Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressMay 24, 2016

Florida is going to pay at least $213,000 for its losing battle to keep intact a voter-approved ban on gay marriage. State officials have agreed to pay that much to the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida to cover attorney fees and other costs. Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s office is also actively negotiating to reach […]

Associated PressApril 18, 2016

Florida’s fight to keep intact a ban on gay marriage is going to wind up costing taxpayers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has ordered the state to pay the fees of attorneys who filed federal lawsuits challenging the state’s voter-approved ban. Hinkle said in an order dated Friday the attorneys were eligible for payment because […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 10, 2016

A controversial bill that shields clergy members who refuse to perform gay marriages is now law. The so-called “Pastor Protection Act” was one of more than two dozen bills Gov. Rick Scott signed into law Thursday. Rep. Scott Plakon, the House sponsor, said this month the proposal offered protections to clergy who have concerns about […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 2, 2016

The Florida House voted 82-37 to approve a bill that allows members of the clergy to refuse to perform gay marriages. The passage came after more than an hour of passionate debate. Opponents questioned why the bill (HB 43) was needed, with some calling it an insult to the state’s gay community. “This bill is […]

Associated PressDecember 27, 2015

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Florida’s biggest news story for 2015 happened in the year’s first days, when the state became the 36th with legalized gay marriage, according to an Associated Press poll of the state’s newspaper and broadcast editors. Gay marriage easily beat out the No. 2 story, the long-running saga over the districts the Florida Legislature drew for […]

Associated PressDecember 27, 2015

The far-flung attacks claimed by Islamic State militants and the intensifying global effort to crush them added up to a grim, gripping yearlong saga that was voted the top news story of 2015, according to The Associated Press’ annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors. The No. 2 story was the U.S. Supreme Court’s […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 4, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday said he won’t break his pledge not to run as an independent if he loses the GOP nomination. Trump was back on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program via telephone. He last appeared Aug. 28. He also called the Iran nuclear deal “disastrous” and said “possibly yes” to taking people […]

Guest AuthorAugust 27, 2015

It’s been all over the news. Hackers went after the notorious “Life is short. Have an affair.” website, which enables married or otherwise attached men and women to pursue relationships outside their union. Hackers are exposing Ashley Madison customers and emails, not for money but for “moral” reasons. They believed the idea behind the site […]

Guest AuthorJuly 20, 2015

With the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage for gay couples, Florida leaders have an important decision to make when it comes to our national and international reputation. Will we be a state that embraces equality and fairness or will we be seen as a state that resists progress and shuns diversity? The Supreme Court […]

Guest AuthorJuly 19, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court recently invalidated the state’s congressional districts map, finding it had been drawn with unconstitutional intent to favor the majority party and incumbents. This landmark decision is the first to determine whether newly drawn legislative districts comply with the Fair Districts Amendment as passed by voters in 2010 to remove partisan gerrymandering […]

Tag: Gay marriage

Florida cost for opposing gay marriage? $213,000 and rising

Florida’s fight to keep gay marriage ban could be costly

“Pastor Protection” bill now state law

Florida House votes 82-37 to approve “Pastor Protection” Act

Gay marriage is biggest Florida story of 2015, poll says

Islamic State conflict voted top news story of 2015

Donald Trump says he won’t run as independent

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Life is short, try on some tolerance

Patrick Geraghty: More support needed to pass state laws against workplace discrimination

Glenn Burhans Jr.: O civility, where art thou?