Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 10, 2016

St. Petersburg City Council Vice Chair Darden Rice is backing her former council and PSTA colleague Wengay Newton in the Florida House District 70 contest. “Wengay “Newt” Newton has been a longtime leader on many issues, including education, youth employment, and mass transit issues in our region. I have seen firsthand his impressive dedication and diligence on the […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 21, 2016

The Florida Competitive Workforce Act will finally see the light of day, after what has been a long road to be heard by any committee in the Florida Legislature. Miami Republican Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla placed Senate Bill 120, sponsored by Boynton Beach Democrat Sen. Joe Abruzzo, on the schedule for his Judiciary Committee. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 15, 2016

A measure that would prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity has picked up a second Republican sponsor in the Florida Senate: Travis Hutson of St. Augustine. The group behind the the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act” (HB 45/SB 120) announced the move in a news release Friday. The prime sponsors […]

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 […]

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 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. […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 24, 2015

AT&T Florida is the latest major employer to join the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce (FBCW) coalition, which seeks to end statewide LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. Supported by more than 400 Florida businesses, the coalition is working to pass the Florida Competitive Workforce Act during the 2016 Legislative Session. The […]

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 AmmannAugust 18, 2015

Osceola County is the latest in Florida to approve a Human Rights Ordinance to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public accommodations. In a prepared statement, the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition applauded the Osceola County Commission for its unanimous vote Monday night. Osceola joins 10 other counties […]

Ryan RayAugust 11, 2015

A bipartisan pair of South Florida lawmakers — Democrat Sen. Joe Abruzzo of Boynton Beach and Rep. Holly Raschein, a Key Largo Republican — say they will pursue legislation to update state law to include sexual orientation and gender identity under Florida’s workplace and public accommodations protections. The bill — HB 45, filed Tuesday morning — […]

Tag: Florida Competitive Workforce Act

Darden Rice endorses Wengay Newton in HD 70 race

After long road, Florida Competitive Workforce Act gets first Senate committee hearing

Support for LGBT-protection bill grows among Legislature’s GOP members

Jack Latvala supports anti-LGBT discrimination bill

Florida Competitive Workforce video talks successes, plans for 2016

Poll shows growing support for anti-discrimination law

AT&T Florida latest major employer to join Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce

Anti-discrimination bill makes strange political bedfellows

Osceola County latest to approve legal protections for LGBT citizens

Joe Abruzzo, Holly Raschein file bills to expand LGBTQ protections