Category Archives: Civil Liberties

Apr 21

From the Inbox: Rep. Scott Randolph Offers Amendments Aimed At Protection of Voting Rights?

Posted on 21 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Representative Scott Randolph (D-Orlando) offered the following comments regarding his unsuccessful attempts to amend the elections bill (CS/HB 1355) last night on the House floor: “I presented several common-sense amendments that would protect voting rights in our state. The Republican … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Democrats | Comments Off
Apr 21

From the Inbox: Elections Bill Is An Assault on Voters, say HB1355 opponents?

Posted on 21 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

A massive rewrite of Florida’s elections laws to be debated today in the Florida House of Representatives is drawing harsh criticism from nonpartisan voter groups, grassroots political organizers, election supervisors, and several members of the Florida House Democratic Caucus. At … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Conservatives, Democrats | Comments Off
Apr 21

From the Inbox: Rep. López Cantera and Sen. René García commit to vote against Arizona laws

Posted on 21 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Representative Carlos López-Cantera and Sen. Rene Garcia, members of the Miami-Dade delegation in Tallahassee, are expressing their opposition to Arizona racial profiling laws in Florida andhave pledged to vote against the different versions that are currently progressing in the legislative … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Hispanic and Latino Issues, Republicans | Comments Off
Apr 19

From the Inbox: Florida Democratic Party Denounces ‘Voter Suppression’ Bill Being Pushed By Republicans?

Posted on 19 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux released the following statement reacting to the ‘Voter Suppression’ bill, HB 1355, Republican politicians are ramming through the Legislature: “After pushing an extreme agenda that does real harm to the quality of life … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Conservatives, Democrats | 1 Comment
Apr 19

From the Inbox: Minority Groups Ask DOJ for Preclearance of FairDistricts Amendments?

Posted on 19 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Today, Democracia and the Florida NAACP sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging swift preclearance of the FairDistricts Amendments. With preclearance, the amendments (overwhelmingly passed by a 63% vote) will be cleared for implementation and the Legislature … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Redistricting | Comments Off
Apr 19

From the Inbox: Rep. Wilson Blasts Governor Scott on Rolling Back Rights for Ex-Felons

Posted on 19 April 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-17) today issued the following statement after a meeting between the Florida congressional delegation and Governor Rick Scott in which Rep. Wilson pressed the Governor on his decision to roll back voting rights for ex-felons: “It took … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Congressional Delegation, Democrats | 1 Comment
Mar 15

From the Inbox: Three-Day Hearing in Innocence Case in Bradenton, FL Innocence Project Attorney’s Litigate for New Trial for Derrick Williams

Posted on 15 March 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Derrick Williams’ attorneys from the Innocence Project of Florida (IPF) will litigate a motion to vacate his conviction based on new DNA test results that demonstrate Mr. Williams’ innocence of a 1993 Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida kidnapping and rape. Additonally, … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights | Comments Off
Mar 11

From the Inbox: Dangerous Arizona copycat bills moving fast in Florida Senate

Posted on 11 March 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Despite recent public statements from Florida Legislators insisting that they are backtracking from Arizona-style racial profiling bills, the most alarming bills were filed in the Legislature this week and were dubbed “the worst of the worst.” On March 5th, Sen. … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Hispanic and Latino Issues, Immigration | Comments Off
Feb 25

Sen. Democratic Leader Pro Tem Arthenia Joyner to Attorny General Pam Bondi: Automatic Restoration of Rights Works Just Fine; Leave It Alone

Posted on 25 February 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

Senate Democratic Leader Pro Tempore Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) on Friday called on the attorney general to rethink her decision to halt automatic restoration of civil rights for certain ex-felons. Such a decision, the senator said, not only flies in the … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Democrats | Comments Off
Feb 10

Everything You Need to Know About Rick Scott’s Budget (Literally)

Posted on 10 February 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

*Saunders: Scott’s budget is toast – Central Florida Political Pulse – Orlando Sentinel House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders said Thursday that Gov. Rick Scott’s$56.9 billion budget proposal was so politically unpalatable his Republican brethren would have little choice but to … Read More →

Posted in Accountability, Budget, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Conservatives, Consumer Issues, Crime, Democrats, Economics, Education, Environment, Governor, Growth, Health Care, Labor, Legislature, Local Government, Republicans, Senior Issues, State Government, Taxes, Transportation, Worker's Rights | Comments Off
Jan 05

A Closer Look At Rick Scott’s Executive Orders

Posted on 5 January 2011 by Kenneth Quinnell

EO11-01: This one stops all state government rulemaking in Florida and requires the governor’s office to approve any new rules before they can be pursued Thoughts: -This is micromanaging at its worst, since none of the agencies affected by this … Read More →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Conservatives, Consumer Issues, Environment, Gay Rights, Governor, Hispanic and Latino Issues, Immigration, Labor, Law, Republicans | 2 Comments
Dec 02

Florida’s Congressional Delegation on Civil Rights

Posted on 2 December 2010 by Kenneth Quinnell

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights recently released its scorecard on how members of Congress voted on key civil rights bills in the 111th Congress. Here’s how the Florida delegation voted, with the number representing the percentage of … Read More →

Posted in 2010 Elections, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Congressional Delegation, Conservatives, Republicans | 2 Comments
Dec 02

Florida State Senate Unleashes Dog Of War

Posted on 2 December 2010 by dantilson

(Cross-posted @ Examiner.com) Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) is a leading figure in the new self-proclaimed “hard right-wing conservative” Florida State Legislature. He’s considered a top dog under the command of Senate President Mike Haridopolos. And if you’ve ever heard the … Read More →

Posted in Activism, Capitol Offense, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Conservatives, Hispanic and Latino Issues, Immigration, Legislature, Republicans | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off
Oct 31

Voting Against 2011-2012 Florida Republican Agenda

Posted on 31 October 2010 by dantilson

  (Cross-posted at Examiner.com) Got a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, facebook or other cyberspace pal who’s obviously or seemingly unplugged from this year’s election? This would be a good time, in the final days before Election Day, to reach … Read More →

Posted in 2010 Elections, Civil Liberties, Conservatives, Democrats, Legislature, Republicans | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment