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llhan Omar's Latest Foolishness Invokes the Parkland Shooting and the Far Right

March 22, 2019 - 9:00am

When a D.C. politician invokes the Parkland shooting, it is sure to ping the radar in Florida. When that politician makes an outlandish claim about the tragedy, it deserves to be analyzed and corrected as needed.

Freshman House member Ilhan Omar's latest "comment" needs some serious correction.

Backroom Briefing: E-Verify Plan a Heavy Lift

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 22, 2019 - 9:00am

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign vow to require Florida businesses to use federal “E-Verify” checks on the immigration status of new hires remains a tougher lift than his call for a sanctuary-city ban, which is speeding through the Legislature.

But he’s not giving up, even as he blames a lack of unanimity among Republican lawmakers for slowing the red-meat proposal that has been opposed by large farmers and tourism and construction interests.

While saying this week he’d like the proposal to advance this year, he noted he has “four years.”

Francis Rooney Ramps Up His Effort to Protect Free Speech on College Campuses

Kevin Derby

March 23, 2019 - 9:00am

Oct. 19, 2017 at the University of Florida in Gainesville

While he has broken with conservatives on issues ranging from voting with Democrats against President Donald Trump’s executive action to build a wall on the southern border to supporting a carbon tax, U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., is trying to protect speech on college campuses.

Earlier this month, Rooney introduced the “Free Right to Expression in Education (FREE) Act.”

Vern Buchanan Showcases Proposal Defending Domestic Produce From Mexican Imports

Kevin Derby

March 21, 2019 - 12:00pm

This week, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., continued to push against Mexico produce imports as the congressman insisted farmers in the Sunshine State were being undermined due to “unfair trade practices" and “unfair subsidies and illegal seasonal dumping.”

Buchanan held an event with the Florida Farm Bureau on Tuesday and he took aim at Mexico’s policies.

“Today’s visit showed that Florida growers continue to be harmed by Mexico’s unfair trade practices,” said Buchanan.

The Florida Compact on Immigration: The Key to Keep Driving the State Economy Forward

Nancy Smith

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

Cartoonist: Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News

Only California has a greater stake in the immigration conversation than Florida. Why? Because Florida's immigrants -- many in number, talent and drive -- contribute a ton to the state and national economies.

Think that in 2017, immigrants spent $7.8 billion in state and local taxes, and wielded $91.9 billion a year in spending power.

Senate Ties Tourism Funding to Sunscreen

Jim Turner News Service of Florida

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

Florida Senate leaders are putting up money to keep the state’s tourism arm alive, despite an effort by the state House to scrap the agency.

But the Senate's $50 million for Visit Florida comes with a hitch: The agency would be barred from promoting communities that have banned certain sunscreens.

CNN Gets Rewarded For, and Brags about, the Disastrous Parkland Town Hall

Brad Slager

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

At CNN's town hall, Marco Rubio engages Cameron Kasky

It was 13 months ago when CNN staged a two-hour "town hall" for what was touted as a healing and communal event in the wake of the tragedy that had recently played out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Held at the nearby Florida Panthers hockey arena, the event turned into an emotional wreck of hysterics and accusations, with little in the way of reasoned thought being allowed to survive.

The Facts Are In: Florida Must Remain Committed to Quality Care

Patti Spears

March 22, 2019 - 9:00am

They say numbers can tell a story. Inspired to find out what exactly they show, Florida Health Care Association decided to take stock of our state’s level of quality care at long-term care centers. The result? Consistent improvement for Florida’s vulnerable aging population, thanks to dedicated caregivers and smart funding decisions by our state’s lawmakers.

The True Cost of Educating a K-12 Public School Student: TaxWatch Releases an Update

Sunshine State News

March 21, 2019 - 9:00am

A new report by taxpayer research institute 40-year-old Florida TaxWatch provides an update of the true average cost of educating a K-12 public school student in Florida. The government watchdog released a similar independent study in March 2017 that considered all categories of expenditures necessary for the operation of public schools.

Supreme Court Needs to Stay at Nine justices; Dems’ Court-Packing Plan Is All Wrong

Marco Rubio

March 20, 2019 - 4:00pm

America’s institutions are far from perfect. But over the past two centuries, they have provided a framework for our nation to become the most dynamic, most vibrant, and most exceptional nation in all of human history.

At this moment though, our institutions are suffering a crisis of confidence as families fragment and communities crumble. And most Americans view every branch of government with disdain.

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