May, 2013 | Orange County Democrats

Soto asks for records on DEP lawyer firings

Sen. Darren Soto is asking questions about the departures this month of four Department of Environmental Protection lawyers, one of whom suggested the firings and resignations were made to the detriment of conservation goals. The Orlando Democrat sent a letter to DEP Secretary Herschel

Central FL Dems receive high marks from Orlando Sentinel for 2013 session

Florida voters send 160 of their fellow citizens to the Capitol in Tallahassee for 60 days each year. But power and wisdom aren’t apportioned equally among Florida lawmakers. Usually only a handful of them shape events, for good or ill, during legislative

Lydia Gardner, longtime Orange County Clerk of Courts, dies

Longtime Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner has died. According a source with the Clerk of Courts, Gardner died Wednesday night at Winter Park Hospital. She was 68. Gardner had battled breast cancer for years, the source said. Gardner

Charlie Crist: I support gay marriage

Potential/likely Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist is taking some heat for having backed a Florida gay marriage ban during his 2006 Republican primary for governor. Tonight he posted the following on Facebook: Some great news: On Tuesday, Delaware became the 11th state

Democrats pressure Florida Gov. Rick Scott to call special session on Medicaid

Pressure is mounting on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to call a special session to end the Legislature’s impasse on Medicaid expansion. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and the 14 Democratic members of the Florida Senate sent separate letters Monday making the

Petition asks Rick Scott to veto bill blocking paid sicktime

A leading group behind the push for mandatory paid sick time in Orange County is starting an online petition to urge Gov. Rick Scott to veto a bill that would block local governments from adopting such measures. Organize Now started the petition

What passed and what failed in Florida’s 2013 legislative session

The 2013 legislative session in Tallahassee ended Friday with a lot of bills that didn’t become law. Here is a look at what passed and what didn’t. Click here for the full Tampa Bay Times story Please follow and like

Saunders: exempt Orange County from Precourt’s sick time preemption bill

State. Rep. Joe Saunders, D-Orlando, has offered up an amendment to exempt Orange County from a bill that would block local governments from adopting mandatory paid sick time benefits for workers. The so-called pre-emption bill is sponsored by House Majority Leader Steve Precourt,

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross blasts Weatherford for spiking Dolphins deal

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is none-too-happy with House Speaker Will Weatherford, after the team’s attempt for a taxpayer-supported stadium flamed out in the Florida House on Friday. In a statement, Ross blamed Weatherford for killing the deal and said that the House

Florida Legislature passes elections reform in response to national scorn

On the final day of session, the Florida Legislature answered the national elections scorn the state absorbed over its long lines and tortoise pace in declaring Barack Obama its 2012 presidential winner. Lawmakers on Friday sent Gov. Rick Scott an elections reform package that undoes some of

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