Florida Independent

Bishops submit proclamation for national ‘religious freedom’ campaign

By Ashley Lopez | 04.12.12 | 10:52 am

Catholic Bishops, one of the biggest opponents of the federal government’s decision to require health insurance companies to cover birth control as a preventive service, released a proclamation this week “calling for every priest, parish and layperson to participate in ‘great national campaign’ to defend religious liberty, which they said is ‘under attack, both at home and abroad,’” The New York Times reports.

Obama urged to postpone approval of Colombia trade agreement till anti-union violence resolved

By Marcos Restrepo | 04.12.12 | 9:03 am

The Service Employees International Union, known as SEIU, sent President Obama a letter Wednesday urging him “to not implement the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the goals of the Labor Action Plan are met and labor rights are respected in Colombia.”

Report: Romney Super PAC raised over $4.5 million from just 59 Floridians

By Ashley Lopez | 04.11.12 | 2:53 pm

According to a new report and infographic released by Maplight, a nonprofit research group that studies the influence of money on politics, a Super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has raised more than $4.5 million from just 59 donors in Florida alone.

Five corporations withdraw support for ALEC

By Marcos Restrepo | 04.11.12 | 2:43 pm

A campaign launched by several progressive organizations has led five major corporations to withdraw from the American Legislative Exchange Council, known as ALEC, which has been accused by progressive organizations of working “to disenfranchise African Americans, Latinos, students, the elderly, the disabled, and the poor.”

Rubio to travel to Summit of the Americas

By Marcos Restrepo | 04.11.12 | 12:46 pm

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will travel Thursday to the sixth Summit of the Americas, which will take place Friday and Saturday in Cartagena, Colombia.

Allen West: There are ‘up to 80′ communists in the U.S. House

By Ashley Lopez | 04.11.12 | 12:30 pm

Rep. Allen West, R-Fort Lauderdale, told mostly supportive members at a town hall meeting yesterday that he has heard “up to 80 U.S. House Democrats are Communist Party members,” The Palm Beach Post reports.

VIDEO: Drug war policy an important topic for Summit of the Americas

By Marcos Restrepo | 04.10.12 | 11:25 am

Another Latin American president has called for a conversation about the U.S.-sponsored war on drugs during the sixth Summit of the Americas, which takes place next week in Cartagena, Colombia.

Sun Sentinel: Florida Family Policy Council working to get Christians to the polls

By Ashley Lopez | 04.09.12 | 5:21 pm

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports today that the Florida Family Policy Council, a Florida-based anti-gay, anti-abortion group, has begun ramping up its effort to get Christians to the polls for the upcoming presidential election, hoping a large Christian voter turnout could help flip Florida away from President Obama.

Kaiser: Obama woos women voters with health care law

By Ashley Lopez | 04.09.12 | 3:02 pm

Kaiser Health News reported this past Friday that part of President Obama’s strategy to maintain his lead in the polls with women voters is to tout the health care reform law, which will eventually close gender disparities in health care coverage.

Reps from Florida take positions on Arizona’s immigration enforcement law

By Marcos Restrepo | 04.05.12 | 12:27 pm

In the ongoing legal battle over Arizona’s S.B. 1070 immigration enforcement law, which will be taken up by the Supreme Court later this month, members of Florida’s congressional delegation have signed court briefs on both sides of the issue.