Broward's Blog

Mitt Romney’s ties with Damon Corporation, a company that was fined for Medicare fraud

2012-01-27T23:13:00.000-05:00

Democrats just released a report on Mitt Romney’s ties with Damon Corporation, a company that was fined for Medicare fraud. From Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

Now, as Romney campaigns across Florida, including courting voters in my congressional district, he must answer troubling questions about his time as a board member at Damon Corporation, a medical testing company that was fined over $119 million in criminal and civil fines for a large-scale Medicare defrauding scheme, and his debunked story about his role in uncovering and reporting the fraud to federal investigators.

As for what this means for Romney, the email continues:

Romney has repeatedly claimed that his success in the private sector has been—and would continue to be—an asset for the country, but it’s increasingly clear that Romney’s success came through questionable means at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. Laying off workers, defrauding Medicare, bankrupting companies, and storing millions of dollars in notorious off-shore tax havens may have brought Romney success as a corporate raider, but these aren’t the qualities that would serve America’s middle class families well.

GOP debate: Candidates bicker over illegal immigration

2012-01-26T21:37:00.000-05:00

Illegal immigration dominated the beginning of a CNN debate Thursday in Tampa, Fla. with presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney clashing over rhetoric and approaches to dealing with approximately 11 million people who have entered the United States illegally.

Each of the four Republicans still in the presidential race were asked for their position on illegal immigration, but the conversation quickly became a tête-à-tête between the two frontrunners, who accused each other of offensive language and of failing to grasp what the nation must do to solve the problem.
Read the story here.

Last Redistricting Meeting Tomorrow

2012-01-26T13:28:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, members of the House Redistricting Committee will meet to discuss and vote on proposed maps for Florida's state House, state Senate and congressional districts. The meeting represents the final committee stop for the House's proposed maps before those options head to the House floor. Meeting details are below:

What: House Redistricting Committee Meeting

Date: Friday, January 27, 2012

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST

Location: 404 House Office Building, Tallahassee, FL

View Live: House Broadcasts

During tomorrow's meeting, Members will consider five timely filed amendments. Each amendment is listed below for your reference. In addition, a summary of the amendments can be found here:

· State House map: Amendment 1 (H000H9049) to HJR 6011 (H000H9027) by Vice Chair Precourt

· State House map: Amendment 2 (SPUBH0177) to HJR 6011 (H000H9027) by Chair Weatherford

· Congressional map: Amendment 1 (H000C9047) to HB 6005 (H000C9043) by Vice Chair Precourt

· Congressional map: Amendment 2 (SPUBC0170) to HB 6005 (H000C9043) by Chair Weatherford

· State Senate map: Amendment 1 (S000S9008) to HJR 6001 (S000S9004) by Vice Chair Precourt

Mitt Romney Denies He Is Mexican-American

2012-01-26T06:48:00.001-05:00

Mitt Romney laughed off the suggestion on Thursday that if elected he would be the country’s first Mexican-American President. The Univision host Jorge Ramos cheekily asked about Romney’s Mexican heritage, referencing the fact that Romney’s father was born in a Mormon encampment in Mexico.

“I would love to be able to convince people of that,” Romney joked in response. “Particularly in a Florida primary.” But, he added, “I don’t think people would think I was being honest with them if I said I was Mexican-American.”

The Florida primary on January 31 is the first time in this cycle that the candidates have had to appeal to Latino voters. Whereas in Iowa and New Hampshire, Romney was courting white audiences as the far-right candidate on immigration, Romney is now moderating his stance for a Florida audience, where 11% of registered Republicans are Latino. Gingrich has struck a more moderate tone on immigration and Romney needs to win over at least some of this community.

Retain Judge Lopane Kick Off

2012-01-25T19:54:00.000-05:00

Please join the Committee to Retain Judge Lopane and Deputy Campaign Treasurers Robert Butterworth Esquire, Samuel Goren, Esp., and Collins Forman, Esq. for a

Campaign Kick Off Rally

Thursday, February 9, 2012

5:30 p.m.

Tap 42

1411 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale

Please RSVP to retainlopane@retainlopane.com

RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

RETAINLOPANE.COM Retain Lopane P.O. Box 350223, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33335

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Nicholas "Nick" Lopane, Non Partisan, for Circuit Court Judge, Group 5.

Dear Colleagues and Friends of Nick,

As you know, with your assistance Judge Lopane was appointed to the Circuit Bench in 2010, however, Judges in Florida are required to run in their first election cycle following their appointment then every 6 years thereafter. Judge Lopane's election will be this Fall 2012, although he does not have an opponent, his campaign committee is active and vigorously promoting his candidacy. Your help is needed! If you would like to assist in this endeavor then please join us for a kickoff rally on his behalf and for some fun and refreshments. This is an open event, so please feel free to invite whomever you would like to accompany you, and to forward this email freely.

Thank you.

JOHN PAVSNER, ESQ.

JMP@Pavsnerlaw.com

Committee to

RETAIN JUDGE NICK LOPANE

P.O. Box 350223

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33335

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Nicholas

"Nick" Lopane, Non Partisan, for Circuit Court Judge, Group 5.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz Statement on 39th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

2012-01-22T10:02:00.001-05:00

“Today we mark an incredible milestone – 39 years since the Supreme Court of the United States guaranteed the women of this country the right to make their own reproductive health decisions. As a woman, mother, daughter, friend and policy maker, I honor this anniversary by reaffirming my commitment to protecting women’s rights and encourage the women in my life and in my district to take care of their health.

"Just last Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Obama Administration would not bow to pressure from anti-choice religious organizations asking for an exemption from the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to provide free birth control without a co-pay. Thanks to this decision, women working at religiously affiliated organizations, such as hospitals and universities, will not be denied access to the no-cost contraceptives made available through health care reform.

“This will benefit the more than 98 percent of women who use birth control at some point in their lives. I applaud President Obama for standing with women and once again proving that this Administration values women’s health. We must continue working to protect a woman’s constitutional right to choose — as part of her right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Jeb Bush To 'Stay Neutral' On 2012 GOP Candidates

2012-01-21T23:04:00.003-05:00

Jeb Bush will “stay neutral” on the Republican candidates, the former Florida governor toldBloomberg News.

Bush criticized the candidates' hash positions on immigration, saying: “That could be an issue in the general election that plays out in a negative way for Republican candidates.”

CNN reported earlier Saturday that Bush would endorse Romney, but the claim was quickly refuted by sources close to Bush.

STATE OF THE UNION WATCH PARTY- Rosie's Wilton Manors, FL

2012-01-21T18:42:00.000-05:00

(State of the Union Watch Party)January 24th 2012
2012 State Of The Union Address Watch Party : In the past, President Obama's State of the Union address has been a plan for the year ahead -- and the priorities outlined in those speeches have led to many of this administration's accomplishments. We're getting together in our neighborhood to watch the 2012 State of the Union Address, celebrate our work so far, and to plan out the next couple of months in our area. We have a lot of work to do, but working together, we can build teams in our community to stand with our President and other Democrats. Now, more than ever, your voice is needed to determine our community's future.

2449 Wilton Dr
Wilton Manors, FL 33305

8pm to 10pm

Directions

RSVP CLICK HERE

Labor Union Releases Ad Tying Romney To Florida Gov. Rick Scott

2012-01-21T06:51:00.000-05:00

The Labor Union AFSCME is jumping into the GOP Florida Primary with an $80,000 buy for an ad that ties Mitt Romney to the not-wildly-popular Florida governor Rick Scott.

The spot’s narrator claims, ““While Romney was a director of the Damon Corporation, the company was defrauding Medicare of millions.”

Here’s how the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent describes the ad and its background:

The basis for the ad is a 2002 Boston Globe article reporting that Romney and Bain made huge profits from the 1993 sale of a medical testing company that earned its revenues partly from a criminal scheme to defraud the Medicare system. Romney served on the board of Damon from 1990-1993 but was never implicated in any way, the Globe reported, adding that the evenual sale of Damon made Romney $473,000 and netted $7.4 million for Bain investors.

The ad uses this material to morph an image of Romney into that of the Florida Governor. “Corporate greed. Medicare fraud. Sound familiar?” the ad says, an allusion to a well known fact among Floridians — that their governor once ran the company at the center of the biggest Medicare fraud case in U.S. history.

Commission Redistricting Project

2012-01-20T23:53:00.000-05:00

If you want to view the new Broward County Commission district maps, click here. You can view the districts as a pdf file, or if you download Google Earth onto your computer, you can open the file in a very detailed aerial view.

Some of the districts changed greatly.

To view the old districts for comparison, click here.

Commission Redistricting Project

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Womens Health

2012-01-20T23:30:00.000-05:00

Women’s health was a big focus for me this month and that’s why I’m writing you today.

In an effort to raise awareness about National Cervical Health Awareness Month, I met with medical professionals, cancer advocates and cancer survivors at the Broward County Health Department. Each year more than 12,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and a third of them will die from it.

That’s why cutting-edge facilities like the one at the Broward County Health Department are crucial in the effort to increase early detection and treatment. They offer free screening exams for breast and cervical cancers, as well as treatment to women who need it. I am committed to making sure that my constituents have all the information and resources they need to keep themselves healthy. And I will continue to work hard to ensure that Congress does its part in the fight against cancer.Read more

Another movement that’s gaining momentum in South Florida is the effort against human trafficking. Right here in the United States, an estimated 200,000 people, some as young as 13, are being sold into prostitution and pornography. In honor of National Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Month, my office organized a roundtable meeting with Broward County's Human Trafficking Coalition, the Broward Sheriff's Office, the FBI Miami Bureau, local law enforcement and women and children's advocacy groups to talk about how to address this tragic issue. Read more

We’ve come a long way in the last few decades when it comes to women’s rights and we must continue to do our part to protect those rights and encourage the women in our lives to take care of their health.

I am proud to be an advocate for South Florida, and my office is always open to you. You can reach us in Pembroke Pines at954-437-3936, in Aventura at 305-936-5724 and in Washington, DC at 202-225-7931. I’m also available online athttp://wassermanschultz.house.gov and on Facebook. You can download my mobile app for iPhone and Android here. Comcast-on-demand customers can stay up to date with my work for you on channel 890.

Koch-affiliated tea party group promotes ‘National School Choice Week’ rallies

2012-01-18T13:14:00.000-05:00

The Florida chapter of the Koch-affiliated tea party group Americans for Prosperity yesterday called for people to sign up for rallies affiliated with National School Choice Week, which starts next week.

Americans for Prosperity tweeted: “Americans enjoy freedom in the marketplace but not in education. This must change!” It also calls for people to sign up for events at Put Kids First, which bears the slogan “Americans for Prosperity Foundation + National School Choice Week = Restoring American Exceptionalism.”

The Americans for Prosperity Foundation, funded by David and Charles Koch, defines itself as “a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity.”

“The second-largest private company in the United States, Koch Industries is also a conglomerate, whose subsidiary businesses operate in some of the world’s most profitable markets,” writes Open Secrets, adding that 83 percent of Koch monetary political contributions have gone “to Republican candidates and committees.”

Americans for Prosperity writes that “reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans.”

Read More...

I know you must be dying to contact Koch Industries to give them your opinion, so here’s how you can do that.

Koch Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 2256
Wichita, KS 67201-2256
Phone:316-828-5500
Fax:316-828-5739
info@kochind.com

Members of Florida delegation withdraw support for controversial anti-piracy bills

2012-01-18T13:10:00.000-05:00

Florida elected officials who co-sposored congressional legislation to fight online piracy announced today they have withdrawn their support, while Google and Wikipedia joined
many other online companies and organizations in a blackout to stop passage of the legislation

Rally To Defend The Constitution

2012-01-18T06:28:00.000-05:00

Meet Special Guest Rev. Barry W. Lynn of Americans United

Annual Meeting and Rally to Support Religious Freedom with Rev. Barry Lynn

Saturday, January 28
Noon - Board Elections
1:00pm - Rally begins
Jim Ward Community Center
301 NW 46 Avenue
Plantation, FL 33317

Though you must be a member of the Broward Chapter of the ACLU to participate in the board election, all friends of liberty in South Florida are invited to the rally to hear the speakers.

MORE INFO

With the 2012 Legislative Session less than a week old, we're already facing new legislative threats to religious liberty. Because the dangers posed by proposed legislation have intensified our ongoing fight to defend the right of individual religious expression in Florida, we are thrilled to offer our members this rare opportunity to meet and hear from a national civil rights and religious freedom leader.

On Saturday, January 28, the Broward County chapter of the ACLU invites you to join it for the 2012 Annual Meeting, Elections and Rally to Support Religious Freedom with special keynote speakerReverend Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Lynn has served as Executive Director of Americans United since 1992. In addition to his work as a long-time activist and lawyer in the civil liberties field, Lynn is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, offering him a unique perspective on church-state issues. He will be speaking about the current state of religious freedom in Florida and across the nation, and what you can do to help protect it.

The rally will also feature special guests Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida, and Andrew Rosenkranz, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League of Florida.

This free event will be held at the Jim Ward Community Center in Plantation and is co-sponsored by the Palm Beach Chapter of the ACLU and the Greater Miami Chapter of the ACLU. A light lunch and refreshments will be available. Please bring a dish to share.

We look forward to seeing you at the rally on the 28th!

Meet Special Guest Rev. Barry W. Lynn of Americans United

2012-01-17T21:21:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, January 28, the Broward County chapter of the ACLU invites you to join us for the 2012 Annual Meeting, Elections and Rally to Support Religious Freedom with special keynote speaker Reverend Barry W. Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

The rally will also feature special guests Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida, and David Barkey, Religious Freedom Counsel at the Anti-Defamation League of Florida.

We look forward to seeing you at the rally on the 28th!

ACLU of Florida
www.aclufl.org

South Florida Symphony Concert - Free Tickets

2012-01-16T22:01:00.000-05:00

Safe Schools South Florida is happy to relay that the South Florida Symphony is offering free tickets for its upcoming concert at the University of Miami Gusman Center on Thursday, January 26 at 8 pm.

Information about the January 26 program can be found atwww.southfloridasymphony.org.

To obtain tickets, please contact Jaqueline Lorber at jlorber@southfloridasymphony.org.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Safe Schools South Florida (formerly GLSEN South Florida) is a 501c3 non-profit agency committed to making schools safe for all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. We train educators to recognize and address anti-gay bullying. We empower youth by supporting GSAs and holding annual GSA conferences. We educate the public through a speakers bureau and we monitor the success of our efforts through research and surveys. We rely on grants and donations from people who are concerned about children and education. For information about Safe Schools South Florida, our events, or to make a tax-deductible contribution please visitwww.SafeSchoolsSouthFlorida.org or email us at safe@safeschoolssouthflorida.org or call 305-576-2126 or 954-771-4799.

Broward Move To Amend Rally

2012-01-16T18:43:00.000-05:00

NOW THAT WE ARE AWAKE

STAND UP AND BE HEARD

                   MOVE TO AMEND.org
                 A PROTEST RALLY
                        JOIN THE HAPPENING

Why Protest - because the Supreme Court has gone rouge with the CITIZENS UNITED Decision.

Now that it's obvious to all that Money corrupts and Super PACs distorts our Democracy,ACTION is a Must.

MOVE TO AMEND IS AN ERNEST ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THIS UNACCEPTABLE RULING AND THE MEANS TO RETURN ELECTIONS BACK TO WE THE PEOPLE.

The exact wording of the Constitutional amend is not as important as building the Movement at this time. The best wording will be the result of various supporting groups' input.

WHEN        Friday January 20th At 3 PM

WHERE      Federal District Court   Ft Lauderdale
                     299 E Broward Blvd  & SE 3rd St Park at Public Garage

WHAT         Rally for the People - Move to Amend

RSVP          ilene4coffee@gmail.com

Bring your own signs as long as they are respectful. ( Corporations are not People, Alienable rights are Human Rights, 1st Amendments Rights belong to the People,etc). Remember as Coffee Party members or fans we are willing to listen to other opinions. We believe in Free Speech NOT out shouting others. We are there to educate not to start a riot. OK ?? I have some limited handouts. If you can make copies, email me, I can send you the form ready to print.

See you there

Ilene

For more information goto : MovetoAmend.org , United4thePeople.org , DemocracyisForPeople.org/ CoffeePartyusa.com

PLEASE Let others know about this rally !!!

Train To Register Voters In Broward County

2012-01-12T17:18:00.002-05:00

EveryThursday, at 6:30 PM at the Organizing for America Office at 3300 Inverrary Boulevard in Lauderhill (just north of Oakland Park Blvd., there will be a voter registration training session. It will last about one hour, and if you are interested, call Meaghan Hardy at 954-254-7138.

Broward Roe v. Wade Rally with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

2012-01-12T06:44:00.000-05:00

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz-Protecting Women’s Health in 2012

2012-01-10T13:27:00.001-05:00

Protecting Women’s Health in 2012

Women’s health was a big focus this month since it’s National Cervical Health Awareness Month and National Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Month. January also marks the 39^th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that affirmed a woman's right to choose as a fundamental freedom.

In an effort to raise awareness about National Cervical Health Awareness Month, I met with medical professionals, cancer advocates and cancer survivors at the Broward County Health Department. We discussed the importance of early detection, the availability of free screenings and what all women should know about the risks of cervical cancer and related diseases.

Each year more than 12,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and a third of them will die from it. That’s why cutting-edge facilities like the one at the Broward County Health Department are crucial in the effort to increase early detection and treatment. They offer free screening exams for breast and cervical cancers, as well as treatment to women who need it.

Like most cancers, cervical cancer is best treated if caught early – so this month is the perfect time to remind the women in your lives to get their annual pap tests. They are fast, simple, and widely available – and now there’s really no excuse not to get one. Last August, President Obama announced that as part of the Affordable Care Act, women can access preventive care without a co-pay or cost-sharing. This includes pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopies, yearly well-woman visits and contraceptive products. In addition, insurance companies are now banned from denying care based on “pre-existing conditions” which used to include cervical cancer, breast cancer, pregnancy, having had a C-section, or having been a victim of domestic violence.

As a breast cancer survivor myself, I know how important prevention and early detection is. It can literally mean the difference between life and death. So I am committed to making sure that my constituents have all the information and resources they need to keep themselves healthy. And I will continue to work hard to ensure that Congress does its part in the fight against cancer.

Another crusade that’s gaining momentum in South Florida is the effort against human trafficking. In honor of National Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Month, my office organized a roundtable meeting with Broward County's Human Trafficking Coalition, the Broward Sheriff's Office, the FBI Miami Bureau, local law enforcement and women and children's advocacy groups to talk about how to address this tragic issue.

Right here in the United States, one person is sold into human trafficking every ten minutes. An estimated 200,000 people, some as young as 13, are being sold into prostitution and pornography. This is a very serious issue, and one that I’ve been passionate about throughout my legislative career. In Washington, I’m working with my colleagues across the aisle on anti-trafficking bills, such as the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, as well as other bills like the Violence Against Women Act and the Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act. These bills strive to help victims and curb the trafficking epidemic in our country. Sadly, we still have a long way to go in the fight to end trafficking. But with the efforts of groups like the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition, and all the others I met with recently, we are getting closer every day.

We’ve come a long way in the last few decades when it comes to women’s rights - from Roe v. Wade protecting a woman’s right to make educated medical decisions regarding their reproductive health to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act guaranteeing women equal pay for equal work. And thanks to the Affordable Care Act, women now have the right to health care coverage without their gender being considered a “pre-existing condition.” We must do our part to continue protecting women’s rights and encourage the women in our lives to take care of their health.

I am proud to be an advocate for South Florida, and my office is always open to you. You can reach us in Pembroke Pines at 954-437-3936, in Aventura at 305-936-5724 and in Washington, DC at 202-225-7931. I’m also available online at http://wassermanschultz.house.gov and on Facebook. You can download my mobile app for iPhone and Android here. Comcast-on-demand customers can stay up to date with my work for you on channel 890.

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich State of the State Response

2012-01-10T12:30:00.003-05:00

Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich State of the State Response January 10, 2012

• Hello. My name is Nan Rich and I’m the Leader of the Senate Democrats.
• I’m here today to talk about the state of our state. You heard Republican Governor Rick Scott tell us everything is going well, that he’s creating jobs, finally adding some money to education, slashing government, and turning Florida around.
• Now, look around you. Look at the vacant homes in your neighborhood littered with foreclosure sale signs. Scan the want ads in your local paper and count how many job openings there are and what they’re paying. Drive through your community and count the number of closed businesses. Open your property insurance bill – if your policy hasn’t been dropped - and your car insurance renewal and brace for sticker shock.
• Because if this is turning things around, we’re still hopelessly running in circles.
• In a state that has so much potential, it’s nothing short of tragic that the Republican leadership is still following the same badly written user’s manual it’s blindly followed for the past 14 years.
• Let’s take a closer look: If tax cuts for the wealthy and the biggest corporations create jobs, why does Florida have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation?
• And if personal responsibility and hard work matter, why are so many hard working Floridians falling out of the middle class?

• Sadly, this is the state of our state in 2012. The ambitions, sacrifice, sweat and labor of millions of fellow citizens have been hijacked by a group of right-wing Republicans who have been in charge for the last 14 years. The priorities of working and middle class families, the “99%” – good jobs with fair wages, decent homes, quality public education, affordable health care, safe and clean neighborhoods – have all been ignored while the special interests have prospered.

• These same politicians have pushed laws to allow guns on college campuses, impose their morality on women and families, attack the ability of unions to function, and Floridians to vote for the candidate of their choice.
• What was once a budget surplus under the last Democratic governor was squandered as tax cut after tax cut was doled out to big corporations and the very wealthy. And, as the economy deteriorated and the jobs disappeared, so too did state dollars for education, health care safety nets for the critically ill and elderly, unemployment benefits, infrastructure improvements and the service of thousands of dedicated public servants and teachers. But the tax cuts remained.
• Don’t just take my word for it. Ask your local police officers, your firefighters, your teachers – all those on the front lines getting pink slips – and then ask yourselves: What have Tallahassee Republicans done for me lately?
• Fourteen years after the attack on the middle class began, what is the solution Governor Scott is now proposing to balance the state budget and put Floridians to work? A billion dollar false choice pitting our hospitals against our teachers. The Republican solution to solving the economic crisis in Florida has actually come down to grandparents versus grandchildren.
• Enough is enough.
• As Democrats, we believe that turning Florida around should mean just that.
• It starts with a real future for our children and the dollars to make that happen. Their success is a product not only of parental involvement but also a first rate public education system.
• As Democrats, we believe that hard work and personal responsibility should be rewarded, and that everyone should pay their fair share for the public services they use, from police and fire protection to good roads and clean drinking water. Large corporations should share the same sacrifices and the same financial responsibilities as the Floridians who helped drive their success. Their tax loopholes shouldn’t come at the expense of educating our children, caring for our elders, or protecting our communities.
• As Democrats, we believe that our senior citizens earned the right to remain in their own homes, and that doing so is not only practical, but economical. And if a nursing home becomes the last resort it should be a safe, affordable haven.
• As Democrats, we believe that the true job creators are the small businesses that have been ignored. Our tax incentives should be re-focused so that Florida’s real economic engine gets the shot in the arm it so badly needs.
• One year ago, as Governor Scott teamed up with the Republican legislature to repeatedly stop Florida from getting hundreds of millions of dollars – hard earned tax dollars we sent to Washington and now desperately needed for jobs, education and health care - I called on him to “get real.”
• It seems he still hasn’t gotten the message.
• And so today I’m asking you to join me and remind Governor Scott and his fellow Republicans who they actually work for.
• Let them know that the 99% is still waiting for fair representation from Tallahassee and that a devotion to right-wing issues is little help when your house is in foreclosure, your job is outsourced, your business folds, college is out of reach, or you’re choosing between prescriptions and food on the table.
• Remind Governor Scott that it takes more than just claims that jobs are being created or education is important. Most of his jobs are minimum wage. And the billion dollars he’s proposing for education doesn’t begin to cover the $1.35 billion the Republicans cut from our school children last year.

• In times like these, true leaders are defined by moving the people forward despite seemingly overwhelming odds. They do not pit one vulnerable group against another to protect just the 1 percent.
• One of this country’s greatest leaders understood that. In the grip of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt said to the American people: “These unhappy times call for…plans that…build from the bottom up and not from the top down, that put their faith once more in the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid.”
• As 2012 begins, we will once again hear the Republican leadership talk all about the need for shared sacrifices as an army of well-paid lobbyists defend indefensible tax loopholes for special interests. We’ll once again face more laws to control women’s bodies and other attacks on personal freedom. Politicians will continue to run against government instead of running it well, public servants will be recast as the public enemy, and deregulating laws that protect us from unscrupulous companies will resurface. And before the year is out, Florida will once again find herself at the center of the battle for the presidency where the rules have been changed to put Democrats at a disadvantage.
• But I still believe in Florida’s promise, and the ability of Floridians to really turn the state around. We don’t suffer from a lack of work ethic; we suffer from a lack of jobs. We don’t have a lack of ambition; we have a lack of investment in the real job creators: education, infrastructure, and innovative products stamped “Made in America” again.
• As this new session gets underway, and the Republican Governor and his friends in the legislature set about putting bad right wing politics above good economic policy, join me once again in urging them to “get real.”
• Remind them of the faith in the hardworking people a courageous leader like FDR once steadfastly held.
• And remind them that you will not be forgotten.
• Thank you.

Florida voters may soon be able to veto " Out Of The Mainstream Extremist GOP Legislation"

2012-01-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

According to a state Senate news release:

Senate Joint Resolution 1490 and House Joint Resolution 1231 are modeled after other states’ citizens’ veto bills that allow the citizens of those states to veto certain types of legislation. The citizens’ veto could not be applied to expenses of the state or emergency laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety.

“Like many states, Florida should afford its citizens the opportunity to reject legislation that they deem detrimental to the State,” Representative Steinberg is quoted. “In a democracy, it is the citizens who should have the final word on whether to accept or reject a law.”

“Constituents reach out to me on a daily basis expressing frustration with the maze that is the legislative process,” said Senator Dockery. “In this political climate, the bulk of the power is held by wealthy special interests. This joint resolution would place that power where it rightly belongs: into the hands of the citizens.”

Broward County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Bullying Initiative

2012-01-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

Broward County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Bullying Initiative

Monday, January 30, 2012 • 7:00 p.m.

Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts • 2855 Coral Springs Drive • Coral Springs, Florida

Catered cocktail reception (free food/cash bar) prior to the film in the Center for Performing Art’s lobby area • 6:00 p.m.

Broward County Sheriff Al Lamberti will discuss the office’s Anti-Bullying initiative. Captain Rick Wierzbicki of the Sheriff’s Office Hate Crimes and Anti Bias Task Force; Robert Tanen, Associate Florida Regional Director of the Anti Defamation League and Lily Medina, Anti-Defamation League Education Director will also be in attendance.

Please RSVP to Shelly Solomon Heller at 954-557-7760 or at shelly@shellylifecoach.com

www.sheriff.org/antibullying

THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER presents a TEACHING TOLERANCE film “BULLIED: A STUDENT, A SCHOOL AND A CASE THAT MADE HISTORY” a BILL BRUMMEL PRODUCTIONS documentary associate producer JAMIE HEBERT composer JAMIE DUNLAP directors of photography JOHN RHODE & JASON NEWFIELD editor DAN WOLFMEYER additional music by BEN HARPER with lyrics by MAYA ANGELOU executive producer RICHARD COHEN produced and written by BILL BRUMMEL directed by BILL BRUMMEL & GEOFFREY SHARP visit us online at WWW.TOLERANCE.ORG A Student, a School and a Case that Made History Broward County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Bullying Initiative Broward County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Bullying Initiative SOUTHERN PO VERTY LAW CENTER presents A TEACHING TOLERANCE DOCUMENTARY ILLUSTRATION BY ALEX WILLIAMSON

ABOUT THE FILM

Bullied chronicles the powerful story of Jamie Nabozny, a student from Ashland, Wisconsin, who stood up to his anti-gay tormentors with a federal lawsuit. The suit led to a landmark decision that held school officials accountable for not stopping anti-gay bullying. Despite that ruling, anti-LGBT bullying continues to be a severe problem. Today, more than 80 percent of LGBT students report being harassed at school — yet schools across the country are still unwilling or afraid to openly address anti-gay bullying.

Too many children have taken their own lives after enduring relentless bullying. Tragic news reports from across the country are proof that we cannot afford to ignore this issue. We know that nothing will change — and thousands more children will continue to suffer violence and humiliation — until schools confront the problem head-on. SPLC urges school districts to adopt policies that specifically address bullying based on sexual orientation and gender expression.

All children are entitled to a safe learning environment — one free from harassment and abuse.

Sponsored by Sheriff Al Lamberti and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; Shelly Solomon Heller Coaching, LLC; Advanced Cable Communications; Forum Publishing Group; Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts; Whole Foods of Coral Springs; and Meyers Latin American Grill along with the following organizations:

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley Hold Press Conference Previewing Iowa Caucuses

2012-01-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley held a press conference in Des Moines, IA to frame the Republican candidates’ records and positions ahead of today’s caucuses.

In Iowa, the GOP candidates continue to move to increasingly extreme policy positions—relying on their flawed assumption that we can grow the economy by giving more tax cuts to corporations, millionaires and billionaires while doing nothing for the middle class.

Mitt Romney continues to hide from his record, which includes balancing the state budget on the backs of the middle class as governor of Massachusetts and flip-flopping on everything from guns and abortion to taxes and immigration. It becomes clearer by the day that Mitt Romney will say and do anything to get elected.

Below please find Chair Wasserman Schultz’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Tonight, Iowa voters head to the caucuses. We know that regardless of who comes out on top this evening, all of the Republican presidential candidates support the same failed policies of past. And while Mitt Romney may have declared victory before the results come in, crawling over the finish line in Iowa after 5 years of efforts is coming at a price.

This is someone who’s been running for president for the past five years and has struggled to gain additional support, in Iowa or at the national level. We see that there is constantly an alternative candidate emerging – Bachmann, then Perry, then Gingrich and now finally Santorum.

The list of right-wing positions that Mitt Romney took in an attempt to win over Iowa caucus-goers who rightly harbor doubts about him has grown by the day.

Over the last year, Romney has scrambled to get to the right of Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – and in a state with some of the most stalwart conservatives in the Republican nominating process, Romney’s showing can be attributed to his right-wing vision for America.

He is leaving Iowa with significant primary baggage that will weigh him down in the general election

He has belittled the President’s $1,000 payroll tax cut as a “Band-Aid,” despite the fact that his own plan offers typical middle-class families only $54.

He reiterated that he’d let Detroit go bankrupt and send 1.4 million American workers packing.

He said that he’d let the foreclosure process “hit the bottom” so that investors can come in and make a quick buck.

He signed on to a Republican budget in Congress that would end Medicare as we know it, gut Social Security, and slash funding for higher education.

And he criticized the President for ending the war in Iraq, saying that he’d leave 30,000 troops on the ground with no plan for withdrawal.

Mitt Romney also repackaged the same policies that led to the economic crisis and called it an economic plan. That includes cutting taxes for the wealthy and big corporations and making the middle class foot the bill, and letting Wall Street write their own rules and do whatever it can to make money – regardless of the impact on the middle class.

Iowa caucus-goers are supposed to be given the chance to lift the hood and kick the tires time and again before Caucus Day, with an opportunity to thoroughly examine the candidates’ records and leadership abilities. They didn’t get that chance with Mitt Romney.

That’s because Romney and his allies spent more than $4 million tearing down Newt Gingrich, while only a fraction of that amount promoted Mitt Romney’s record. Romney’s opponents, in a field widely recognized as weak, squandered the opportunity to point out deeply troubling issues in his record.

Iowans are heading to the caucuses not knowing that Massachusetts was 47th out of 50th in job creation under Mitt Romney. Or that his job in the “private sector” was a corporate buyout specialist who fired workers, outsourced jobs, closed plants, and deliberately bankrupted companies. Mitt Romney wouldn’t even disclose basic information that candidates in both parties have released as standard practice, like his tax returns, because he doesn’t want the middle class to know that he pays less taxes than they do.

What else don’t Iowa voters really know about Mitt Romney?

Romney says he is a conservative but he imposed fees on gun sales in Massachusetts as Governor, supported strict gun control laws, and gave free cars to welfare recipients. Don’t voters deserve to know that?

Do voters know that while Romney makes the claim that he was a budget-slasher, he actually balanced the state budget on the backs of middle class families by raising fees on Massachusetts residents more than 100 times?

And voters have heard Mitt Romney say he is pro-life. But do they know that during his run for Massachusetts governor in 2002, he told Planned Parenthood he supported Roe v. Wade and supported state funding for abortions?

Iowa Republicans should ask themselves, “would Massachusetts really elect a conservative Republican Governor? Romney’s entire candidacy is a charade. He’s turned into more shapes and forms than the wonder twins.

Mitt Romney has made it clear he will say and do anything to get elected – and that includes trying to cover up previous moderate-to-liberal positions he took as a Massachusetts politician to make sure voters never know the truth about his record.

That’s what Mitt Romney brings to the table. And the fact is that this election will be a choice about who will restore economic security for the middle class. There’s a reason no poll in recent months has shown Romney or any of the Republican candidates beating the President in Iowa after the millions of dollars they’ve spent attacking him there. That’s because he’s focusing on restoring economic security for the middle class, while they have been in a race to the right.

So while the Republican candidates pack up their offices tomorrow morning and head out of town, President Obama has made it clear he’ll still be here fighting for Iowa’s working families. For the President, the caucus is an opportunity to continue a conversation with supporters about what we’ve already accomplished together.

That includes winning the Iowa caucus four years ago, passing health care reform, ending the war, bringing the economy back from the brink and rebuilding it by making sure hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded. It includes helping the middle class reclaim the security they’d lost, making sure Wall Street plays by the same rules as Main Street, repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, breaking our dependency on Middle East oil, and so much more.

The President is also continuing to talk to Iowans about the things we want to accomplish together over the next year. Tonight, he is going to be speaking via live video to Iowa caucus-goers at sites across the state. And tomorrow, we’re going to emerge from the caucus with the strongest grassroots organization and infrastructure in place of any candidate going forward.

We’ve already been laying the groundwork for victory. Since the campaign launched in April, Iowa staff and volunteers have:

Opened 8 campaign offices across the state – in Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Des Moines, Waterloo, Davenport, Iowa City, Dubuque, and Council Bluffs

Held more than 1,200 trainings, planning sessions, house parties and phone banks

Made over 350,000 calls to supporters

Held more than 4,000 one-on-one conversations. These are actual face-to-face discussions with voters about what really matters to them and how they can be leaders for the campaign in their community. No presidential campaign has ever done this on the same scale, and most campaigns don’t do them at all.

This is the President’s battle plan for victory, so that he can keep fighting for working families here in Iowa and across the country.

Florida Redistricting Map Update

2012-01-02T11:41:00.000-05:00

Redistricting Roundup:

FL Redistricting: Florida's Senate Reapportionment Committee released an updated congressional redistricting proposal on Friday, which makes a few tweaks to the map they published in late November. You can view the latest map here.