Health Care: F
Funding for Education: D
Environment: D
Economic Development: B
Ethics: D
Overall Grade: Lost Opportunity D
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Florida Union Buster Scott Plakon
A bill, (FL HB25 (18R) sponsored by Florida GOP Scott Plakon of Longwood, would make public-sector unions that see their total dues-paying membership fall below half of those eligible petition the Public Employee Relations Commission for recertification. here
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“H.B. 25 is not motivated by any public education need or public benefit. It is motivated purely by politics. It's an attempt to silence those who dare to speak out and speak up on behalf of our public schools and our students.” Florida Education Association President
Joanne McCall
Joanne McCall
Friday, January 26, 2018
Democrats Just Don’t Have a Clue
You often seem terrified of alienating voters who do not embrace you, while discounting those — such as immigrants, African Americans, LGBTQ and, yes, progressive whites — who do.
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You made yourselves look feckless, spineless and brainless in the process. You’d said you would not vote to fund the government until the GOP acted to save DREAMers — from deportation. Three days later, you folded like a baby stroller, accepting a deal in which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed only his “intention” to take up the legislation you want.
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According to Debbie Wasserman Schultz you won, “the potential for momentum.”
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The truth is closer to what GOP Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina told Politico: “We gave them nothing.” For that matter, it’s even closer to what Denzel Washington said in “Malcolm X:” “You been had! You been took! You been hoodwinked!”
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Frankly, you could stand to be more petrified of your own base especially since the political left is having itself a moment unlike anything we’ve seen in almost 50 years. People are marching and raising money. Upstarts are running for office. The left is galvanized by a
fierce new energy.
Florida GOP Ripping Off Our Public Schools
Manny Diaz, the Hialeah Republican who collects a six-figure salary as chief operating officer of the charter Doral College and sits on the Education Committee and the K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee.
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Richard Corcoran, the Land O’Lakes Republican whose wife founded a charter school in Pasco County that stands to benefit from legislation.
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Michael Bileca, the Miami Republican who hairs the House Education Committee and is listed as executive director of the foundation that funds True North Classical Academy, attended by the children of another legislator. Bileca is also a school founder.
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These three legislators were chief architects in the passage of a $419 million education bill that takes away millions of dollars from public schools to expand the charter-school industry in Florida at taxpayer expense. They crafted the most important parts of education
bill HB 7069 in secret. Source
bill HB 7069 in secret. Source
Joe Redner Wins Again
marijuana plants.
A state circuit court judge on Wednesday denied a motion by the Florida Department of Health to dismiss Redner’s case. here
Thursday, January 25, 2018
The State Of Tampa Politics: Marina Welch
I had prided myself on always voting but have since learned how woefully unaware and uneducated I was in the realm of politics. This year has afforded me the opportunity to meet amazing activists and social justice warriors. I blindly believed that my vote was enough, that justice would prevail. I woke up on November 9, 2016 to the reality of that delusion.
I have learned the value of phone calls to legislators, the importance of showing up at their office. I stand with those working to rid our state of traditions in which people legally control other people and supporting issues that don’t necessarily impact me directly. What is most important is to be connected to the goal, which is justice for all, even if our motivation is different.
The reason I share the effect this year has had on me is because I know I’m not alone. Women are speaking up in numbers this country has never seen before. First-time female candidates are running for offices big and small, from the U.S. Senate and state legislatures to local school boards and county commissions. We are educating ourselves and each other on issues that affect us all.
The reason I know how impactful this movement has become isn’t because of the press coverage or the number of women running for office. Last year my youngest daughter refused to listen to anything I tried to talk about regarding Women’s March or the potential consequences resulting from the election. I tried to engage her in meaningful discussions but she wanted no part of that - her vote was enough. This year we are marched together in Roanoke, Virginia and she volunteered with the local Women’s March to put on this event.
This year women organized rally’s and marches, #PowerToThePolls, as a campaign to register and engage voters for the 2018 elections. Our collective power is rooted in one another and having a wave of women pouring into public office will bring forth the issues that draw support from women in both parties. Celinda Lake said, “Women candidates help energize women voters and in close races you win with women voters.” If I can help mobilize 26,000 Floridians to D. C. I can help mobilize 26,000 (and more) Floridians to the voting booths in 2018.
Women are the backbone of every society. Never underestimate the strength of a woman-led movement.
Marina Welch
Marina Welch
Andrew Gillum: Fair Share for Florida's Future
Republicans know a blue wave is coming in Florida and that when we're in charge, three decades of corporate tax loopholes will be closed to fund teacher pay raises, world-class public schools, and job training programs.
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