Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2015

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The Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced a controversial bill that its sponsor says would protect the religious rights of private adoption agencies. However, Democrats, LGBT activists and others say it would give those agencies carte blanche to discriminate against same-sex couples. Sanford Republican Jason Brodeur‘s bill emerged in the past month, immediately after […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

The Florida House Judiciary Committee today passed a controversial “conscience protection” bill (HB 7111) that would allow private adoption agencies to refuse child placements with gay couples. Conscience protection legislation grants a person or an entity the ability to refuse to perform an otherwise required duty, because the individual or entity violates their religious or […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 31, 2015

An overhaul of state group health insurance benefits moved one step closer to the floor on Tuesday with House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran declaring that he would spend his last breath as a legislator altering the health care program. Before passing the measure, HB 7097, the committee tagged on an amendment that bill sponsor Rep. […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 31, 2015

An overhaul of state group health insurance benefits moved one step closer to the floor on Tuesday with House Appropriations Chairman Richard Corcoran declaring that he would spend his last breath as a legislator altering the health care program. Before passing the measure, HB 7097, the committee tagged on an amendment that bill sponsor Rep. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2015

Members of the GLBT community and their allies flocked to Ybor City under idyllic conditions on Saturday, as Tampa held its first gay pride event in more than a decade. In his public remarks, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner referred to what he called one of the “darkest moments in this country’s history” — the June 15, […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 27, 2015

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Conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, biologist Joe Guthrie and photographer Carlton Ward Jr. sat secluded while eating lunch in the back room of a Tallahassee restaurant on Thursday, unaware that rain that had begun pouring down outside. A week earlier they would have been out in the weather while hiking, bicycling, paddling and camping on a […]

Mitch PerryMarch 23, 2015

Last week the House Health & Human Services Committee approved a proposal that would allow private adoption agencies to object to “performing, assisting in, recommending, consenting to, or participating in the placement of a child if a placement violates the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.” The measure, sponsored by Sanford Republican Jason Brodeur, […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2015

Last week, the Florida house struck down the state’s 38-year ban on same-sex adoptions. The Christian Right in Tallahassee has vowed ever since to make sure that such a bill never makes it to Rick Scott‘s desk. On Thursday the House Health & Human Services Committee passed a proposed bill, PCB HHSC 15-03, that would allow allow […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

A House committee approved an overhaul of the state group health insurance plan with little to no debate Thursday morning. The House Health Care Services Committee — which had wrapped up lengthy debate on an adoption bill — had moved to extend the two-hour meeting in case the state group health debate ran long. The […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 19, 2015

One week after striking down a ban on gay adoption, a House panel on Thursday approved a proposed committee bill that would allow private child-placing agencies to refuse an adoption if the placement violates their religious or moral convictions. The proposed bill, PCB HHSC 15-03, was supported by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops and […]

Tag: Jason Brodeur

House moves adoption agency “conscience protection” bill forward

House committee passes bill to allow private adoption agencies to deny gay adoption

Richard Corcoran swears he'll "crack the status quo" — even if it takes his last breath

Richard Corcoran swears he’ll “crack the status quo” — even if it takes his last breath

Activists at Tampa Pride urge celebrants to fight adoption bill

After 1,000-mile trek, trio meets with legislators to talk conservation

ACLU attorney says new House bill to prevent gay adoptions in Florida is unconstitutional

John Stemberger weighs in on gay adoption law

House panel OKs state insurance overhaul, but will Senate bite?

House panel OKs bill to give private adoption agencies refusal option