State House redistricting plans keep Sunshine Skyway-spanning district intact (Updated)

After months of public input and research, the Florida House’s redistricting committee today unveiled its first proposals for how to redraw the state’s congressional and state House district lines. At first glance, one detail stands out: The committee has chosen to maintain the controversial Tampa Bay district that spans the Sunshine Skyway bridge in order to group together the area’s minority voters.

Florida to host first statewide Occupy gathering

A collective of 15 Occupy Wall Street-inspired groups from around the state of Florida will hold a convention next month to create a resolution that will be sent to Florida Speaker of the House Dean Cannon on the first day of the legislative session.

Prison reform proposals prompt political fears

Gov. Rick Scott’s transition team outlined a plan to cut prison spending while also, over the long run, reducing crime, but state lawmakers this week expressed concern over whether prison reform would lead to politicians being labeled soft on crime.

Snyder may ‘tweak’ immigration enforcement law, but wants to keep most provisions

State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, current chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is considering changes to his immigration enforcement bill that mimics certain provisions of Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070.

Uncertainty over Arizona-style immigration law in Florida leaves immigrant rights activists guessing

Conflicting signals from Florida legislators about the possibility of an Arizona-style law are leaving Florida’s immigrant rights community confused about what to expect in 2011.

Law professor: Arizona-style legislation in Florida would likely face major legal challenges

The stage for Florida’s immigration debate was set this summer in Arizona, when controversy over Senate Bill 1070 inspired ads during the campaign and copy-cat bills during last year’s special legislative sessions.

The Arizona law now provides a framework for  immigration-enforcement bills circulating in both Florida’s House and Senate, but Florida International University law professor Ediberto Roman told lawmakers Monday that Florida could face “Arizona’s problem on steroids” if it enacted a similar measure.

State senators voice frustration with E-Verify

During last year’s election, then-candidate Rick Scott pledged to increase immigration enforcement at the state level. He began fulfilling that pledge on his first day as governor, signing an executive order requiring the state to verify that new hires are eligible to work in the United States using E-Verify.

On Monday, during the first of three informational meetings on immigration, state senators — including some who support the use of the program, which is offered to employers by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — expressed frustration with some of the system’s limitations.

Gruters announces several high-profile endorsements, despite ties to Buchanan allegations

Joe Gruters announced several endorsements for his candidacy to become the next chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, including from state Senate Majority Whip Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton.
In a press…

State Sen. Bennett files Arizona-style immigration bill, insists it won’t promote racial profiling

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has filed an immigration bill akin to the highly contentious and much maligned Arizona law that went into effect earlier this year, which sparked national controversy over its harsh mandates that aim to identify,…