Senate Bill Update

The following are the bills introduced and still active in the Senate during the current special session.

SB 6A, 8A, 10A, 12A, 14A, 16A, 18A, 20A, 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A, 32A, 34A, 36A, 38A, 40A, 42A, 44A, 46A, 48A, 50A, 52A: I don't get the intent of these bills, which do nothing more than state the intent of the Senate to do something else. Any legislative experts have an explanation?

SPB 800A, 8002A, 8004A, 8006A, 8008A, 8010A: This is a series of bills that appear to be designed to cut appropriations for various departments. The online version of each bill, however, is blank after the title. Not sure if that is an online hiccup or if these bills are something else? Again, do we have any legislative experts who can give us more info?

From the Blogs

FLA Politics (mentelibre): Thank you Senator Alex Villalobos

From the Blogs

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman) - An Irresponsible Budget

Florida Citizens for Science: The new legislative session

Progress Florida (Ray Seaman): The First of Many Bad Ideas from "Crisatsom"

ricksblog: Sansom not only lawmaker on the take

Our Top Priority Now

Fair Districts Florida. Seriously.

Post-Election Message From State Sen. Al Lawson

“I wish to extend my congratulations to my Republican colleague and our incoming Senate President, Jeff Atwater, on his re-election.

“These are historic times. By an overwhelming majority, the people of Florida played a pivotal role in delivering this state – for the first time in four presidential elections – to a candidate who not only broke the conventional stereotypes in every sense, but offered the first tangible ray of hope to so many of our citizens desperate for opportunities so elusive and so hard to come by.

“Last night, Floridians joined their countrymen in declaring that the old way of doing things has not worked. Their votes underscored the critical need for unity to solve the many problems we face as a nation and as a state and the people’s hunger for leadership dedicated to solutions rather than partisan scorecards.

“As we take the helm of our respective leadership positions here in the Florida Senate, I wish you and all of my colleagues God’s blessings and inspiration. It is our turn to continue the Senate’s legacy of rejecting divisiveness, and dedication to our constitutional mission to “perfect our government” in order to preserve our liberty and its benefits. I pledge my support and the support of our Democratic Caucus to that mission.

“In this new day, this new beginning, let us always remember that whatever our differences, we are all Floridians, all members of the Florida Senate, and all hopeful that your presidency mirrors the reflection of a state ready for change.”

HisNoseGrows.Com Launched Responding To Atwater's False Claims

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The Florida Democratic Party has launched www.HisNoseGrows.com today, which highlights Jeff Atwater's attempts to run away from the truth as he tries to hide from his record of being puppet of the big insurance companies.

"Floridians are wondering why Jeff Atwater's nose keeps growing ever time his mouth is moving. In the Senate, Atwater has been a puppet for Big Insurance. He fought to make it easier for insurance companies to deny claims and then he allowed the same insurance companies to raise rates by 71.5%. Now Atwater's special interest friends are bankrolling his campaign to help him hide from his failed record. While Atwater tries to run from his party, and his record, we'll make certain voters know he can't run away from the truth," said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff.

The new website www.hisnosegrows.com, builds upon efforts to dispute the presumptive Senate President's false claims and expose his special interest ways. Earlier, the Florida Democratic Party launched Senatorjoke.com, awarding Atwater the "Best Insurance Hypocrite" award. Both website allows voters to click-through and find links to online records, news articles, and testimonials that will allow them to check the record for themselves.

Florida Gets a "D" on Choice Issues

NARAL points out the following facts:

69 percent of Florida counties have no abortion provider.

Florida has unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal bans on abortion.
Details

Florida law subjects women seeking abortions to biased counseling requirements.
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Florida allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide women specific reproductive health services, information, or referrals.

Florida restricts low-income women's access to abortion.

Florida law restricts young women's access to abortion services by mandating parental notice.

Florida subjects abortion providers to burdensome restrictions not applied to other medical professionals.

Governor Charlie Crist (R) is anti-choice.

Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp (R) is anti-choice.

Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) is anti-choice.

The Florida House is anti-choice.

The Florida Senate is mixed-choice.

We can do better than this.