27 congressional districts and could 

result in a shift in the partisan balance 

of the state’s delegation. here

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Republicans now hold a 17-10 edge even though

 Florida has more registered Democrats than Republicans.

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This will mark the third time since 2012

that the Legislature has drawn new congressional maps.

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here

One thing about Republicans, they are persistent!

Florida GOP David Jolly And Ron DeSantis Back Legislation To Cut Off Federal Money For Planned Parenthood

Two Republican House members seeking the GOP Senate nomination — Reps. Ron DeSantis of Ponte Vedra Beach and David Jolly of St. Petersburg — back legislation to cut off federal money for 
Planned Parenthood. here 

Day of Black Community Action in St. Pete

more

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Hot Wings

Baked, No Grease 

With a new beer, we are trying to taste them all.

At where we eat the best Pizza in town. 

(Sorry, CDB's)

Lee's Grocery on Central Ave. in Tampa Heights

Visit them here, and like their page 

(but please don't tell anyone.) 

We Want A Referendum To Kick Out The Hillsborough County Commissioners Because They Ignored The Referendum

Nearly 80 percent of voters in 2008 approved a referendum to give up to $200 million to the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program to purchase pristine, sensitive land for preservation. Now the program is broke and its leadership blames the county. here

"It's a disgrace,what are they waiting for, another referendum for the next election to kick them out because they ignored the referendum?" Jan Platt

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Two Republicans get it.

People overwhelmingly approved that amendment, that was the message and we can't forget or lose sight of what that message was." Sandy Murman

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Stacy White said he expects to unveil a new proposal within six weeks to fund and "revitalize" ELAPP. Where is Kevin Beckner on this? 

Does Ken Hagan need the money for  Corporate Welfare or to give to Hollywood filmmakers?
Remember White and Miller wanted to use some of the BP money. 

Marco Rubio Has Worst Missed-Vote Record In The U.S. Senate

In July alone, he missed more than half the Senate votes. In June, Rubio missed 67 percent of votes, including taking an entire week off for fundraising in California and to attend a candidate gathering in Utah. here

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article30426819.html#storylink=cpy

It's way past time to get serious about transit in Tampa Bay

In Tampa Bay cars are the #1 generator of greenhouse gases. The commission wants to ask us for a 1/2 sales tax that is 65%, at a minimum, for roads. The referendum even includes maintenance of roads, a core county function. That's not fiscally responsible. Why wouldn't we pay that out of our regular budget? We already have that money. We had almost $100 million unanticipated revenue this year and not a dollar for transit. What does that say? Email and call your commissioners 
at this link.

"It's way past time to get serious about transit 
in Tampa Bay."

Pat Kemp
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Join Pat Kemp Tonight For A Discussion Of The TBX Monster Highway
6:30PM at the Seminole Heights Library

Local Idiots: Randy Maggard

here

Rick Scott Owes Florida $700,000

Florida is paying $700,000 to settle allegations that Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials flouted the state’s public records laws. The state agreed this week to pay that amount to Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews. Andrews sued the governor and other top state officials back in 2013. here

Marco Rubio's "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act"

At the debate Megyn Kelly suggested that the Florida Republican would "favor a "rape and incest exception" to abortion bans. "I have never said that," Rubio objected. "And I have never advocated that. What I have advocated is that we pass law in this country that says all human life at every stage of its development is worthy of protection." But he appears to be wrong about never having advocated the exception. In 2013, Rubio cosponsored a Senate bill with wide-ranging Republican support called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act, which would have banned abortions after 20 weeks, and that bill had exceptions for rape, incest, and in cases when the mother's life was threatened. here

Bush also touted his pro-life record, adding that 
He defunded Planned Parenthood 
while chief executive of Florida.  The St. Petersburg Times reported in 2003 that "Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida lost $124,000 last year from its family planning division. Bush diverted the funds to abstinence-only educational programs."

Crews List Most Corrupt Vern Buchanan Could Be Out Of A Job

Under a new redistricting map Buchanan would lose 150 thousand constituents from Sarasota County and gain 150 thousand from Hillsborough. Hillsborough County has more registered democrats than republicans, while Sarasota has more republicans than democrats. here

Named to CREW’s Most Corrupt 
in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. here

Come on up Vern, we are ready for you.
This ain't Sarasota!

August Solidarity Sunday

Today

At Lee's Grocery in Tampa

RSVP

Beckner, Montelione, Miller And Cohen Vote For TBX

Yes on TBX

Kevin Beckner

Lisa Montelione

Les Miller

Harry Cohen

here

Florida GOP

Ken Hagan,  Sandra Murman, Josh Burgin and  Stacy White.
Also voted yes.

Update: I wrote Mr. Beckner to express my disappointment with his yes vote. He thanked me for my feedback and said "This issue is far from over. If FDOT does not take considerable action to work with the citizens and neighborhoods, I will not hesitate pulling my support."

Florida Rick Scott Voters

Florida GOP haven, North Port

Someone has some sense down there!

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Grouper Burger

With Fries

At Dans Clam Stand in Crystal River

Visit them here

No Money For War Hawks

Florida Dem Ted Deutch

I commit to withholding contributions from individual Democrats—and from any party committee supporting them—if they succeed in sabotaging President Obama's diplomatic agreement with Iran."

"I will vote against it when Congress reconvenes in September."

here

Take the pledge: Commit to withholding contributions from individual Democrats—and from any party committee supporting them—if they succeed in sabotaging President Obama's diplomatic agreement with Iran. here

United for Care T-Shirt

$25.00

100% of the proceeds from the United For Care store go directly to help medical marijuana legalization efforts in Florida. Thank you for your support! here

Jessica Rose - "Maybe"

Local Hero Guido Maniscalco

They came by the dozens activists and just regular residents from Seminole and Tampa Heights all imploring the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Organization not to include the controversial Tampa Bay Express project in the MPO’s Transit Improvement Project.

Speaking for the project? 
8people, most of whom wore suits (or in the case of the representative for Jeff Vinik‘s group, a dress). none of whom are believed to live in the district, and several of them representing
 major business organizations.

Just like GO Hillsborough they let us think we had a say in the matter. In the end they don't give a shit what we think. After three hours of discussion, the MPO voted 13-1 to support the project. The only dissenter was Tampa City Councilman 
Guido Maniscalco. here
Who is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
here

Mr. Beckner, Ms. Montelione and Mr. Miller, Shame on you!

Paynes Prairie In Danger

Hands off 
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park 

Have you ever heard of Paynes Prairie? It is one of the most important natural and historical areas in Florida. Paynes Prairie is located near Gainesville.

 We, the undersigned, will not allow the privatization of our public land. We stand firmly against Governor Scott's plan to encourage private business to rent our State Parks for grazing cattle or growing trees. We urge you to stand against special interests and work to preserve not privatize!

here

The Begining Of The End Of The GOP

Democrat Leanne Krueger-Braneky picked up a Republican-held seat in a HUGE special election victory in Pennsylvania! Republicans gerrymandered this district to give themselves a massive 15-point registration advantage, but Leanne won anyway! here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Corned Beef

With Mashed Potatoes and Cole Slaw

At Kim's Cafe in Homosassa

Visit them here

Florida GOP Running Scared

Pasco County Republican Party chairman Randy Maggard and his Walton County counterpart, Tim Norris have filed a federal lawsuit to block the state’s anti-gerrymandering constitutional clauses, arguing the provisions limit First Amendment speech and amount to

 “thought policing.”

For real
 check it out here

Rick Scott's Fast Track Destruction Of Florida State Parks

 Rick Scott's decision to speed up the reappointment of Florida's top environmental regulator is drawing suspicion from grass roots activists across the state. They suspect the goal is to silence criticism of the DEP's plans to open state parks to commercial activities such as hunting, cattle grazing and timber harvesting. here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Chicken souvlaki

With Greek Salad

At the Olive Tree Restaurant in Crystal River

Visit them here

No Oil Drilling In The Everglades

Oil drilling has been proposed in the eastern Everglades, and we need your help to stop it. This permit, if approved, not only threatens Everglades restoration, but also local wildlife and south Florida’s drinking water. The application by Kanter Real Estate would allow for a five acre oil pad in southwest Broward County, with drilling to a depth of 11,800 feet, running around the clock for up to 80 days.

Sign Petition

Hillsborough County Commissioner's Lack Of Vision

To their great credit, Commissioners Stacy White and Les Miller did their best to persuade fellow commissioners last week to spend much of the $23 million the county will receive in oil spill damages from BP on the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program, which is virtually out of money. But their colleagues refused. 

Ken Hagan said there should be no urgency in spending the money — despite renewed development now taking place.
Sandra Murman suggested spending the nonrecurring funds on transportation. That’s clearly a need, but the county has other revenue sources for roads and is considering a half-cent sales tax increase for transportation needs. ELAPP, in contrast, is being neglected.
Kevin Beckner similarly argued that since the settlement was compensation for the loss of tourism and other economic activity, it should go toward the economy, including ecotourism. here

_________________

Thank you Mr. White (We might have been wrong about you) and Mr. Miller.

Florida Dem Ted Deutch Will Oppose Iran Deal

 "I will vote against it when Congress reconvenes in September." here

#TacosForTrump In Tampa

Tonight 7pm - 11pm

Hosted by our great leader Susan Smith

Usually we eat popcorn when we plop down in front of the television for entertainment. For this GOP debate, however, we think it's appropriate to serve Mexican themed food! Please join us by posting photos of your #TacosForTrump! here

Pic, what Stogie had for lunch @ Taco Son, On 56th St. In Tampa

Marco Rubio Worried About Single Moms In Tampa

Obama’s historic Clean Power Plan 

“So if there’s some billionaire somewhere who is a pro-environmental, cap and trade person, yeah, they can probably afford for their electric bill to go up a couple of hundred dollars. But if you’re a single mom in Tampa, Florida, and your electric bill goes up by $30 a month, 

that is catastrophic.” Marco Rubio

"Mr. Rubio here in Tampa we are more concerned about our kids being able to breathe when they grow up." Pilar Sanchez-Robbins
By the way, he said this at a private gathering of wealthy donors in Orange County, California, hosted by billionaire conservatives 
Charles and David Koch. YCS

Florida GOP Struggling To Raise Campaign Cash

This should be a time for the Republican Party of Florida to rake in the dollars.

It controls the political agenda with a Republican in the governor’s mansion, two party favorite sons in contention for the White House and commanding majorities in both houses of the state Legislature.

Instead, the state party is in the middle of its worst fundraising stretch in six years amid growing disunity within the GOP ranks. here

Jeb Bush On Women's Health Issues

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush vowed Tuesday to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood if elected to the White House.

 "I'm not sure we need half a billion dollars for women's health issues." 

here

"We need it for tax breaks for his rich friends." YCS

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Chicken Quesadillas

At Kim's Cafe in Homosassa

Visit them here