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Staff ReportsMarch 6, 2018

After an hours-long floor session, in which a series of Democratic attempts to change a controversial school safety bill failed, the Republican-controlled House on Tuesday readied the proposal for a final vote. Before that could happen, dozens of amendments sponsored by Democrats were killed. One by Rep. Jared Moskowitz would have removed a ‘guardian program’ […]

Jim RosicaMarch 6, 2018

The House spent three hours just on questions on a contentious $400 million school safety proposal passed by the Senate on Monday. House members took up the bill (SB 7026) Tuesday, with Democrats peppering Speaker-designate José Oliva with questions, many of them duplicative. “Asked and answered,” Speaker pro tempore Jeanette Nuñez said several times. She was in […]

Ana CeballosMarch 6, 2018

The 41 Democrats of the Florida House unanimously voted Tuesday morning to take a caucus position against a proposed program that would arm school staff with guns. Rep. Joe Geller of Aventura made the motion to do so, and on a voice vote the move was approved. But when another motion was made to take […]

Scott PowersMarch 6, 2018

Expressing frustration with what the Florida Legislature is doing with guns and schools, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine is placing another nearly $2 million buy for statewide TV commercials this month, his campaign announced Monday. The commercials will continue for a while with his “We Will” spot that launched in late February on a $750,000 […]

Ana CeballosMarch 5, 2018

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In a bipartisan effort, the Florida House narrowly passed a watered-down school safety proposal with a $400 million price tag that will provide students with more access to mental health services and allow school districts to participate in a program that arms school staff. “This bill will make a difference, and when it becomes law, […]

Scott PowersMarch 5, 2018

When someone fails a background check while attempting to purchase a gun, that should be reported to state law enforcement as a possible precursor to criminal gun activity, under a bill being pushed by Florida’s U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson and a bipartisan group of several other key U.S. senators. Republican Rubio, Democrat […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2018

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The Florida Senate on Saturday began its consideration of a school safety bill in response to the Valentine’s Day deadly shooting at Broward County’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Senate President-designate Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, presented the latest version of the bill (SB 7026), a summary of which is below. He was still taking […]

Peter SchorschMarch 3, 2018

There is “zero tolerance” for sexual harassment in the Legislature, leaders say, but an ethics reform package that would create new rules and penalties for sexual harassment may not become law this year. The Florida House unanimously passed the proposal this week, but Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley is blocking the bill in the Senate because […]

Scott PowersMarch 2, 2018

Democrats have launched billboards in Orlando and Tallahassee that declare that Gov. Rick Scott did nothing to address gun safety following the June 12, 2016, Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. The Florida Democratic Party has leased two billboards, and the one in Orlando went live Friday. The message charges that the Republican governor’s commitment to […]

Scott PowersMarch 2, 2018

Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was conspicuously absent from a meeting President Donald Trump convened Wednesday in the West Wing with key lawmakers and stakeholders in the gun violence debate following the Parkland massacre, and on Friday he dismissed the meeting as show, and predicted Trump will pivot from assurances he made there. Speaking […]

Tag: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Orlando Pride

After marathon floor session, House poised to approve school safety bill

House begins deliberations on post-Parkland measure

House Dems take caucus position against arming school staff

Philip Levine placing another nearly $2 million in TV ads

Florida Senate narrowly passes watered-down school safety proposal

Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson push bipartisan bill to tighten reporting on gun background checks

Senate begins discussing school safety bill

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Ethics reform in peril

Democrats’ Orlando billboard proclaims ‘Rick Scott did nothing’ after Pulse

Bill Nelson bemoans snub to White House gun meeting as ‘counter productive’