Subject:

Florida State Legislature

  • Blogs

    May 9, 2012

    Emergency Shelter Plan: Rick Scott Sets Aside More Places to Hide From Disasters

    We're less than a month away from the official opening of hurricane season. After reading our recent cover story about modern-day survivalists, you may feel compelled to make better preparations this year than the usual ritual of hoarding toilet paper, bottled water, and Chef Boyardee from Publix at ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 17, 2012

    Jenson Bolla-Sosa, Accused of Having Sex With Dog, Faces Charges Under Florida's New Antibestiality Law

    Everybody had a good, amused chuckle when the Florida Legislature finally passed that antibestiality law last year -- "Oh, Florida," everybody said, figuring the thing would get relegated to cheesy lists of weird laws, in between the one about washing your house on Tuesday afternoons and the one abo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 6, 2012

    Eric Brody, Left Brain-Damaged by Speeding BSO Deputy, Finally Gets Compensation Bill Passed

    ​Eric Brody was 18 years old when a speeding off-duty Broward Sheriff's deputy T-boned his car on Oakland Park Boulevard and left Brody in a coma. The officer was later fired for falsifying police reports in an unrelated incident; Brody woke up six months later with permanent brain damage.A jury a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 17, 2012

    Florida House Finally Considering Bill to Sort-of Compensate Eric Brody

    ​Fourteen years after a speeding Broward Sheriff's Office deputy left 18-year-old Eric Brody with permanent, debilitating brain damage, it looks like the Florida Legislature is getting close to paying Brody's family the money it's owed -- OK, actually about a third of the money it's owed.A co ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 19, 2012

    Fort Lauderdale Commission Signs Off on Laundry List of Complaints About Casino Plans

    ​Fort Lauderdale commissioners voted unanimously to complain send off a resolution saying the city's not exactly a fan of the "destination resort casino" bill in the state Legislature -- which is sponsored in the Senate by Fort Lauderdale Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff.Aside from that little rift in interes ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 5, 2012

    Florida Legislators Want to Declare That Osama bin Laden's Death Was a Good Thing

    ​It hasn't passed either chamber of Florida's Legislature yet -- so it's not official -- but memorial bills filed in the House and Senate suggest that Osama bin Laden's death was a good thing.Ranking somewhere around Sen. Stephen Wise's "Christmas break" bill as far as importance is concerned, the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 28, 2011

    Florida Abortion-Ban Bill: "Personal Liberty Is Not a License to Kill"

    ​Once again, the "Florida for Life Act" has been submitted in the Florida Legislature. The bill would ban abortions not related to medical emergencies and would make it a first-degree felony to perform or assist in the performance of an abortion.Rep. Charles Van Zant has filed the bill on the Hous ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 28, 2011

    Cyber Monday Targeted by at Least One Legislator for Not Helping to Create Jobs

    ​Apparently the only argument coming out in favor or against any bill this session in the Florida Legislature is related to whether it creates jobs.(See: dwarf tossing, ban on.)Today, when people head to the interwebs to buy things at a price that doesn't require setting up a tent outside of Best ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 25, 2011

    UPDATED: Why Frank Biden Is "President" of SoFla Charter School Chain

    ​UPDATE: In a report filed with the state on December 5 -- two weeks after New Times broke this story-- Biden is listed as president of Mavericks in Education Florida, and Attkisson is vice president.Nov. 25, 2011: Since we first introduced you to a Fort Lauderdale charter school chain headed by V ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 1, 2011

    Boca Raton's Lynn University Scores the Final Debate in the 2012 Presidential Election

    cosmicsmudge.wordpress.comThe Pulp goes with "over."​President Obama will debate some guy (don't pretend like Michele Bachmann is in contention) at Lynn University in Boca Raton next year, according to an announcement from the Commission on Presidential Debates.The debate, scheduled for October 22 ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 4, 2011

    New Voting Laws in Florida and 13 Other States May Affect 5 Million Eligible Voters, Study Says

    ​New voting laws passed in 14 states -- states that control 171 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win a presidential election -- could make voting "significantly harder" for more than 5 million people who are actually eligible to vote, according to a new study.As many as 1 million of those peop ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 4, 2011

    Florida Ranks Very High in Economic Study; Unfortunately, It's About People Being Poor

    ​A study from the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy says Florida ranks third, fourth, and fifth out of the 50 states in three different economic indicators.Unfortunately, those indicators are the highest rates of residents without health insurance, the largest percentage of children un ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 2, 2011

    Dream Act Bill Filed in Florida Legislature

    The Dream Act would help immigrant students.​A bill that would make college more affordable for undocumented immigrants has recently been filed in the Florida Legislature.If passed, the Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrants who attended three or more years of high school in Florida to qual ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 10, 2011

    Will Privatizing Prisons Save Florida Money? Arizona Study Says Maybe Not

    The GEO Group was a huge donor to political campaigns.​Last month, the Florida Legislature passed a landmark plan to privatize nearly all of the prisons in the southern part of the state, including those in Broward and Palm Beach counties. The bill was a thinly-veiled stimulus package for the priv ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 6, 2011

    Bill Nelson Warns Rick Scott to Veto Election Bill or Face a Federal Investigation

    State lawmakers want to keep people from having sex with animals. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wants to keep lawmakers from screwing voters.​Although it seems like Gov. Rick Scott will make the bold and progressive move of banning bestiality, he still plans to screw voters. The election overhaul bill, wh ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 22, 2011

    The Toll Of Public Service

    You know those before and after photos of presidents showing how much they aged during their years running the country? Here's one example: ​iThat's a big difference but it's nothing compared to what spending time in the Florida Legislature does to a politician. Inside, see the photograp ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 4, 2011

    Florida GOP: Uterus Is a Bad Word, Should Be Seen (Before Abortions) and Not Heard

    OBSCENE​One time in first-grade art class, I said the word penis, or some approximation of it, to my classmate Will, who was a tattler. "I'm telling!" said Will, and suddenly I was at risk of having my blue ribbon taken away by my homeroom teacher. So, with some half-formed notion of self-respect, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 1, 2011

    Drug Testing for Welfare Checks

    ​Looks like state employees aren't the only ones who will have to pee in a cup before they get a check.On Thursday, a bill that would require welfare recipients to pass a drug test before they could receive state benefits advanced in the Florida Legislature. The proposed law also requires that tho ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 4, 2011

    Michele Bachmann to Speak About Something She Seems to Know Little About: The Constitution

    Michele Bachmann can't be bothered with mere facts​After Charlie Sheen injected tiger blood and seven-gram rocks into the national discourse this week, you may be numb to subtly absurd political gaffes. But let's take a few minutes to look at the congresswoman currently visiting Florida, who is kn ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 14, 2009

    [UPDATED] "Toothless" Commission on Ethics Gives Legislators Something to Chew On

    Flickr: simplelogikThat's the kind of arsenal you need to get a jaw-full of Florida corruption​The political scandals in Broward County have roused the Florida Commission on Ethics from its comatose state. An outfit derided as "toothless" is asking the Florida Legislature to give it a new set of c ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 15, 2009

    Man and Beast: State Bird Gets the Heave-Ho; Monkeys Go Home; Pythons Morph Into Man-Eaters

    The rock python's scary-sexy maw.​Amnesty Day is coming up on October 3, but that's amnesty for you, not for our scaly friends. Owners of exotic reptiles may turn in their anacondas at Gatorland in Orlando, no questions asked. It's time for Spot the reticulated python to find a new home, if he sur ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 12, 2009

    Palm Beach Rebs Threaten Secession

    Rebellion, Palm Beach-style​Nothing secedes like excess. We here at the Juice thinks it makes  sense: Palm Beach town councilman William Diamond urged his fellow confederates at yesterday's council meeting to consider seceding from Palm Beach County and forming a  new county of its very ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 10, 2009

    Bum Fights: Do Liberal New Yorkers Know What Happens to Homeless in Florida?

    Flickr: 71sbeetle​It's advertised as a way to deal with a city's homeless problem in the most humane way possible -- give 'em one-way tickets out of town. But that's only if the progressives in cities like New York aren't reading headlines like we've got down here, about Florida leading the nation ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 28, 2009

    Hallandale Rep Clashes With Blue Dog in Black Caucus

    Photo: myfloridahouse.govRep. Joe Gibbons​Joe Gibbons better watch out. Not only is he no longer the chairman of the Florida Legislature's black caucus. But the new chairman is Gary Siplin, the state senator from Orlando famous for trying to put a crucified Christ on the Florida license plate. And ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 1, 2009

    New Hampshire Ends Live Greyhound Racing; Will Florida Follow Suit?

    Jailamony used to race at Mardi Gras. Now she sits around looking adorable. Live greyhound racing in New Hampshire ended swiftly this week with a new state bill that allows the two tracks there to have simulcast betting without having to run dogs on the premises. Similar bills have been propo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 29, 2009

    Selling Used Video Games Now Requires Essentially Getting Booked

    Proof that he didn't make it past Mario's second level.I'm in line at Gamestop the other day, breaking down and finally buying the much-hated NCAA Football '09, when I hear the clerk ask the guy in front of me for his fingerprints. He's returning a game, and the clerk breaks out some kind of form. H ... More >>

  • News

    May 21, 2009

    Pit Bulls Banned in Miami Find Refuge in Broward and Palm Beach Counties

    Proof that he didn't make it past Mario's second level.I'm in line at Gamestop the other day, breaking down and finally buying the much-hated NCAA Football '09, when I hear the clerk ask the guy in front of me for his fingerprints. He's returning a game, and the clerk breaks out some kind of form. H ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 29, 2009

    Just Look at the House Republicans Inaction!

    When House Republicans caucus, I'll bet it looks something like this: Star Wars-Imperial March - Click here for more amazing videosAmid all the other state budget crises, it's not getting nearly enough attention, but the Florida Legislature is on the brink of giving the heave-ho to $444 million in f ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2009

    Legislators Pay Lip Service to Dreaded Compromise

    FLHouse.govHasnerCompromise is what distinguishes the effective, conscientious governments from the dysfunctional ones, and the lack of it has been a drag on the Florida Legislature for some time. One would think that this year's gaping, $6 billion budget hole would make compromisers out of the stub ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 25, 2009

    Seminoles: Senate Version of Compact, Please

    The Florida House and Senate have both drafted legislation that would dramatically alter the games at Seminole casinos. Either the Tribe's profits will take a huge leap back or huge leap forward.The House version scales back the games that the Tribe can offer, eliminating card games so that the casi ... More >>

  • News

    February 19, 2009

    Mutual Benefits czar Joel Steinger manipulated local politicians and the state legislature. But divorce court too?

    The Florida House and Senate have both drafted legislation that would dramatically alter the games at Seminole casinos. Either the Tribe's profits will take a huge leap back or huge leap forward.The House version scales back the games that the Tribe can offer, eliminating card games so that the casi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    October 29, 2008

    Election Office Denying New Voters

    The Florida House and Senate have both drafted legislation that would dramatically alter the games at Seminole casinos. Either the Tribe's profits will take a huge leap back or huge leap forward.The House version scales back the games that the Tribe can offer, eliminating card games so that the casi ... More >>

  • News

    May 29, 2008

    Lady of the House

    She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

  • News

    May 1, 2008

    Big Brown Machine

    She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

  • Blogs

    June 5, 2007

    Mayo, Euthenasia, and DeGroot

    She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

  • Blogs

    February 13, 2007

    Every Damn Time

    She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

  • News

    July 6, 2006

    The License Plate Gambit

    Don't think you're going to get rich by attaching a slogan to the backs of people's cars.

  • News

    September 15, 2005

    The Bad-Hands People

    You say you want United Auto Insurance to pay your medical bills? Be ready to go to war.

  • News

    April 21, 2005

    Letters for April 21-27, 2005

    You say you want United Auto Insurance to pay your medical bills? Be ready to go to war.

  • News

    June 3, 2004

    The Great Slurp

    Gov. Bush's Scripps gamble is sucking up state funds -- and the Everglades with it

  • News

    May 6, 2004

    Letters May 6-12, 2004

    Save 'em from slaughter; end the travesty:

  • News

    January 29, 2004

    One-Way Street

    Popped for DUI? Smile. You've just fallen victim to the DHSMV's kangaroo court.

  • News

    March 27, 2003

    Poison Pill

    Florida's first law to protect farm workers from pesticides died a quiet death, but now it's back

  • News

    August 22, 2002

    West Palm's Next Mayor Speaks

    Forget Joel Daves. Lois Frankel rules.

  • Best of BPB

    May 17, 2001

    Best Mile of Broward/Palm Beach

    State Road A1A

  • News

    December 28, 2000

    Minority Madness

    Wisecracking Democrats in Tallahassee were steamrollered during the presidential contest. But they didn't take it lying down.

  • News

    March 4, 1999

    Letters

    Wisecracking Democrats in Tallahassee were steamrollered during the presidential contest. But they didn't take it lying down.

  • News

    January 21, 1999

    Piss Off!

    When the City of Hollywood told an accountant he'd have to take a drug test, he told the city: See you in court.

  • More >>
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