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Controversial gun bills advance in Senate

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Tuesday saw a rapid-fire morning for gun legislation in Tallahassee, with pro-Second Amendment groups getting the better of the shoot-out. A pair of bills to expand where and how Floridians can carry firearms — on college campuses and without concealment, respectively — advanced in Senate committees, as did one that strengthens the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law meant to protect the rights of people using deadly force in self-defense. The so-called “campus carry” bill — SB 68 by state Sen. Greg Evers — was approved…

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A proponent of sin taxes, Matt Gaetz nabs checks from South Florida strip clubs

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Politicians frequently humble-brag about campaign contributions, invoking “grassroots support” or furiously beating chests over the lack of special interest cash. Republican state Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is seeking the Northwest Florida Senate district currently held by his father, Don Gaetz, took in two donations earlier this year that certainly could be seen as “interesting.” Both are raising questions, if not eyebrows (and a few g-strings). According to the state Division of Elections, Gaetz received the checks — on the same day —  from businesses operating…

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Neal Dunn nabs endorsement of three state GOP lawmakers

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Republican candidate Neal Dunn nabbed the endorsement today of three state GOP lawmakers in his bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. Florida House state Reps. Dennis Baxley of Ocala, Jay Trumbull from Panama City and Elizabeth Porter of Lake City announced their support of the Dunn for Congress campaign. Dunn, a Panama City urologist, faces Mary Thomas, a former general counsel in the administration of Gov. Rick Scott, in the Republican primary for the seat currently held by first-term Democrat…

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Bill would allow Florida churches to say no to gay marriages

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A bill that would allow churches to refuse to marry gay couples won its first approval Wednesday even though its sponsor said churches already have that right and he knows of no cases in which a church has been forced to perform a same-sex wedding ceremony. After listening to dozens of pastors, most of whom supported the proposed law and some of whom opposed it, the House Civil Justice Committee approved the bill on a 9-4 vote, with all Republicans…

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As Jeb Bush campaigns, Florida struggles with his schools legacy

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Jeb Bush‘s signature achievement in education policy as Florida governor may be at risk of coming apart. A champion of what became known as Common Core education standards, Bush pushed a set of high-stakes tests for students and a system of grading schools as the centerpiece of an education agenda that defines much of his legacy in office. In the Republican presidential campaign, any mention of Common Core is a red flag for conservatives and Bush rarely talks about the…

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Reliance on property, sales taxes holds Florida back in new tax fairness report

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A new report released Monday by online financial services firm WalletHub says Florida ranks near the bottom nationally when it comes to the fairness of its state and local taxes. The survey evaluated the taxes levied by all 50 states – broken down by income, property, sales & excise and “other” taxes – and how they are levied on people of varying income brackets and compared that to the ideal system of taxation, gathered by asking respondents the question, “In thinking about…

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Sorry, Joe Negron, but this latest ploy for Senate Presidency is weak sauce

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

State Sen. Joe Negron on Wednesday morning upped the ante in the poker game to be president of the Florida Senate in 2016-18 by releasing the names of his colleagues who have pledged their support to him. Unfortunately for Negron, this latest ploy will likely fall flat. Claiming that he has the support of “Senators who represent (a) majority,” Negron has taken the extraordinary step of listing his pledges as “Senator Don Gaetz (District 1), Senator Aaron Bean (District 4),…

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