Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaFebruary 6, 2018

The Senate version of the “Campus Free Expression Act” cleared its first panel on a party-line vote Tuesday over the opposition of the state’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter. The ACLU of Florida says the bill (SB 1234) “would make Florida public colleges and universities legally liable for disruptions caused by student protesters.” Democrats on the […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 26, 2018

Welcome to the United States of America, otherwise known as the world’s largest free speech zone. Unfortunately, too many college administrators don’t see it that way. On campuses across Florida and the rest of the nation, people in charge of higher education have established euphemistically named “free speech zones” that limit the places where students […]

Associated PressOctober 18, 2017

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A day before white nationalist Richard Spencer is scheduled to speak at the University of Florida, its president affirmed his belief in free speech but said the security costs of holding such an event at a public university put an unfair burden on taxpayers. UF President W. Kent Fuchs said Wednesday in an interview with […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 22, 2017

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Free speech is an essential element for vibrant intellectual discourse and discovery at American universities. Part of that speech requires the students and faculty to be exposed to competing ideas. Too often, one side, the conservative side is missing in action not by choice, but by exclusion. Since 2000, the Foundation for Individual Rights in […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 20, 2017

Most universities recruit students by offering specialized curricula, top quality faculty and promising to expose students to diverse views which will stimulate creative thinking and prepare the student for life after their university experience. Universities may be partially successful on the first two items, but dramatically fail in exposing students to diverse viewpoints. It is […]

Associated PressFebruary 3, 2016

A federal appeals court has agreed to reconsider previous rulings that upheld a Florida law restricting what doctors can ask patients about guns. The full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday tossed out the earlier decisions by divided three-judge panels of the same court. The full court agreed to requests by organizations representing […]

Jac VerSteegDecember 15, 2015

The 2016 presidential race hasn’t had any official votes yet. But as things are shaping up for two candidates with Florida ties – Jeb Bush and Donald Trump – the contest already has bearing on at least two constitutional issues. They are whether contributing money to candidates is a form of protected free speech; and […]

Jac VerSteegDecember 14, 2015

The 2016 presidential race hasn’t had any official votes yet. But as things are shaping up for two candidates with Florida ties – Jeb Bush and Donald Trump – the contest already has bearing on at least two constitutional issues. They are whether contributing money to candidates is a form of protected free speech; and […]

Guest AuthorMay 5, 2015

Testing the First Amendment’s limits has always been an important act in ensuring democratic rule in this country. Today, there are very few limits on free speech; the only justification for censorship is protecting national security or preventing violent or dangerous behavior. As a result, we live in a society where almost any words or […]

Tag: free speech

ACLU objects but ‘free expression’ bill clears Senate committee

Demetrius Minor: The only free speech zone in Florida ought to be Florida

Kent Fuchs: Security cost for Richard Spencer speech ‘unfair’

Darryl Paulson: Do universities discriminate? The assault on conservative speakers at American universities

Darryl Paulson: Do universities discriminate? The assault on free speech

Full 11th Circuit appeals court to consider gun speech law

Jac VerSteeg: Picture Donald Trump at the head of an army

Jac VerSteeg: Picture Donald Trump at the head of an army

Steven Kurlander: Dissing Muhammad – Pamela Geller and the deadly art of being a hateful skank