Dear Friend,

The Legislature opened the 2017 session this week with a bang! On Tuesday, we saw addresses from the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President.  A battle has been brewing between Governor Rick Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran over legislation regarding Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.  Speaker Corcoran has taken aim at ending the two programs, which are pet projects of Governor Scott’s, as wasteful of taxpayer dollars.  Much of the Governor’s State of the State could be summed up with an “I’m talking to you, Speaker Corcoran.” For his part, Speaker Corcoran remained dedicated to ending the programs he calls corporate welfare.  The Governor believes the program creates jobs and helps the economy.  The House voted 87-28 to end Enterprise Florida on Friday afternoon. 

In a busy first week, the Legislature passed its first bill which will be sent to the Governor to sign. The subject? The death penalty.  The Supreme Court ruled that last year’s law was unconstitutional and required a unanimous jury verdict to impose the death penalty. The Legislature passed that measure this week, and it is expected to be sent to the Governor soon. 

In the upcoming week, our entire FFPC staff team will be at the Capitol along with about 225 pastors, pro-life leaders and other citizen activists for the 2017 Pro-Family Lobby Days at the Capitol event. We packed the event out and have reached capacity at the Civic Center venue where the event is being held.  Otherwise, I would ask you to consider buying a last-minute ticket.  We will report on that at the end of the week (in our next Legislative Insider‘s Report).  

Amber Kelly, our Director of Policy and Communications, who has extensive experience in lobbying and politics is doing a great job representing us full time in Tallahassee.  You will hear more from her in the upcoming weeks with updates and live-streaming video.  Follow us on social media for instant and immediate information while the news is breaking in Tallahassee.  I would recommend following us on Twitter first and Facebook second.  

For a look at some of the bills that Florida Family Policy Council is tracking in 2017, look at our bill summaries below my signature.  The most up-to-date list of good bills and bad bills can always be found on our website. We will list our top priority bills next week.  

Thanks for your support,

John Stemberger

GOOD BILLS

ADOPTION / FOSTER CARE

HB 363 / SB 200 Temporary Respite Care for Families in Crisis

Sponsors: Rep. Frank White (R), Rep. Patricia Williams (D), Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R)

This bill would help families who are dealing with crises, such as drug abuse, illness, unemployment, or homelessness which have not yet led to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to remove children from the home. Several private, non-profit organizations in Florida work with respite care families to provide a temporary, safe environment for children while their parents work to reestablish a safe and stable living environment.  This is a voluntary program on the part of the parents and seeks to intervene in situations before children are placed in child welfare due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. 

ABORTION  

HB 19 / SB 1140 Injuries Resulting from an Abortion

Sponsors: Rep. Erin Grall (R), Sen. Kelli Stargel (R)

This bill gives women who have an abortion a new way to sue the doctor performing the abortion if they sustain physical or emotional injuries.  Specifically, if a woman was not properly informed of the possible risk of abortion and she suffers emotional problems as a result, she may sue the abortionist.  If the doctor was negligent in performing the abortion and the woman suffers physical injuries as a result, she may sue the abortionist. 

LIFE

HB 969 / SB 1130 Pregnancy Support Services

Sponsors: Rep. Jackie Toledo (R), Sen. Aaron Bean (R)

This bill requires the Florida Department of Health to contract with the Florida Pregnancy Care Network (FPCN) to provide pregnancy support services for women who suspect or know they are pregnant. FPCN would then provide support to pregnant women and address their wellness needs. The bill would require subcontractors with FPCN to promote and support only childbirth. Services provided must be noncoercive and could not include religious content.

HB 841 / SB 1006 Humanity of the Unborn Child

Sponsors: Julio Gonzalez (R), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) publish the following on their website: pregnancy support and adoption services in the state (both public and private), their contact info, and a description of services at these agencies. A statement alerting pregnant mothers that there are agencies to assist them must be posted on the DOH website as well as at medical offices, hospitals, etc. that provide OB/GYN services. This bill also assists local crisis pregnancy groups with community outreach and awareness campaigns for options to abortion for expectant mothers. 

HB 203 / SB 348 Pain Capable Abortion Ban

Sponsors: Rep. Joe Gruters (R), Sen. Greg Steube (R)

This bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks, except in rare cases. It would require abortion clinics to reportthe abortions they perform annually, along with descriptive information such as the estimated age of the child, and what abortion method was used, etc. The bill would also allow civil and criminal damages to be brought against any physician who intentionally violates this ban.

GAMING

HB 7037 Addressing Gambling Long-Term

Sponsor: Rep. Mike La Rosa (R) and the Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee

This bill will constrict or freeze gambling in Florida by requiring the Governor to renegotiate the state’s compact with the Seminole Tribe, with terms for a 20-year contract. It allows the Seminole Tribe to provide banked card games and slots outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties exclusively, effectively freezing state authorized gambling outside of these areas for the next 20 years. It requires horse and dog tracks to have live races, limits the types of card games allowed, and bans highly addictive slot machines from these facilities. It prohibits new permits for horse and dog tracks and does not allow them to be converted.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

HB 1383 / SB 852 Child Victims of Human Trafficking

Sponsors: Rep. Jeanette Nuñez (R), Sen. Rene Garcia (R)

This bill seeks to help children who have been the victims of sex trafficking by requiring the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to maintain a database of services available for victims of commercial sexual exploitation,  increases the situations in which a defendant’s confession may be used at trial, outlines procedures for assessment and staffing in evaluating and assisting victims, and requires either DCF or the local sheriff’s office to follow up with victims within six months to evaluate services used and their effectiveness. 

HB 665 / SB 286 Human Trafficking Education in Schools

Sponsors: Rep. Ross Spano (R), Sen. Greg Steube (R)

Requires health education in public schools to include information regarding the dangers and signs of human trafficking.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

HB 303 / SB 436 Religious Liberty in Public Schools or “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act”

Sponsors: Rep. Kim Daniels (D), Rep. Patricia Williams (D), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill would prohibit a school district from discriminating against students, parents, or school personnel on the basis of religious viewpoints or expression.  This bill states that a school cannot penalize or reward a student’s religious expression in their coursework, artwork, or other specified assignments.  It provides equal access to all religions and non-religions before, during, and after school.   

ISRAEL

HB 281 / SB 574 Opposing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2334

Sponsors: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D), Sen. Kevin Rader (D)

The UNSC adopted Resolution 2334 in December 2016, which stated that Israel’s settlement activity constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, has no legal validity, and is a major obstacle to the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security. The US abstained from voting when it had the power to veto Resolution 2334.  This Resolution pronounces that the Legislature opposes and requests the repeal or fundamental alteration of Resolution 2334 so that it: is no longer one-sided and anti-Israel and authorizes all final-status issues toward a two-state solution to be resolved through direct, bilateral negotiations between the parties involved.

BAD BILLS

LGBT RIGHTS  

HB 623 / SB 666 Creating Special Rights for LGBT Citizens or “Florida’s Competitive Workforce Act”

Sponsors: Rep. Ben Diamond (D), Rep. Rene Plasencia (R), Sen. Jeff Clemens (D)

The worst bill in the Florida Legislature because of its effect on public safety and freedom of conscience. It adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to Florida’s Civil Rights Act of 1992 as impermissible grounds for discrimination. This bill provides a new way for LGBT individuals to sue employers and small businesses for discrimination.  Would allow men access to use women’s showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms.  

A full list of House and Senate co-sponsors.

HB 659 / SB 742 Creating Special Rights for LGBT Citizens in Housing

Sponsors: Rep. Holly Merrill Raschein (R), Sen. Jack Latvala (R)

Adds sexual orientation and gender identity to Florida’s Fair Housing Act as impermissible grounds for discrimination.  Provides a new way for those in the LGBT community to sue property owners, rental agencies, real estate firms, etc. for discrimination. Would allow men access into women’s domestic violence and homeless shelters. 

HB 273 / SB 578 Banning Conversion Therapy

Sponsors: Rep. David Richardson (D), Sen. Jeff Clemens (D)

This bill makes it unlawful for people in Florida who are licensed to provide professional counseling and others, like pastors who are licensed counselors, to counsel youth under the age of 18 struggling with their “sexual orientation and/or gender identity” to think and live in a heterosexual manner consistent with their biological gender, even if the child (as the patient) asks for their help to do so.

GAMBLING

SB 8 Gaming Expansion Bill

Sponsor: Sen. Bill Galvano (R)

This bill is a massive and unprecedented expansion of gambling in the State of Florida. It ratifies and amends the 2015 Seminole Gaming Compact to allow lottery tickets at gas pumps, slot machines, blackjack, poker games, and fantasy sports to be offered across Florida.  SB 8 would allow 24/7 slot machines in the state wherever approved in a countywide referendum and would permit free or reduced-price alcoholic beverages to be served to those using the slots.  Furthermore, it would allow horse and dog tracks to quit live races and replace the live races with other types of gambling while giving $20 million of taxpayer dollars annually to live thoroughbred racing.  Lastly, it creates an “Office of Amusements” to allow and oversee fantasy sports gaming.

ABORTION

HB 6025 / SB 1114 Abortion Funding and Abortion Clinic Records

Sponsors: Rep. Lori Berman (D), Sen. Jeff Clemens (D)

Removes a prohibition against taxpayer dollars going to organizations/clinics that perform abortions. Removes the requirement that the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) review at least 50% of patient records.

MARRIAGE

HB 6041 / SB 1174 Marriage Equality

Sponsors: Rep. David Richardson (D), Sen. Gary Farmer

Removes the language in the statute which prohibited same-sex couples from marrying and the State of Florida from recognizing same-sex marriages from other states. 

ALCOHOL

HB 81 / SB 106 Hard Liquor in Grocery Stores

Sponsors: Rep. Bryan Avila (R), Sen. Anitere Flores (R)

Often called “Whiskey and Wheaties,” this bill would allow grocery stores and large retail stores to sell hard liquor in their main store rather than building or renting a separate store to sell liquor. It would also allow stores to have an entrance that physically connects a liquor store with a retail store.  Lastly, it would also allow smaller, hard liquor bottles to be sold in larger bins next to other products giving greater access to both kids and shoplifters. 

The post Legislative Insider’s Report: Week 1 of 9 appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Florida Congressional District 2 Debate & Straw Poll
Florida State University, Turnbull Conference Center
Thursday evening, May 12, 2016 | 7-9 PM

The post May 12: North Florida Congressional District 2 Debate and Straw Poll appeared first on Florida Family Action.

CONTACT: Ryan Hughes
Shirley & Banister Public Affairs
703-739-5920/800-536-5920
rhughes@sbpublicaffairs.com

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Florida Family Policy Council, and the national association of nearly 40 state-based family policy councils representing millions of Evangelicals nationwide, today released an open letter to presidential candidate Donald Trump calling on him to answer direct questions on his policy positions.

John Stemberger, President & General Counsel of Florida Family Action, said “Time is ticking, and we want Mr. Trump to clear up his record on the issues which is riddled with contradictions.”

The Florida Family Policy Council and its sister lobbying organization Florida Family Action have not endorsed any candidate. All leading conservative candidates have been invited to participate in CitizenLink’s national Presidential Candidate Teleconferences. So far, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, and former Governor Jeb Bush have participated on the calls, as well as former Senator Rick Santorum and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, prior to suspending their campaigns. Dr. Ben Carson is scheduled to do so later this month.

“With the recent passing of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the future of our core issues relating to life, marriage and family structures and religious liberty hang in the balance,” Stemberger explained. “Mr. Trump’s public comments about nominating judges with the same temperament as his sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, who overturned the New Jersey Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, are particularly concerning to Christians and should be to all Americans.”

The post Tough Questions for Donald Trump from America’s Leading Pro-Family Leaders: Evangelical Voters Still Have Serious Questions for Donald Trump appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Please post this email on your Facebook page and forward it to all your family and friends and anyone you know in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or Florida. See tools for forwarding above and below and reposting on social media at the top left side of this email.

The post ICYMI: 3 Questions Evangelicals Should Ask Donald Trump: CNN appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Sign Online Petition for Immediate Action: (Preferred) HERE:

PDF Petition for Printing: copying and church distribution HERE:

Top Ten Reasons: one page on why the HRO is bad HERE:

Action Alert: PDF with all the contact info of the councilman HERE:
 

The City Council of Jacksonville is currently moving to pass a so-called “Human Rights Ordinance” which will create new protected classes for the categories of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  These laws in other cities have been used as weapons to punish citizens for simply exercising their religious views and free speech within their own businesses and in private property ownership.  These same laws are also being used to allow fully biological men who either cross dress or subjectively claim they feel they are women to have complete access to women’s bathrooms, showers and locker rooms.  Another bill in the City Council proposes largely the same ordinance but would place it on the ballot allow the people of Jacksonville to accept or reject.  One of these bills will pass out of the City Council.  A similar bill was recently rejected in a referendum by the people in Houston, Texas.  For more information check out www.DefendJaxFamilies.com

Mayor’s Office
Mayor Lenny Curry
(904) 630-1776 MayorLennyCurry@coj.net

For more information see www.DefendJaxFamilies.com

The post URGENT JAX ALERT: Sign Petition for Referendum on HRO appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Originally Published on January 5, 2016 by CNNPolitics.com (Updated Jan 6, 2016)

Editor’s Note: John Stemberger is an attorney and conservative leader based out of Orlando, Florida. He is a former political director of the Republican Party of Florida. For the past 10 years, Stemberger has served as president and general counsel of Florida Family Action. The views expressed in this column belong to Stemberger.

(CNN) –This column contains language that might be considered offensive to some readers.

(CNN) — We are experiencing something extraordinary in American politics: A man who has never held public office appears to have become a force of nature this election cycle, and he is achieving this, according to polls, with no small amount of support from evangelical Christians.

The really puzzling thing is that Donald Trump defies every stereotype of a candidate you would typically expect Christians to vote for.

How much does the average evangelical Christian supporting Trump know about his history? Very little, it would seem. Many are content to follow the no-nonsense persona, rather than dig into Trump’s past record.

Trump professes to be a Christian and says the Bible is his favorite book. While we should not judge a man’s heart or motive, we can and should evaluate his words and actions.

Therefore, there are three questions I believe all evangelical Christians should ask themselves before supporting Donald Trump for President.

1) What is known about Trump’s personal life and morality?

If elected, Trump would be the first president to:

2) Where does Trump stand on moral and social policy issues of concern to Christians and to which the Bible speaks to clearly?

On many issues, Trump is saying the right things in terms of public policy.

He presents himself broadly as a conservative on abortion, same-sex marriage, radical Islam and other social issues. But one of the best indicators of a politician’s future behavior is his record on issues.

On abortion, in 1999, during a national television interview, Trump stated: “Well, I’m very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debate the subject. But, you still, I just believe in choice.”

Again in 1999, Trump stated to the Associated Press, “I believe it is a personal decision that should be left to the women and their doctors.”

In his book, “The America We Deserve,” Trump stated, “I support a woman’s right to choose, but I am uncomfortable with the procedures.”

In 2011, Trump said he changed his mind on the issue of abortion but still supports abortion in the case of rape, incest and life of the mother. He also said he supports “the good aspects” of funding Planned Parenthood.

Trump also favors gay rights and same-sex marriage laws “that guaranteed same-sex couples equal legal rights as married, heterosexual couples.” Trump also opposed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the military’s prior ban on openly gay service members.

Gregory T. Angelo, president of the Log Cabin Republicans, an advocacy group for gay Republicans, has said of Trump, “He is one of the best, if not the best, pro-gay Republican candidates to ever run for the presidency,” and that Trump would do no harm on same-sex marriage, and has a “stand-out position” on nondiscrimination legislation.

How do we square his liberal record on social issues with his “sounding conservative?” How can we trust that what he is saying today is what he will actually do tomorrow?

3) Are the love of money and pride legitimate issues to weigh when considering support for a presidential candidate?

First, the Bible is very clear that “the love of money” — not money itself — is “the root of all evil.” But Donald Trump is also very clear — he really loves money. In fact, he has reminded us over and over again, relishing and boasting in how “really rich” he is. Trump’s TV show “The Apprentice” even used the O’Jays’ song “For the Love of Money” as the theme song.

It’s not often that the Bible speaks with such clarity on what is evil. How heavily should a Christian voter considering supporting Trump take into account his love of money?

Secondly, Scripture declares “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs says that “everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord.”

Trump is not just proud. He is proud of being proud. But don’t take my word for it. Just listen to most any speech he gives. Trump has said, “part of the beauty of me is that I’m very rich.”

All of us are sinners in need of grace. But what are we to do with a professing Christian who is openly proud and brags about his sin and who wants other Christians to trust and support him to be our next president?

I do not believe every Christian has a moral duty to only vote for Christians. In the Bible, God used even evil leaders for his purposes. But when a choice is given, should evangelical Christians choose to elect a man I believe would be the most immoral and ungodly person ever to be president of the United States?

There are times I read a verse from scripture and wonder whether God looked into the portals of time and breathed out very specific words for a certain time in history. I believe II Timothy 3 is such a verse for today:

“But understand this, that in the last days terrible times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

© 2016 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 
 
PDF Version Here

The post CNN Politics: 3 questions evangelicals should ask about Donald Trump appeared first on Florida Family Action.

BACKGROUND:
The City Council of Jacksonville is currently moving  to pass  a so-called “Human Rights Ordinance” which will create new protected classes for the categories of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

These laws in other cities have been used as weapons to punish citizens for simply exercising their religious views and free speech within their own businesses and in private property ownership.

These same laws are also being used to allow fully biological men – who either cross dress or subjectively claim they feel they are women – to have complete access to women’s bathrooms, showers and locker rooms.

Another bill in the City Council proposes largely the same ordinance but would place it on the ballot to allow the peo-ple of Jacksonville to accept or reject.

One of these bills will pass out of the City Council. A similar bill was recently rejected in a referendum by the people in Houston, Texas.

As a citizen of Jacksonville, I want the City Council to allow the voters of Duval County to decide this controversial issue by a referendum and not to force this “Human Rights Ordinance” upon our community by a vote of only ten members of the City Council.

FILL OUT PETITION (PDF) HERE

Please return this petition as soon as possible to Florida Family Policy Council via: US  MAIL:  4853  South  Orange  Avenue,  Orlando,  FL  32806 Scan/Photo  &  Email:  Info@FLfamily.org FAX: 407-251-0023

For more information log onto www.DefendJaxFamilies.com

This petition has been reviewed by legal counsel and is safe for direct distribution and promotion within churches and other 501c3 non-profit organizations

The post URGENT: JAX Community Petition To Let the People of Jacksonville Decide on SOGI appeared first on Florida Family Action.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – There is a lot to like about Donald Trump. He’s entertaining, tough, and anti-establishment. Despite these factors, are there things about Trump’s life, background and views that should give all conservatives, and especially Christian conservatives, pause or even great cause for concern? In conservative activist John Stemberger’s view, conservative voters who are considering supporting Trump should be asking themselves three important questions:

1. What is Donald Trump’s political history and voting record?
2. Do Donald Trump’s liberal positions on policy issues tell us how he would govern as president?
3. Does Donald Trump have the kind of character and integrity that can be trusted?

Stemberger lays out the answers to these questions with facts from Trump directly in this new piece for Newsmax, published today.

“Donald Trump has clearly hit a raw nerve with conservatives who are frustrated with Washington D.C,” said Mr. Stemberger. “But Trump’s politics and values are no different — and maybe worse — than most Washington politicians, including major support for Democrats, voting for Barack Obama, and taking liberal positions on major policy issues. He is still considering a third party run and has proven to be demeaning and degrading to women.”

“Is this really the kind of man we want to lead and represent America?”

John Stemberger is an attorney and national conservative leader based out of Orlando, Florida. He is a former Political Director of the Republican Party of Florida. He has a unique understanding of law, government, and the media from his extensive political background, and has been a consultant to state, federal, and presidential campaigns. For the past ten years Stemberger has served as President and General Counsel of Florida Family Action.

Florida Family Action (FFA) is the legislative arm of the Florida Family Policy Council. The organization provides a platform for informing, inspiring and rallying those who care deeply about the family to greater involvement in the moral, cultural and political issues that threaten our state and nation.

PDF of Newsmax Article: HERE

The post 3 Questions Every Conservative Voter Should Ask Before Supporting Donald Trump appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Many of these SOGI laws also involve a gross invasion of privacy and create safety and security issues by allowing fully biological men to use women’s bathrooms.  Don’t be fooled by smooth sounding names like “Human Rights Ordinances,” “Equal Rights Ordinances” and the latest deceptive name, the “Competitive Workforce Act.”  Adding totally subjective terms like sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to legitimate non-discrimination statutes directly undermines our First Amendment rights of religious liberty, free speech and freedom of association.

Jacksonville’s new Mayor, Lenny Curry, has called for three community hearings or conversations on the idea of revisiting whether or not the city should enact a “Human Rights Ordinance” (HRO) like the one that was defeated soundly in 2012 by the City Council.  The final community discussion was held this week. 

Continue to visit this page for the latest updates.

Current Research on the harm of HROs:
The Heritage Foundation: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Laws Threaten Freedom by Ryan T. Anderson, PhD 
All citizens should oppose unjust discrimination, but sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws are not the way to achieve that goal. SOGI laws are neither necessary nor cost-free. They threaten fundamental First Amendment rights. They create new, subjective protected classes that will expose citizens to unwarranted liability. Furthermore, SOGI laws would increase government interference in labor, housing, and commercial markets in ways that could harm the economy. Yet SOGI’s damage is not only economic: It would further weaken the marriage culture and the freedom of citizens and their associations to affirm their religious or moral convictions, such as that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and that maleness and femaleness are not arbitrary constructs but objective ways of being human. SOGI laws would treat expressing these widely held beliefs in certain contexts as unlawful discrimination.

Alliance Defending Freedom: Protect Your Ministry from SOGI: Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Lawsuits
The scope and nature of the threat posed by SOGIs and related laws warrants special, focused attention. This guide provides that focus. In the following pages, you will find examples of what other Christians around the country are facing; how your church, school, or ministry may be vulnerable to similar threats; and what you can do to secure crucial legal protections to help enable you to weather the fast-approaching legal storms.

Recent Jacksonville News on the Issue:
12.23.15: Councilan’s Pro HRO Op-Ed Generates Hate Mail, Positive Mail Pushback
The messaging war over expanding Jacksonville’s HRO, or human rights ordinance, is heating up as Christmas draws near, with District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman the latest to enter the fray…I can also tell you that we have lost businesses that were considering Jacksonville. And that we risk losing our current vital businesses due to our discriminatory ways. Just recently, the CEO of a large company here in Jacksonville that proposes to add hundreds of high-paying jobs told me that the project would go somewhere else if we do not pass the HRO. I haven’t heard an argument that would justify our behavior. And since I get so many emails from Jacksonville residents, I am going to ask for more.

12.21.15: First Baptist Church Weighs In On “Pansexuals,” Jax Hro Expansion: Referendum Would “Probably Not Pass”
“It is time to resolve the upcoming HRO expansion issue,” the letter began, stipulating that “if one’s religion precludes participating in an activity, or appearing to support that activity, that should be respected.”

12.19.15: HRO supporters and opponents see reason to hope Mayor Curry will fall on their side
Jacksonville is the next large city to tackle the issue after voters in Houston repealed a similar measure, giving the fight here higher visibility. Two City Council members filed opposing bills on the issue last week, but all eyes are on Curry, who just completed three wide-ranging town hall-like meetings on the ordinance and says he will take the holidays to decide how his administration will move forward.

“I’m not going to let political theater or antics or any movement pressure me into a timeline or the direction I’m going to go,” he said. “I began this process. I’m going to complete this process.”

12.19.15: Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford steps in on HRO while Mayor Curry mulls
Gulliford said he wants a decisive conclusion to the long-standing and divisive issue of expanding discrimination protections, but his unilateral action has frustrated council members who believe Curry, not the council, should have made the first move.

12.17.15: Atlantic Beach fields no complaints after adopting HRO
In August of 2014, the city [Atlantic Beach in Duval County] approved a measure after nearly a year of intense debate. Since then, records show, no one has filed a complaint alleging discrimination…”Doesn’t surprise me personally. Don’t think had an issue in the first place,” said Atlantic Beach Mayor Mitch Reeves…

Mayor Lenny Curry is still weighing options following three community meetings. The final community forum was held this week, drawing a standing room only crowd.

12.17.15: Jax Coalition for Equality: “Dismayed” by HRO Referendum
“A referendum would be a serious departure from the City Council’s responsibility to address discrimination based on status. Of all the categories in our HRO, none has ever been placed on a ballot,” the JCE statement continued, adding that “a referendum eliminates the ability to address legitimate and specific concerns through the deliberative process of City Council committee meetings.”

12.16.15: Email Insights: Jax City Council’s BIll Gulliford Calls for HRO Referendum
Following on the heels of Tuesday’s third, packed and final “community conversation” on expanding Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to cover LGBT residents from discrimination, Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has emailed media outlets saying he’s filed the same ordinance that was voted on in 2012 “with one addition – a provision for a referendum by the voters on the issue.”

12.16.15: Councilman wants voters to decide on HRO
Now that the town hall meetings on the proposed changes to Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinances are over, one councilman is calling for the choice to go to voters.

12.16.15: Open discussions on Jacksonville’s HRO ends
“You may not agree with the person sitting next to you, but we’re all here as citizens of Jacksonville,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.

12.15.15: Jacksonville HRO Community Conversations Finally Over
Gannam noted that he’s “been up here a lot lately,” and then observed that “this law is not warranted” given that “LGBT persons recognize the fairness of Jacksonville” and live here in great numbers.

12.14.15: Supporters of LGBT ordinance roll out list of supportive businesses; opponent says that proves his point
Supporters of adding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to Jacksonville’s anti-discrimination laws say they have collected written backing from more than 200 business people, including JAX Chamber Chairwoman-Elect Audrey Moran.

12.14.15: Don’t Discount Jax HRO Referendum Possibility
Though there is no Human Rights Ordinance expansion legislation yet, the possibility of such has been enough for many members of Jacksonville’s City Council, who have been hearing, pro and con, about the positions of people on this issue. This is especially true with the final Community Conversation on the subject looming at 6 p.m Tuesday at Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall. With this in mind, and with the risk-aversion of most on Council in mind, an idea that has been getting traction is the idea of putting HRO expansion up to a popular vote. An HRO referendum.

12.14.15: Roger Gannam, Ken Adkins in Lenny Curry’s Final HRO “Community Conversation”
FloridaPolitics.com has obtained a list of panelists for the third Community Conversation on the Jax Human Rights Ordinance expansion. One of the names is familiar: Roger Gannam, of the Liberty Counsel, who has been a often lonely voice on the first two panels opposing HRO expansion.

12.10.15: African American Jax Pastors Call For HRO Expansion Referendum
A referendum sunk the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. And a group of 19 African-American Jacksonville pastors, at a Thursday afternoon news conference at the First Timothy Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s Northside, stated their opposition to an expanded Human Rights Ordinance, while saying that any ballot measure on such should be handled by popular referendum…“We cannot and will not support any ordinance driven by sexual orientation,” Newbill said, adding that the Civil Rights Act “covers what needs to be covered.” As well, Newbill added, “whatever comes out needs to be done by referendum.”

12.10.15: Jacksonville pastors call for referendum on HRO
Pastor Fred Newbill of First Timothy Baptist Church, flanked by 18 other pastors, offered a referendum as a solution to settle the ongoing debate in the city on whether or not to expand what is currently on the books.

“We have the federal law that applies to all of us, we have the state law that applies to all of us. Then we have local ordinances,” Newbill said in defense of why Jacksonville should not include sexual orientation.

12.10.15: Audrey Moran Issues Jax Hro “Call To Action”
The stakes are high, for activists on both sides, and will get higher as legislation goes from a theoretical construct to a reality…The battleground of this legislation is not going to be on the lesbian, gay, or bisexual protections; it will be on the transgender population. Those who are opposed will work to frame the action as a “bathroom bill,” and push toward referendum. Proponents, clearly, are going to have to counter those overt appeals to populism.

12.08.15: Guest column: LGBT people in Jacksonville do not need a Human Rights Ordinance
The proposed law would grant the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission enormous coercive power to investigate complaints against real, law-abiding citizens of Jacksonville, subpoena their documents, impose fines and attorneys’ fees, sue them in court and refer their cases to the state attorney for criminal prosecution.

12.07.15: Jacksonville Community Council: HRO Panelist Misrepresented 2009 Discrimination Study
At Thursday’s Jacksonville HRO community forum, Liberty Counsel lawyer Roger Gannam argued against adding LGBT protections to the city’s human rights ordinance, saying they’re just not needed.

“A law like this should be passed in response to a problem,” Gannam said. “Jacksonville does not have a widespread or systematic problem with discrimination against anyone.”

…With a news conference looming on Thursday afternoon, in which anti-expansion pastors expound upon their goals and strategy, it will be interesting to see when and how the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality and the national Human Rights Campaign countermessage the other side.

12.4.15: HRO discussions truck along in divided Jacksonville
Mayor Lenny Curry scheduled the Community Conversations and a bill is expected to be filed with the city council in early 2016. The third and final Community Conversation on the HRO is 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute. That discussion’s focus will be on the legal and business impacts of the proposed HRO.

12.4.15: Jacksonville faith leaders discuss how changing city’s human rights ordinance could affect religious freedom
One major question that could affect churches is whether or not a church would fall under the definition of a public accommodation.

12.4.15: Dr. Albert Mohler Podcast “The Briefing” on Jax HRO Issue
…Now the scene has shifted to Jacksonville and one of the lessons we need to understand in terms of the moral revolution is that those who are pushing it simply come back again and again and again. The strategy is to bring back the issue again and again, to wear down resistance and eventually to gain a political victory by one means or another. There’s also something we need to keep very much in mind here and we can only hope that the political leaders in Jacksonville, Florida have read some recent history, including the headlines.

12.4.15: What HRO Expansion Opponents Tell Jax Mayor Lenny Curry
…there are opponents to the bill, who have been emailing Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry with their thoughts.

12.3.15: Community meeting on LGBT law is more civil Thursday night
With tightened security measures in place, Mayor Lenny Curry convened a second town hall meeting Thursday about whether Jacksonville should add LGBT people to the city’s anti-discrimination law. The 90-minute meeting attracted about 700 people to an Edward Waters College gym for a discussion that focused on “Religious Freedoms, Thoughts and Beliefs.” The crowd heard a four-person panel engage in a back-and-forth debate over what impact expanding the anti-discrimination law would have on religious institutions. Opponents of changing the law said it would erode religious liberties. Supporters said the law would be written in a way to ensure that would not happen.

12.3.15: Human Rights Ordinance polarizing at public forum
Hundreds of people debated Thursday evening whether Jacksonville needs to amend its Human Rights Ordinance to protect members of the LGBT community.

12.3.15: Jacksonville Faith Leaders Come Out In Support Of LGBT Inclusive HRO
Seventy-seven Jacksonville faith leaders have signed a letter in support of an inclusive human rights ordinance.

12.3.15: Jax Coalition For Equality Announces 75 Faith Leaders’ Support For Fully-Inclusive HRO, Including Lenny Curry’s Pastor
Ahead of the Thursday evening Human Rights Ordinance Jacksonville “Community Conversation” on religious issues related to expanding the HRO to the LGBT community, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality held an afternoon presser with some of the 75 faith leaders who support a fully-inclusive HRO. Among those faith leaders in support: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s own pastor, Bruce Jones of Southside United Methodist Church.

11.30.15: After a Defeat in Houston, the fight for gay rights shifts to Jacksonville
The first major gay rights showdown since Houston’s rancorous vote to repeal its anti-discrimination ordinance is shaping up here in Jacksonville, the largest city in the nation whose leaders have never enacted civil rights protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people…One major difference: In Houston, voters this month rolled back an existing ordinance; in Jacksonville, for now, the issue is before elected officials…Gay rights groups have poured tens of thousands of dollars into an aggressive effort to persuade the City Council to expand its existing Human Rights Ordinance, and to elect candidates who favor doing so.

Nov 2015: The Anti-LGBT Earthquake from Houston
…DC-based Human Rights Campaign (HRC) spent a fortune maintaining its 34-activist army – salaries, housing, travel, expenses. That army is now relocating to Jacksonville and Charlotte to expand those stealth HRC operations which the press won’t report.

As in Jacksonville, some Houston businesses turned against the community, unjustly calling it bigoted, and collaborated in the national LGBT power grab. They were duped by HRC’s preposterous “LGBT laws are good for business” myth. And they fell for the “LGBT civil rights” hoax – in reality a ploy to make government outlaw opposition to LGBT lifestyles.

The post Help Stop Dangerous So-Called “Human Rights Ordinance” being proposed in Jacksonville appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Florida Family Action hosted its 2016 GOP Battle for Florida event on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7 PM in the greater Orlando area. The event included an overview of where the presidential candidates stood on current issues, an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses, a panel discussion of political experts, questions from the audience and a straw vote poll.

Florida Family Action President and General Counsel, John Stemberger provided an objective analysis of all the major 2016 Presidential candidates (declared and undeclared) along with their strengths, weaknesses, viability and facts about their current financial backing. This video can be viewed here:

Though some would say it is too early to endorse (and I would agree), it is never too early to begin thinking about who is the best possible person to lead our great nation into the future, especially given her current desperate state. Trust me, the election will be here before you know it.

We hope these presentations which were filmed on May 19, 2015, in Maitland, FL, before a live audience will be as helpful to you as you study the GOP candidates.

Straw Vote Results:
At the GOP Battle For Florida Event in Maitland on May 19, Florida Family Action took at straw poll of about 100 attendees. The results are listed below:

• Senator Marco Rubio (33.7%)
• Senator Ted Cruz (30.3%)
• Governor Jeb Bush and Governor Scott Walker (tie at 8.9%)
• Senator Rick Santorum (6.7%)
• Senator Rand Paul (4.5%)
• Dr. Ben Carson (3.4%)
• Governor Mike Huckabee (2.2%)
• Governor Rick Perry (1.1%)
• Write In: Donald Trump

Attendees were polled on 14 GOP declared and exploratory Presidential Candidates. Only those 18 and older at the time of the 2016 election participated in the poll.

For More Information, please contact info@FLfamily.org or call 407-418-0250.

The post Video: Analysis of 2016 GOP Presidential Hopefuls appeared first on Florida Family Action.