7th Ave
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Tuesday, March 21, 2023
'Don't Say Gay' lawmaker pleads guilty to COVID relief fraud
Former Florida State Representative Joseph Harding / Photo by Gage Skidmore
The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” pleaded guilty Tuesday to committing $150,000 in COVID-19 relief fraud.
Joseph Harding, a 35-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty in Gainesville federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, according to court records. He faces up to 35 years in prison at a hearing scheduled for July 25.
More HERE
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Jessica Rose in Clearwater Beach
Playing music for you TONIGHT TUESDAY (and every Tuesday) at Beach Fire Beach Bar & Grille 8PM-11PM see you beautiful people there! INFO
House panel moves bill executing child rapists with supermajority jury vote
The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee moved legislation by a 14-3 vote that enhances penalties on sexual battery against children.
Rep. Jessica Baker’s HB 1297 would pave the way for executing adults who rape children with only a supermajority jury verdict, meaning that at least eight of 12 jurors concur. If fewer than eight jurors agree on execution, then the crimes would merit life imprisonment.
More HERE
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Proposed Bill Would Ban The Florida Hemp Industry
In recent weeks, Florida legislators have taken steps toward banning hemp products. Senator Colleen Burton and Representative William Robinson have introduced companion bills, HB 1475 and SB 1676, [which] would reclassify hemp extract as “a food that requires time and temperature control for safety and integrity of product” and impose several regulations that would effectively end the hemp industry in Florida.....MORE
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State pushes back in the fight over a Florida protest law
Protest in Tampa in 2021 / WMNF News
Attorneys for Gov. Ron DeSantis told the Florida Supreme Court late Monday that a controversial 2021 law about protests that turn violent would not apply to peaceful demonstrators, disputing that the law is unconstitutional.
A 25-page brief was the latest move in a long-running battle about a law that DeSantis championed after nationwide protests following the 2020 death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by a Minneapolis police officer. Dubbed the “Combating Public Disorder” law, the measure included a series of steps aimed at cracking down on people who participate in riots or a “violent public disturbance.”
More HERE
Florida legislators on why they voted for or against HB1 – universal vouchers for private schools
Students and teacher at Sheehy Elementary School by Pamela Robinson/WMNF News (2022)
A universal school voucher bill is sailing through the state legislature.
HB1 passed the Florida House on Friday and would allow nearly all students to attend private school with a voucher from the state. Some of the big concerns are how much it will cost – nobody can seem to agree on the number – and how much funding it will take away from public schools.
More HERE
House panel OK’s bill boosting safe house protections against human trafficking
Hillsborough County Children's Services raising awareness for National Safe Place Week
Photo by: National Safe Place Network
It’s National Safe Place Week and Hillsborough County Children’s Services wants to remind kids and teens that they can receive immediate help in a crisis.....MORE
A Florida House panel advances a bill that would bolster scrutiny of school books
Creator: Steven Martin
Looking to build on a controversial 2022 law, a Florida House panel on Wednesday approved a bill that would bolster a process for people to object to school instructional materials and for parents to limit school library books their children can read.
The measure also would define “sex” as “the classification of a person as either female or male based on the organization of the body of such person for a specific reproductive role, as indicated by the person's sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, and internal and external genitalia present at birth.”
More HERE
Florida politicians are waging war on workers. Not even astronauts or baseball players are safe.
Photo credit: David July
The Florida Legislature’s 2023 session is only two weeks old, but it is already shaping up as a terrible one for workers.
The most obvious examples are Senate Bill 256 and House Bill 1445, a pair of aggressively anti-union bills that Gov. Ron DeSantis is driving through the Legislature as he loads up to run for the Republican nomination for president.
More HERE
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Monday, March 20, 2023
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‘Heartbeat’ abortion ban approved by first Senate committee
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A bill that would ban abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy cleared the Florida Senate’s Health Policy committee Monday.....MORE
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