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Call to Action

Attend the West Charlotte County Density Hearing on Feb 28th

One element of the Lemon Bay Conservancy mission statement is “Advocating for sustainable environmental policies.” As the recent hurricane has so clearly reminded us, we live in a beautiful, but very fragile, area. Controlling the amount of new development is essential for protecting our wetlands, our life styles, and our area’s future. There is an

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News

DeSantis supports cuts to Social Security & Medicare

DeSantis Under National Scrutiny for Supporting Cuts to Social Security and Medicare As the field of potential 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls ramps up their race for the MAGA base, Governor Ron DeSantis is the latest to find his record of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare under scrutiny. According to multiple national reports out

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Biden's Vision

In GOP-held Florida, Biden vows no cuts to Social Security

By SEUNG MIN KIM, JOSH BOAK and STEVE PEOPLES, ASSOCIATED PRESS, Feb 10, 2023. TAMPA — With an eye toward the 2024 campaign, President Joe Biden took direct aim at Republicans who have floated cuts to Social Security and Medicare — telling an audience in Florida on Thursday that he would create a “nightmare” for anyone who

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Opinion

Unhappy with direction of our country now

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Feb 4, 2023. Recent opinion polls report that as many as 70% of Americans are not happy with the direction of the United States. Count me in that 70%. I am unhappy that politicians are dismantling democracy. I am unhappy that legislators

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Opinion

What liberals can learn from Ron DeSantis

By Pamela Paul, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times, February 9, 2023 Is there anything liberals can do about Ron DeSantis other than quietly seethe, loudly condemn him every time he makes headlines and hope that his political flaws — his distaste for glad-handing, his less-than-inspiring public-speaking style, his conspicuous unlikability — will take him

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Florida Legislation

You can count on constitutional carry to become law

The following editorial appeared in The Daily Sun on Feb 4, 2023. OUR POSITION: The right to bear arms is the cry from Republican leaders in Tallahassee pushing a bill to remove the requirement for permits or training to carry a concealed weapon. Florida House Speaker Paul Renner — egged on by Gov. Ron DeSantis —

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Opinion

DeSantis blocks an African American course – and reveals his true colors

By David G. Wilkins, Sarasota Herald Tribune, Jan 25, 2023. I appreciate the clarity that Gov. Ron DeSantis has demonstrated in his recent decisions. For example, DeSantis’ appointment of conservatives to New College of Florida’s Board of Trustees clarified his intention to remake the public, liberal Honors College into a conservative, Christian school, in the

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Opinion

Opinion: These judges could have blood on their hands

By Jill Filipovic, CNN, February 6, 2023 The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals has handed domestic abusers a win — and made it easier for their violence to turn deadly. The court held in United States v. Rahimi that a federal law banning those with domestic abuse restraining orders from gun ownership was unconstitutional.

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Economy

FPL price hikes are no surprise

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Jan 27, 2023. OUR POSITION:We were warned about the price hikes requested by Florida Power & Light months ago. Call it the bill for Hurricane Ian damage. Whatever excuse you want to use, it won’t make it any easier when you fork over money for

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Elections

It’s time to renew your Vote by Mail ballot application

All mail ballot requests in Florida expired after the November 2022 election – including yours. You read that right. Due to the 2021 Florida elections law (SB90), all mail ballot requests from before the 2022 election have been canceled – and now, all Floridians who want to vote by mail in 2023-2024 must submit a new vote-by-mail

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Opinion

What’s really behind Florida’s attack on African American Studies

Opinion by Leslie Kay Jones, CNN.com,  Feb 3, 2023. As a student growing up in Florida, I vividly recall my International Baccalaureate English teacher inviting students to read “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in their best voice impressions of a formerly enslaved Black woman. She smirked as they giggled out phrases like “de nigger woman

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Economy

Florida is growing, but at what cost?

An editorial by the TAMPA BAY TIMES First the good news: Florida was the fastest-growing state in the nation last year, new figures show. That growth breathes new life into the economy and makes Florida more attractive and competitive on the global stage. But the state is lagging behind in key investments — in housing, health

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Biden's Vision

Biden grows the economy while GOP attacks Social Security & Medicare

This week, President Biden gave a speech in Virginia to highlight how Democrats’ economic plan is delivering for working families while MAGA Republicans push an agenda of raising taxes on the middle class, protecting billionaire tax cheats, and putting America’s financial stability on the line to try to force cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

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Call to Action

Oppose HB 543 concealed carry of weapons and firearms without a license

The Permitless Carry gun bill — HB 543 Concealed Carry of Weapons and Firearms Without a License — is being fast-tracked with only two committees in the House, and is already scheduled for its first hearing in the Constitutional Rights, Rule of Law & Government Operations Subcommittee on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 2 pm ET. If you are able, we urge you

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Call to Action

Oppose SB 170 local ordinances

If enacted into law, SB 170 would allow big business (including developers) to run roughshod over local communities by allowing businesses to file litigation if an ordinance or ballot measure results in a 15% or more loss of profit, with local taxpayers on the hook for damages. They’ve coupled this bill with SB 280 which

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Analysis

What’s really in the AP African-American Studies class DeSantis rejected?

A close look at the course reveals just the sort of interdisciplinary rigor students need to succeed. By JOSHUA ZEITZ,  Politico.com Magazine, January 31, 2023 Joshua Zeitz, a Politico Magazine contributing writer, is the author of Building the Great Society: Inside Lyndon Johnson’s White House. Follow him @joshuamzeitz. In the latest escalation of America’s ever-present political culture war, Florida

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Florida Legislation

DeSantis pitches $114.8 billion budget

Editor: Before the Wednesday press conference began, an administration staffer told state workers at the event to applaud and be “high energy.” Moments later, they cheered and clapped loudly when DeSantis entered the Florida Cabinet room, where he announced the budget plan. The workers broke out into applause three times during DeSantis’ presentation. It’s all

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Opinion

Why is DeSantis going after New College?

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Jan 24, 2023. Ron DeSantis and his fascist regime are running roughshod over our students’ education. First in K-12 grades with his CRT policy and banned books, etc. and now in our colleges and universities. Recently, for no reason except to promote

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