A federal attempt to beef up the nation’s gun laws may have fizzled out in the United States Senate yesterday. But that didn’t stop the Florida House from sending a pro-gun message to Washington within an hour of that vote. As Sascha Cordner reports, the House majority adopted a memorial opposing any attempt by the federal government to limit citizen gun rights.
Next Tuesday marks what’s expected to be the last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings in the Florida legislative session. Regan McCarthy reports that could be the reason the Senate Appropriations Committee spent its Thursday slogging through a piles of proposed bills.
Supporters of the pro-choice movement rallied earlier in the session to oppose bills, they say amount to attacks on women’s rights. Lynn Hatter reports as debate on the proposals unfolds for the second day on the House floor, supporters of the Right to Life movement marked the occasion with a somber ceremony and personal stories, and a more subdued presence at the Florida Capitol.
One of the most controversial bills moving through the Florida Legislature right now involves high school athletics. As Steven Rodriguez reports, it would reduce the authority of the independent organization that sets the rules.
The calendar may say “April”, but some members of the Florida Legislature were thinking “Christmas” today. That’s because, according to some historians, the very first Christmas in the New World was celebrated in the area that would someday become Florida’s Capital City. Jessica Palombo reports the Florida House is considering official recognition of the site, which is something the Florida Senate did last year.