Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 7, 2015

Social conservatives in Florida are urging Gov. Rick Scott to veto an adoption bill because it lacks a “conscience protection” provision for faith-based adoption and foster care agencies. CS-HB 7013 was a bill strongly supported by Senate President Andy Gardiner when the session began. It re-creates a program to provide a financial benefit of $5,000 or $10,000 […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

Speaking to talk-show host Bill Bunkley on Tuesday, Ocala House Republican Dennis Baxley stood by his decision to reverse his vote on the gay adoption issue. He initially voted for HB 7013, which would provide incentives to state workers who adopt children from foster care — while also repealing part of state law that in […]

Mitch PerryApril 1, 2015

Speaking to talk-show host Bill Bunkley on Tuesday, Ocala House Republican Dennis Baxley stood by his decision to reverse his vote on the gay adoption issue. He initially voted for HB 7013, which would provide incentives to state workers who adopt children from foster care — while also repealing part of state law that in […]

William MarchMarch 30, 2015

The Florida Legislature is considering several new measures to restrict abortions, including one with a strong chance of passage that calls for a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can undergo the procedure. That measure, House Bill 0633, would require that a woman make one trip to the clinic for legally required counseling before coming […]

Mitch PerryMarch 26, 2015

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With a Republican governor and overwhelmingly GOP-led Legislature, Florida is being well served by its legislators in Tallahassee, right? Not exactly. A new Public Policy Polling survey released Thursday shows that 58 percent of Florida voters want Medicaid expansion. Independents support it by 57 percent, while there is a 12-point difference among Republicans (33/45). Despite […]

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 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2015

Although the vote by the Florida House of Representatives last week to repeal Florida’s 38-year ban on gay adoption was hardly overwhelming, there was little open dissent on the House floor, with only a handful of lawmakers even discussing the legislation before voting on it. Among those who did so movingly was Ocala Republican Dennis […]

Tag: John Stemberger

Florida Family Action urges Rick Scott to veto adoption bill

House moves adoption agency “conscience protection” bill forward

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

Dennis Baxley on gay adoption reversal: "I simply can't affirm homosexuality"

Dennis Baxley on gay adoption reversal: “I simply can’t affirm homosexuality”

New restrictions on abortion could pass in state Legislature

New survey: Most Floridians like Medicaid expansion, medical marijuana, same-sex marriage

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

John Stemberger weighs in on gay adoption law

Conservative House Republican Dennis Baxley reverses his vote for gay adoption