Jacob Ogles
Senate Democrat Leader Aubrey Gibson led the loyal opposition in a year when many conservative bills passed.
Still, she celebrated the end of a Session and called it a success for Democrats.
“I’m extremely proud of the outstanding efforts of our Senate Democratic Caucus that stood united because we actually listened to the people,” she said.
“We voted to repeal the ban on smokeable marijuana. We supported tax holidays for hurricane and back-to-school supplies – until it was saddled with more giveaways to charter schools. We helped clear the way for the state’s lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies complicit in the opioid crisis. And we poured more money into preserving our environment, especially water cleanup and Everglades restoration. We did all this, and much more.”
However, Gibson acknowledged a frustration at the advancement of a distinctly conservative agenda this year in a definitely moderate state.
“Unfortunately, the ideology embraced by less than half of Florida’s voters drove much of the policy changes we saw this legislative session. Nowhere was this more evident than in the final weeks,” she said.
“It’s a sad commentary on how far the Legislature has strayed from its core responsibility to represent the many voices of the people throughout our diverse state. That’s why Senate Democrats filed amendments, asked the questions, and debated. That’s why we fought.”
On issues like Amendment 4 implementation and restrictions on citizen initiatives, she acknowledged disappointment.
“The Republican-led Legislature stripped the power of citizens to seek change through ballot initiatives, they stymied the straightforward pathway Floridians had approved by which felons had regained the right to vote, and they ignored the hundreds of students, educators and parents who had said in one clear and unmistakable voice: Do Not Arm Our Teachers,” she said.
Similarly, she slammed the push of a so-called sanctuary cities ban.
“These same lawmakers turned their backs on those who have sought refuge in our state, the thousands of immigrants who are part of the fabric that make Florida work. Our state and local government agencies are now in service to ICE, obliged to tear families apart and hand them over for deportation.”
But she affirmed Democrats would live to fight another session.
“Even as the voices of the people were trampled, so too was our constitution, as voucher legislation siphoning public money from traditional public schools to give to private, religious ones, cleared both chambers and appears destined for the newly remade Supreme Court,” she said.
“Although this session has ended, we will continue to fight for better policies and a good quality of life for all.”
2 comments
jerry morgan
May 5, 2019 at 10:00 am
“These same lawmakers turned their backs on those who have sought refuge in our state, the thousands of immigrants who are part of the fabric that make Florida work. Our state and local government agencies are now in service to ICE, obliged to tear families apart and hand them over for deportation.”
Yes the Republicans do represent the tax paying citizens of Florida, and yes we also know the Democrats represent the non citizens of Florida.
Lets see, we have Democrat / Socialist / Activist / Lawyers in the Northern Triangle of South America & Mexico; even as you read this instructing the populations the “benefits” & laws of coming top the USA…..”credible fear.” Then you have a Democrat House saying the crisis is “manufactured” as literally thousands attack our border daily? National Sovereignty is a myth to Democrats. The crisis is manufactured…by the Democrats themselves. Make no mistake about this, Democrats want this to happen and never stop.. They will with hold support allowing as many illegal aliens to enter the country before assisting in border security (if ever). Democrats offer rewards, incentives so…..More caravans on the way.
The current migration at our border is costing U.S taxpayers a Kings ransom. Fleeing persecution? or fleeing for freebies? they sure don’t stay in Mexico when they reach “safety” or ask or offered political asylum in Mexico. Why? because Mexico will give them NOTHING. So they make the long journey to our border, our generous Democrats, and our tax dollars. Notice how many have made the long, difficult, dangerous journey to our country 8-9 months pregnant? Give birth on American soil and the U.S. taxpayers will not only pay for the birth of you’re child but will also give you state government assistance.
TPS / DACA
To Democrats/Progressives/Socialists (whats the difference?) programs like Temporary Protective Status (TPS) or Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals (DACA) are permanent programs. There is nothing “temporary or deferred” about these programs to Democrats. These programs are designed to admit refugees (usually from the third world) then Democrats fight to keep them here permanently using the charge of racism, religion, guilt against anyone opposed. Simple formula works great.
THE PRICE:
It seems Democrats view U.S. citizens as acceptable collateral damage to their future long range goals of flooding the country with refugees & illegal aliens and having taxpayers paying the cost. Democrat politicians and their voters have put families at risk of being victimized by illegal aliens as in the cases Kate Steinly (nothing done) then, Mollie Tibbetts, (nothing done) Police Cpl. Ronil Singh, (nothing done) now Bambi Larson; butchered in her home, nothing will be done…who’s next? These victims would be alive today if our border was secured. Most of these killers have been deported numerous times. Bambi ‘s killer claimed “amnesty” to get into the country.
Google search “illegal alien crime” or “victims.”
Just a few examples of the more outrageous costs associated with illegal immigration, we will pass this burden on to our children & grand children as has been passed on to us.
* City emergency services Taxpayer pay for every police, fire, paramedic service call for illegal aliens in their city. Taxpayers also pay for all hospital, emergency room treatments, ambulances, medications….everything. Hospital wait times for citizens are negatively impacted.
*Cost of educating illegal aliens is staggering. From K-12 it costs taxpayers on average $122,000 for EACH illegal alien student. This does not include the millions spent on bilingual ED, instructors, special need children & day care. It is estimated nearly 100,000 illegal aliens graduate each year……you do the math. School class size are also negatively impacted by illegal aliens and our students suffer as a result.
*Taxpayers in some states are funding “in state college tuition” discounts for illegal aliens. (AZ voted to terminate this taxpayer expense.) Cost to taxpayers over a billion dollars annually.
*About one in five inmates in federal prison are foreign-born, & more than 90% of those are in the U.S illegally. This does not include local jails and state prisons. At roughly $24,000 per year expense per inmate.
*$3Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate, process Illegal aliens in the criminal justice system.
*$2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on is spent on food assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, & taxpayer funded school lunches. Visit youtube search “cost of illegal immigration.”
*Mexico received 33 billion last year in remittance from our country. $120 billion total was sent out of the United States in total remittance last year.
*Every child birth by illegal aliens in the U.S is paid for with tax dollars.In the US, the average cost to have a baby without complications during delivery, is $10,808, which can increase to $30,000 when factoring in care provided before and after pregnancy (July 9, 2018 google.)
* Section 8 housing. Illegal aliens take full advantage of this program. Citizens & their families in poverty in many cases wait years behind non citizens for emergency housing.
Gail
May 5, 2019 at 8:34 pm
Democrat 2020 Platform & Goals:
*Open Borders.
-Sanctuary Cities.
-Elimination of ICE
-Disarming Americans.
-Infanticide.
-Voting rights for illegal aliens.
-Pack the courts with radical liberal judges (Like the 9th circuit)
-Increase refugee’s from the third world.
-Illegal aliens allowed to hold public office.
-Socialism.
-Free Abortions for all (Taxpayer funded)
-The green new deal.
-End of Electoral College
-Free Medicare care for all including non citizens (taxpayer funded)
-Raise Minimum Wage
-Have adolescents vote
-!00% free college for all, including non citizens. (tax payer funded)
-Reparations for every race “harmed” by the white man.
-Convicts, Terrorists voting.
-Susie & Bobby using the same restrooms.
-Late term abortions.
-Pay check for every person in the US even if they choose not to work.
Sources: Straight from the Democrat’s mouths.
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