Independent News‘State & National News’ Archives
New bill for Evers from NRA: Open carry
Our State Sen. Greg Evers loves gun bills and the NRA loves Evers. The Tampa Bay Times reports Marion Hammer, executive director of the NRA's state lobbying organization, Unified Sportsmen of Florida, told it that the NRA will seek to pass a bill legalizing the open carrying of firearms in Florida [...]
Disconnect on Rick Scott
Florida Gov. Rick Scott got a rock star's welcome a gathering organized by the conservative RedState blog and before an audience that cheered his efforts to drug test welfare recipients, strip teachers of tenure and cut corporate taxes to make Florida more business friendly. When he ended his [...]
League of Women Voters out to protect voting rights
Press Release: Over the weekend, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced the state's intentions to continue its systematic purging of voters from Florida's voter rolls, despite the proximity of the August 14th primary and November 6th general elections. Today, Deirdre Macnab, President of [...]
Scott’s Health Care Red Herrings
By Stephanie Sharp... Governor Rick Scott has not been shy about sharing his opinion on the Affordable Care Act—but most of what he’s been spouting is nothing but bad numbers and hot air. Since the decision to uphold the law was handed down from the Supreme Court on June 28th, Scott has [...]
Rubio’s Right-Wing Dimples
Back by the Science-Fiction section, at the end of the line, he was being referred to as “very visionary,” “very sincere” and “very smart.” At the front of the line people described him as “fantastic,” “bright” and “something to reckon with.” It was a friendly [...]
Waiting for Rubio
They were camping out Monday for a chance to see him at a bookstore down south in The Villages. Now, as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) makes his way north, people are showing up early today at a Pensacola Barnes and Noble bookstore. “I had some people waiting outside the door this morning, waiting [...]
Impact of Supreme Court Decision on Women’s Health in FL
Florida News Connection: Almost one million women in Florida will gain access to health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. The ACA also broadens their access to birth control and preventive health screenings. Already, the health [...]
Miller issues statement on health care ruling
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act: “The Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the individual mandate in Obamacare is a monumental obstruction of personal freedom and liberty. It is [...]
Headed to Miami
The 18th Annual Sunshine State Awards presentation is this weekend. The awards recognize quality journalism from across Florida. The event is Saturday, June 23 at the Calder Casino & Race Course in Miami Gardens. The paper and I are finalists for award for Non-Deadline News Reporting (Small). We [...]
The Coal Ash Question
Two years ago this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed federal standards for coal ash, the byproduct of burning coal. That proposal never went anywhere. Yesterday—two years to the day from the EPA proposals—the U.S. House of Representatives voted to instruct the [...]
Preserving the Integrity of Elections
Sen. Don Gaetz provided us this editorial ---- An Op-ed submission by Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner regarding the Department of State’s efforts to ensure the accuracy of Florida’s voter rolls As Florida’s Secretary of State and Chief Elections Officer, I have a duty under both [...]
George LeMieux quits Florida U.S. Senate race
Former Sen. George LeMieux announced via YouTube that he is dropping out of the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. This makes Rep. Connie Mack as the likely GOP candidate to face-off against the incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson