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House Passes Sweeping Voting Rights Bill Over GOP Opposition

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Democratic Caucus gather to address reporters on H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. House Democrats are expected to pass a sweeping elections and ethics bill, offering it up as a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats passed sweeping voting and ethics legislation Wednesday over unanimous Republican opposition, advancing to the Senate what would be the largest overhaul of the U.S. election law in at least a generation.

House Resolution 1, which touches on virtually every aspect of the electoral process, was approved on a near party-line 220-210 vote. It would restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, strike down hurdles to voting and bring transparency to a murky campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to anonymously bankroll political causes.

The bill is a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country in the wake of Donald Trump’s repeated false claims of a stolen 2020 election. Yet it faces an uncertain fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it has little chance of passing without changes to procedural rules that currently allow Republicans to block it.

The stakes in the outcome are monumental, cutting to the foundational idea that one person equals one vote, and carrying with it the potential to shape election outcomes for years to come. It also offers a test of how hard President Joe Biden and his party are willing to fight for their priorities, as well as those of their voters.

This bill “will put a stop at the voter suppression that we’re seeing debated right now,” said Rep. Nikema Williams, a new congresswoman who represents the Georgia district that deceased voting rights champion John Lewis held for years. “This bill is the ‘Good Trouble’ he fought for his entire life.”

To Republicans, however, it would give license to unwanted federal interference in states’ authority to conduct their own elections — ultimately benefiting Democrats through higher turnout, most notably among minorities.

“Democrats want to use their razor-thin majority not to pass bills to earn voters’ trust, but to ensure they don’t lose more seats in the next election,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said from the House floor Tuesday.

The measure has been a priority for Democrats since they won their House majority in 2018. But it has taken on added urgency in the wake of Trump’s false claims, which incited the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol in January.

Courts and even Trump’s last attorney general, William Barr, found his claims about the election to be without merit. But, spurred on by those lies, state lawmakers across the U.S. have filed more than 200 bills in 43 states that would limit ballot access, according to a tally kept by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

In Iowa, the legislature voted to cut absentee and in-person early voting, while preventing local elections officials from setting up additional locations to make early voting easier. In Georgia, the House on Monday voted for legislation requiring identification to vote by mail that would also allow counties to cancel early in-person voting on Sundays, when many Black voters cast ballots after church.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court appeared ready to uphold voting restrictions in Arizona, which could make it harder to challenge state election laws in the future.

When asked why proponents sought to uphold the Arizona laws, which limit who can turn in absentee ballots and enable ballots to be thrown out if they are cast in the wrong precinct, a lawyer for the state’s Republican Party was stunningly clear.

“Because it puts us at a competitive disadvantage relative to Democrats,” said attorney Michael Carvin. “Politics is a zero-sum game.”

Battle lines are quickly being drawn by outside groups who plan to spend millions of dollars on advertising and outreach campaigns.

Republicans “are not even being coy about it. They are saying the ‘quiet parts’ out loud,” said Tiffany Muller, the president of End Citizens United, a left-leaning group that aims to curtail the influence of corporate money in politics. Her organization has launched a $10 million effort supporting the bill. “For them, this isn’t about protecting our democracy or protecting our elections. This is about pure partisan political gain.”

Conservatives, meanwhile, are mobilizing a $5 million pressure campaign, urging moderate Senate Democrats to oppose rule changes needed to pass the measure.

“H.R. 1 is not about making elections better,” said Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration Homeland Security official who is leading the effort. “It’s about the opposite. It’s intended to dirty up elections.”

So what’s actually in the bill?

H.R. 1 would require states to automatically register eligible voters, as well as offer same-day registration. It would limit states’ ability to purge registered voters from their rolls and restore former felons’ voting rights. Among dozens of other provisions, it would also require states to offer 15 days of early voting and allow no-excuse absentee balloting.

On the cusp of a once-in-a-decade redrawing of congressional district boundaries, typically a fiercely partisan affair, the bill would mandate that nonpartisan commissions handle the process instead of state legislatures.

Many Republican opponents in Congress have focused on narrower aspects, like the creation of a public financing system for congressional campaigns that would be funded through fines and settlement proceeds raised from corporate bad actors.

They’ve also attacked an effort to revamp the federal government’s toothless elections cop. That agency, the Federal Election Commission, has been gripped by partisan deadlock for years, allowing campaign finance law violators to go mostly unchecked.

Another section that’s been a focus of Republican ire would force the disclosure of donors to “dark money” political groups, which are a magnet for wealthy interests looking to influence the political process while remaining anonymous.

Still, the biggest obstacles lie ahead in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats.

On some legislation, it takes only 51 votes to pass, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. On a deeply divisive bill like this one, they would need 60 votes under the Senate’s rules to overcome a Republican filibuster — a tally they are unlikely to reach.

Some Democrats have discussed options like lowering the threshold to break a filibuster, or creating a workaround that would allow priority legislation, including a separate John Lewis Voting Rights bill, to be exempt. Biden has been cool to filibuster reforms and Democratic congressional aides say the conversations are fluid but underway.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not committed to a timeframe but vowed “to figure out the best way to get big, bold action on a whole lot of fronts.”

He said: “We’re not going to be the legislative graveyard. … People are going to be forced to vote on them, yes or no, on a whole lot of very important and serious issues.”

Politics

Suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill Seeks Political Comeback with Reelection Bid

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Suspended Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill, who is facing criminal charges but has not been convicted, announced Wednesday that she will run for reelection to reclaim her District 5 seat.

Hill’s Legacy in District 5

First elected in 2013, Hill has focused on job creation, education opportunities, business development, and affordable housing for her district, according to the City of Orlando.

Despite her legal troubles, Hill maintains that her leadership has brought transformative change to the community.

Announcing her candidacy on social media, she stated, “After much reflection, prayer, and supplication in response to the enthusiastic requests of many community members, I’ve decided on this day, the beginning of Lent, to submit my paperwork to officially run for reelection as the commissioner of District 5 to continue serving my beloved community.”

Legal Battle and Criminal Allegations

Hill is accused of financially exploiting a 96-year-old constituent, allegedly misusing more than $100,000 of her money and fraudulently securing a $428,000 mortgage in the elderly woman’s name for a home in Orlando. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Hill in March 2024.

While she has not been convicted of any crime, her trial, originally set for January 27, 2025, was postponed after her attorney requested additional time for depositions. A pre-trial hearing is now scheduled for April 29.

Suspension and Special Election

Following her arrest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended Hill from office, triggering a special election for her seat. In June 2024, Shaniqua Rose defeated former state representative Travaris McCurdy in a runoff election and was sworn into office on June 23, 2024.

Hill’s extensive arrest history didn’t matter to District 5 voters, who repeatedly elected and reelected her to office.

Rose confirmed that she will seek reelection, stating, “I filed to run for reelection in July 2024. Our community deserves a leader who will continue to fight for honesty, integrity, and real change. I will continue to listen, take action, and put the people of District 5 first.”

A High-Stakes Race for District 5

Hill’s decision to run again has sparked intense debate among residents and sets up a heated election battle in District 5. With legal proceedings still unfolding and the campaign season in full swing, District 5 voters will ultimately decide whether Hill deserves another term or if leadership should remain with Rose, District 5 Interim Commissioner.

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Thousands Celebrate the Life and Legacy of Civil Rights Titan Senator Geraldine Thompson

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Thousands of mourners from across Florida filled Majestic Life Church in Orlando Friday morning to honor the life and legacy of state Senator Geraldine Thompson, a revered civil rights leader and dedicated public servant.

Thousands of mourners from across Florida filled Majestic Life Church in Orlando, Friday, February 28, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

Thompson, 76, passed away on February 13 following complications from knee replacement surgery. She served western Orange County for over 16 years as a Democrat in the Florida Legislature, both in the state House and Senate, and had recently been reelected to the state Senate in November 2024.

Her memorial, a heartfelt “going home celebration,” drew a wide array of current and former federal, state, and local elected officials, as well as federal, state, and county judges. Notable attendees included U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost, former Congressmen John Mica and Alan Grayson, state Senate President Ben Albritton, state Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, local State Senators Carols Guillermo Smith and Kristen Arrington, Democratic House Leader Fentrice Driskell, State Representative Michele Rayner, local State Representatrive Anna Eskamani, former local State Representative Daisy Morales, Orange and Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell, former Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh, former Orange County Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Ocoee City Commissioner George Oliver, III.

Sitting in the front row, famed Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump, Florida State Representative Michele Rayner, Attorney Natalie Jackson, and former Florida State Representative Daisy Morales paid their respects to the late State Senator Geraldine Thompson in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, February 28, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

Civil Rights Attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson also paid their respects. Many attendees wore scarves in tribute to the beloved state lawmaker.

Dr. LaVon Bracy, a friend of the late State Senator Geraldine Thompson for over 50 years, spoke to thousands at the homegoing celebration in Orlando on Friday, February 28, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

Honoring Thompson’s Legacy

Dr. LaVon Bracy, a friend of Thompson for over 50 years and the maid of honor at Thompson’s wedding to her husband Emerson, reflected on the significance of Thompson passing during Black History Month.

Bracy highlighted Thompson’s activism during her time at the University of Miami, where she was a pioneer for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, advocating for Black faculty representation and the creation of a Black Student Union.

The daughters and son of the late State Senator Geraldine Thompson shared their mother’s impact during her homegoing celebration in Orlando, Florida, on February 28, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

A Mother’s Influence

Thompson’s daughter, Elizabeth Grace, shared how her mother instilled confidence and strength in those around her.

“She believed in us so hard, breathed life into us, and made us believe in ourselves so strongly that I think each of us sit here knowing there’s nothing that we can’t do,” Grace said.

Charlean Gatlin, a former staff member, shared the impact of the late State Senator Geraldine Thompson on the community in Orlando, Florida, on February 25, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

Impact on Community Leaders

Charlean Gatlin, a former staff member, asked everyone who had ever worked for Thompson to stand, showcasing the breadth of her influence.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the individuals standing before you are representations of Sen. Thompson’s essence of influence,” Gatlin said. “They are educators, community advocates, lobbyists, and public servants whose round of expertise has reached from the State House to the White House.”

The family of the late State Senator Geraldine Thompson shared the iconic lawmaker’s legacy during the homegoing celebration in Orlando, Florida, on February 28, 2025. Photo by Florida National News / J. Willie David, III

Continuing the Legacy

Thompson’s granddaughter, Symone Thompson, emphasized her grandmother’s dedication to preserving Black history and storytelling.

“Her work ethic, passion for her community, determination, and love for preserving Black history are things I will never forget,” Symone Thompson said.

Filling Thompson’s Seat

During a press conference Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the timeline for a Special Election to fill Thompson’s Senate District 15 seat.

“It’s too early to set a date,” DeSantis said. “We will likely announce the date after her funeral and work with Orange County to find a convenient time.”

_____________________________________________________________________

J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com

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State Rep. Ashley V. Gantt Files 7 Bills Prioritizing First Responders, Veterans

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MIAMI, Fla. (FNN) – Florida State Representative Ashley V. Gantt (D-Miami) announced the filing of seven bills for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session, focusing on key priorities such as mental health services for first responders and support initiatives for veterans and military spouses.

The proposed bills include:

  • HB 1167 – Mental Health Services for First Responders: Codifies the Behavioral Health Analysis Program to ensure every fire station in Florida can provide adequate mental health support for firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders. The bill also waives copays for all mental health services.

  • HB 821 – Business Development Initiatives for Veterans and Military Spouses: Waives all state-level filing and formation fees and offers a five-year corporate tax income exemption for businesses owned by veterans and military spouses in Florida.

  • HB 819 – Relative Caregiver Program Payments: Allows temporary full-time guardians of children removed from their homes under Chapter 39 of the Florida Statutes to receive funds from the Relative Care Program before the adjudication of the child’s pending dependency case.

  • HB 349 – Delivery of Patient Protection: Mandates healthcare facilities to maintain minimum staffing requirements with a direct nurse-to-patient ratio to ensure proper care.

  • HB 347 – Specialty License Plates: Authorizes the Florida Department of Transportation to create a specialty license plate for Miami-Dade College.

  • HB 1305 – Intestate Succession Involving a Person Born Out of Wedlock: Requires Florida to recognize heirs of a decedent who are not citizens of Florida or the U.S. if legally deemed heirs by their state or country of residence.

  • HB 1243 – Florida Museum of Black History: Designates Opa-Locka as the permanent location for the Florida Museum of Black History, requiring at least two exhibits within the first year of opening.

Representative Gantt emphasized her commitment to everyday Floridians, stating, “My bills are focused on everyday Floridians. I do not have the time, and my community does not have the luxury for me to be focused on culture war politics when people need our help and have entrusted us by voting for us to introduce, advocate for, pass, and implement policy that allows them to live healthy, prosperous, and safe lives. Each of my bills will make the quality of life for Floridians much better by addressing the needs in my community and the state overall. My goal being in office is to help people, and I do not take lightly that I’m in a position and have the power to do so.”

Takeaways:

  1. Mental Health Priority: HB 1167 aims to improve mental health support for first responders by codifying the Behavioral Health Analysis Program and waiving copays.

  2. Support for Veterans: HB 821 proposes fee waivers and tax exemptions for veteran and military spouse-owned businesses.

  3. Community Impact: Bills address healthcare staffing, kinship care, historical preservation, and equitable probate processes.


_______________________________________________________________________________

J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
News@FloridaNationalNews.com

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