Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 5, 2016

State Sen. Jack Latvala now supports a measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to a Tuesday news release. Latvala, slated to become Senate Appropriations chairman next year, is the first Republican state senator to back the legislation (HB 45/SB 120), known as the “Florida Competitive Workforce […]

Ryan RayJanuary 4, 2016

Attorney and Democratic politico Emily Slosberg opened a campaign account Monday in SD 25, a Palm Beach-area Senate district currently held by Sen. Joe Abruzzo. Slosberg is the daughter of Boca Raton Rep. Irv Slosberg. She was previously thought to be waiting in the wings for his HD 91 seat until the lawmaker terms out in 2018, but the newly-revised […]

Phil AmmannNovember 24, 2015

Ten firms from the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce Coalition received a perfect score this week on the annual Human Rights Campaign ranking of workplace equality. In an announcement Tuesday, the corporations scoring a 100 percent rating on the 2016 Corporate Equity Index include such Florida-based companies as Akerman LLP, AT&T, Florida Blue, Carlton […]

Jim RosicaNovember 18, 2015

In the ongoing saga over state Senate redistricting, everything old is new again. The state Senate on Wednesday disclosed its proposed fix for its gerrymandered districts, a mash-up of two previous maps: One was passed by the Senate, another was drawn but not voted on in the recent Special Session. Because lawmakers couldn’t agree, it’s now […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2015

The Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition is coming off a very good month. “Drumbeat Report,” a video compilation hosted by campaign manager Patrick Slevin, discussed the organization’s recent successes, including such support from Fortune 500 companies and major Florida employers. The three-minute video reveals the group as “off and running” with what organizers […]

Jim RosicaNovember 4, 2015

State lawmakers filed bills Wednesday that would create exemptions to state public records law, ranging from topics involving substance abuse to cell-phone tracking. State Sen. Joe Abruzzo, a Boynton Beach Democrat, filed a bill (SB 762) that would shield the names of people involuntarily committed for substance abuse treatment. “The personal health of an individual and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

The group supporting a change to the state’s anti-discrimination law on Tuesday released a new poll showing 68 percent of Florida voters support their effort. Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce is pushing a bill (HB 45/SB 120) to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the current prohibitions against employment, retail and other discrimination in the state’s Civil Rights Act. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 21, 2015

A seemingly unlikely coalition of progressive groups, conservative organizations and businesses now have coalesced to support an anti-discrimination bill that historically hasn’t found traction in the Legislature. The bill (HB 45/SB 120), known as the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act,” aims to prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, amending the state’s […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 17, 2015

Two Palm Beach County municipalities are the latest to provide protections for all residents, including the LGBT community, from discrimination. The Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition campaign manager Patrick Slevin on Thursday praised the Village of Wellington, Palm Beach County’s fifth largest municipality, and the Town of Lake Clarke Shores for efforts to protect the LGBT […]

Phil AmmannAugust 17, 2015

In preparation for the upcoming 2016 Florida Legislative Session, Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce (FBCW) picked GOP consultant Patrick Slevin as its new campaign manager. Slevin will help lead the bipartisan coalition to pass the Competitive Workforce Act, which seeks to modernize state law to include anti-discrimination protection based on sexual orientation and gender […]

Tag: Joe Abruzzo

Jack Latvala supports anti-LGBT discrimination bill

Let Emily serve? Emily Slosberg files for 2016 Senate run

10 Florida employers recognized as national Best Places to Work for LGBT employees

Senate submits proposed redistricting map

Florida Competitive Workforce video talks successes, plans for 2016

Lawmakers file host of privacy-related bills

Poll shows growing support for anti-discrimination law

Anti-discrimination bill makes strange political bedfellows

2 Florida municipalities praised for passing new anti-discrimination protections

Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce selects Patrick Slevin as campaign manager