Issue 61 |March 2025 Issue | |
|
Florida Legislative Session: What You Need to Know
By Madison Fitzpatrick
The 2025 session of the Florida State Legislature will begin on March 4th, 2025. Only a few days away! A session happens once every year for 60 consecutive days, and the purpose of a legislative session is for our elected state Senators and Representatives to present, debate, and vote on the issues that will affect Floridians every day. These include bills that will help and harm us. It is vital that Floridians understand the process of the session and the importance of keeping track of our officials and their voting habits. Here are a few things you should know:
Just because a bill is written, does not mean it will be passed or even seen in a committee, which is one of the many steps in how a bill becomes a law. In order for a bill to be seen by a committee, the Senate President or the House Speaker must assign a bill to a committee.
Read more
| |
|
Making Florida More “small d” democratic
With control of the Governor’s office, the State House and Senate, Republicans might be expected to embrace democratic norms and do what the people want. Not in Florida!
At the behest of the Governor, the democratically elected Republican supermajority in the legislature stubbornly ignores the will of the people. Last session, it passed a 6-week limit on abortion. Then, in November, Florida voters tried to guarantee abortion rights in the state constitution by passing Amendment 4. The overwhelming majority, 57% (53.55% in Lee County) approved the amendment. That would have been enough in every other state where citizens vote on constitutional amendments. But Floridians have a higher hurdle—60% is required. Read more
| |
|
Children Should Not Have to Face the Power of the State Alone
By Michael Andoscia
A little over a month ago, I read in the news that the Trump Administration ended the special status of schools, hospitals, and churches with regard to his plan to deport undocumented immigrants. The consequences of this executive overreach is dire for public schools. I immediately sent an inquiry as to how the Free State of Florida and the Lee County School District were planning on responding to this authoritarian display.
It did not surprise me that the overall policy response from the state and the district was to comply with “lawful warrants” should ICE or other federal law enforcement show up at the schoolhouse door. It did, however, surprise me to learn that such agents were empowered to request to interrogate children without a parent or any other supportive adult in the room to guide the suspect child with regard to their Constitutional Rights. In fact, administrators are instructed that they are to comply with a request that parents not even be notified of their children’s plight until after the interrogation is complete. Read more
| |
|
Keeping Up with School Policy in Lee County
By Nannette Byrd Smith
The Lee County School District has begun a series of School Board Town Halls to promote dialogue between school district leadership and the community. The Town Hall format allows School Superintendent Denise Carlin, School Board members, and Department Heads to present district priorities and policies. It gives community members a chance to ask questions and raise issues in person or by email.
At the Town Halls in January and February, questions centered around cell phone use, the conduct and dress code, and class starting times.
Four Town Halls are remaining in this school year. All are held from 5:30 to 7 PM. See dates and more here.
| |  |
|
County Commission and Public Health
In February, the Lee County Commission took up two measures that impact public health. At their February 4 meeting, they decided to end fluoridation in the county’s water. Even though water fluoridation is endorsed by the American Dental Association and has been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, it has been under attack by opponents including Joseph Ladapo, Florida State Surgeon General, and the new HHS head, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., both of whom have a history of supporting quack science.
The Commission followed their lead and voted unanimously to stop fluoridating water. Counties that have stopped fluoridation have seen cavities increase. Two weeks after the County Commission’s action...Read on
| |
|
What You Can Do
As the shock of last November wears off, Dems are asking what we can do to support democratic values and oppose those national, state, and local elected officials who are betraying our communities. Here are a few ideas. Let’s flood the zone!!!
-
Work to elect Democrats in Special Elections. Right now, there are three vacant seats in the US House of Representatives—two in Florida and one in New York. Support the Democratic candidates—donate or phone bank to help them. Contact Gay Valimont, FL District 1, and Josh Weil, FL District 6, The special election for NY’s 21st district has not yet been set. Watch this space!
-
Contact your lawmakers in Washington. Call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Or try 5calls.org. Read more
| |
|
The Informed Democrat is published monthly and posted on the LeeCountyDems.org website on the first of the month. Do you have something you’d like to share with your fellow Democrats in Lee County or do you have comments, questions, or ideas about features you'd like to see, or would like to volunteer? Contact us at The Informed Democrat, at InformedDemocrat@gmail.com.
Editor: Melissa Butler
The Democratic Party of Lee County is an all-volunteer organization. We do not receive any funding
from the Florida Democratic Party nor the National Democratic Party.
| |
| How did you like this email? | | | | | | |
