HB 4061, "A Death Knell for Rural Lands on the Little Manatee River", was introduced by Rep. Owen. Keep that in mind in November.
Under HB 991, ALL current Florida voters -- Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, Libertarian, Unaffiliated, etc -- would need to re-verify their citizenship status in order to keep voting. If you are a senior without an active passport or a birth certificate, better get cracking. If you are a woman with a different name from what is on your birth certificate, start collecting county/state-issued documentation on your name change. Want to know who voted for HB 991 (which passed the full House on 2/25)? https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/991/Vote/HouseVote_h00991c2602.PDF
Bravo! Reggie Bellamy has experience as a former County Commissioner, deep roots in Manatee County, is a military veteran and has displayed high integrity. THIS is the leadership we need! Ruth Lawler
Ok citizens who care about Florida’s environment- start calling your representatives and senators - and get the Florida Forever Fund - funded to its $300 Million level!!! If the governor can spend $83 Million on 4 acres using OUR Florida Forever funds - they (our elected officials) can keep the funding up - maybe even to buy that precious land in Tampa bay to preserve and protect it from that “Proposed” Mega Cruise port! We can do this - and tell your elected officials - both locally and state - we can do this!
Must oppose HB 991/ SB1334 against the myth of Florida voter fraud under HB 1205. Write to your politicians now.
This “voter filter” legislation intends to prevent thousands of eligible Floridians from being able to vote by requiring “voters themselves” provide physical documentary proof of citizenship, created voting obstacles under the guise of citizenship verification when it is actually a ballot initiative restriction.
Instead, that bill would restrict and deny thousands of eligible voters particularly married women, students, naturalized citizens, minorities, and low-income individuals by requiring onerous documentation that is difficult and/or expensive to obtain and most likely, and most likely from out of state. Seniors, who are the largest group of voters, will take the biggest hit simply by being born in a non-digital world who would face an additional legal expense. Isn’t that called an unconstitutional POLL TAX.
What’s the justification? It is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Florida, and the consequences of doing so are harsh. It is also extremely rare in Florida.
It should be the task of professional election officials to update voter data using reliable official information in a way that safeguards the fundamental right to vote. So, ask yourself, why hasn’t Governor DeSantis taken the time and used Floridian tax money to ensure Florida’s state databases are up to date. Instead, with this bill, he is waiting till November on voting day for new documentation.
Last year, Governor DeSantis also took steps towards preventing voter rights with his recently passed state law, HB 1205, intentionally designed to shorten deadlines against initiative process from 30 days to 10 days, added late fee fines, increased penalties for petition collectors, and required a $1 million bond from amendment sponsors. Thus, killing all 22 active citizen-led constitutional amendment proposals that Floridians should be voting on this November. A Federal trial challenging this has already begun, but it also demonstrates this state’s desire to control and eliminate through law without votes.
This bill absolutely prioritizes political control over voter access. That's unconstitutional.
What it will not do is protect registered voters nor improve public faith in elections.
It also seems like there could be economies to merging the twelve (!) fire districts in the county (not counting SRQ). Each only has a few fire houses, but a full command, training, and administrative structure.
No amount of money is worth sacrificing the environment for Mosaic to make a fast buck! Although not Mosaic at the time, we've seen the damage and cost of cleanup at Bishop. The next big problem will be on the Peace River when we need the water as a supplement to Lake Manatee!
Un-needed legislation as local election officials have done their duty in an excellent way... election fraud is insignificant. The true purpose of the bill is to "chill the vote" make it just that much harder for "some" people to exercise their right to vote. The result will be "downsizing democracy" in America... no longer one citizen, one vote!
Mosaic Extended another 14 years
Commissioner Carol Felts her District voted NO
Commissioner Bob McCann voted NO
The rest Chairman Tal Siddique, George Kruse, Mike Rahn,Jason Bearden and Amanda Ballard vote YES
2 are up fro reelection Amanda Ballard and Mike Rahn, keep that in mind on the upcoming primary's
Change is coming ......this 5-2 voting must stop
This is a good example of Tallahassee action that the local community might ask for to support its local ordinances as opposed to the many other legislative actions affecting local communities that preempt home rule in a deleterious way.
Democracy in the US is dead. This is the last nail in the coffin. We have seen this situation happen all over the world in countries where dictatorships rule. Case in point, Maduro in Venezuela. And now, if the administration takes over elections, we will go through the same nightmare as those for whom we felt sorry. If our population doesn’t wake up we join them. Remember, democracy dies in darkness.
Thank you. As always, I love your writing. I didn’t look at the byline and then I got to the line, “… hands out campaign contributions more generously than a float full of Gasparilla pirates tossing beads to the crowd,” and I immediately knew the writer.
Recent Comments
nhughes@xhost.org writes:
Capitol Watch: Unemployment benefits, Condo insurance, Proof of citizenship when voting
rjckeuka4@gmail.com writes:
Tara Poulton enters race for Manatee County Commission, District 6
san.gander@gmail.com writes:
Criminalizing dissent in the ‘Free’ State of Florida
marcfalcolaw@gmail.com writes:
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Felts has Died
ruthlawler@att.net writes:
Reggie Bellamy files to run for Manatee County Commission At-Large Seat
THarte writes:
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gatorheel writes:
West Manatee Fire and Rescue District assessment increases
lib224@gmail.com writes:
Populism without pragmatism is like a blind man firing a machine gun
Dianna writes:
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serenowens@aol.com writes:
Commissioners approve 14-year extension for Mosaic at Four Corners
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Your representatives in Tallahassee can put an end to cruise port speculation
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