North Florida News
State Rep. Angie Nixon on Unaccountable & Discriminatory Voucher Expansion of HB 1
Published
2 years agoon
By
FNN NEWSTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) offered three amendments to HB 1 in the House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee. The amendments were filed to ensure funding is reserved for students in need, that the recipient institutions could no longer legally discriminate against students, and would have to serve students with Individual Education Plans (IEP).
These amendments were rejected by the committee. In response, Representative Nixon offered the following statement:
“All of our kids, no matter their income, race, gender, or zip code, deserve a fair shot at achieving their dreams, starting with the right to a high quality public education. Our local public schools are an investment we all make to create a brighter future for students and our communities as a whole. But Florida’s GOP leadership is legislating publicly funded discrimination in education, leading to a new era of segregation. This bill will give handouts to wealthy families by redirecting public tax dollars to institutions with zero oversight and accountability while defunding public schools that serve over 90% of our students.
“My people-friendly amendments would have made some marginal improvements to HB 1. If the Legislature insists on funding unaccountable institutions, it’s common sense we require that these schools will serve students with IEPs, that they do not allow discrimination in any form, and that we will not give the ultra-wealthy unnecessary handouts at the expense of families in need. As the assault on our education system continues, I’ll keep pushing to fully fund public schools for all of our kids.”
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North Florida News
Harris Campaign to Launch Historic Mobilization Blitz in Florida Panhandle
Published
1 month agoon
July 26, 2024By
FNN NEWSTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) – The Harris for President campaign is set to kick off its largest mobilization effort to date in the Florida Panhandle, capitalizing on the surge of grassroots energy across the state. This massive weekend of action, marking 100 days until the general election, comes just days after Vice President Kamala Harris secured her position as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.
Starting tomorrow, the campaign will engage thousands of supporters through over 36 events statewide, including canvass launches, press events, and appearances by notable Democratic leaders such as Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Florida House Representative and Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw, and Florida House Representative Kevin Chambliss.
Key Points:
- Mass Mobilization: More than 36 events will take place across Florida, including the Florida Panhandle.
- High-Profile Support: Democratic leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sean Shaw will participate.
- Grassroots Energy: Over 7,000 organic volunteer signups have been recorded.
- Campaign Goals: Harris is focusing on strengthening democracy, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring economic opportunities for all.
- Opposition Stance: The campaign contrasts Harris’s vision with Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, which they claim would threaten rights and hurt the middle class.
The weekend’s events, open to media, include the Harris for President – 100 Days of Action Weekend Black Men’s Roundtable in Hillsborough County on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST.
North Florida News
Rep. Tant: HB 7063 Goes into Effect on Monday, July 1
Published
2 months agoon
June 28, 2024By
FNN NEWSTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Monday, July 1st, HB 7063, Anti-human Trafficking will take effect and officially become law.
Part of this bill, Section 7, was worked in by Representative Allison Tant (D-Tallahassee) to create new language concerning contracts between governmental and nongovernmental entities in Florida. This language ensures that any nongovernmental entity wanting to do business with a governmental entity in Florida must confirm under penalty of perjury that they do “not use coercion for labor or services.”
“Exposing more crimes in which people were trafficked will ultimately lead to a safer community for everyone,” says Representative Tant. “I was glad to see this language included in HB 7063 and I am hopeful for the changes it will bring.”
Brought forward by Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, this same language was adopted by Leon County in 2021 and was brought before members of the Legislature this session. “Thanks to Representative Allison Tant, it is now harder for human traffickers to operate in Florida,” said Commissioner Minor. “With this new policy becoming law, we’re telling unscrupulous organizations which profit from coerced labor that they cannot do business with our state and local governments. Not only does it protect vulnerable workers from human trafficking, but it also supports the overwhelming number of Florida businesses that conduct business honestly and pay their employees fairly. We’re grateful to Rep. Tant for her leadership in the legislature and for working to make this a reality.”
Robin Hassler Thompson, Executive Director of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center also helped advocate for this bill alongside Commissioner Minor. “Everyone in our community has a role in ending sex and labor trafficking. This bill goes a long way to making sure that local taxpayer dollars do not end up in the hands of human traffickers,” said Ms. Thompson. “The Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center is extremely grateful to Representative Allison Tant for standing with human trafficking survivors and being their advocate in the Florida Legislature.”
This bill does many other things including extending the statutory authorization for the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking and ensuring that the hotline number is included on human trafficking signs.
North Florida News
Senator Gayle Harrell endorsed by Kathleen Passidomo, GOP Senate Leaders for re-election
Published
4 months agoon
May 14, 2024By
Willie DavidTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (FRCC) announced in a press release that Senate leaders President Kathleen Passidomo, President-Designate Ben Albritton and Senators Jim Boyd and Jay Trumbull today endorse Gayle Harrell for Senate District 31.
Joint Statement from Senate Leaders Passidomo, Albritton, Boyd and Trumbull
“Gayle brings an unparalleled health care expertise, a relentless commitment to protecting our waterways and a steadfast drive for preserving parental rights to the Florida Senate on behalf of the hard working Floridians she serves. She is an advocate for doing the right thing, putting people first and ensuring access to opportunity for all. We are proud to endorse Gayle Harrell for the Florida Senate because no one will work harder to be a voice for Senate District 31.”
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