elections.orlandosentinel.comFlorida & Orlando Politics News - Orlando Sentinel

Florida & Orlando Politics News - Orlando Sentinel Skip to content Sections xml:space="preserve"> Search xml:space="preserve"> subscribe e-paper Newsletters Obits Breaking News February 05, 2020 67°F POLITICS Advertisement Advertisement Florida News Gun control group vows to continue fight to get assault weapons ban on Florida’s ballot Floridians won't get to vote on an assault weapons ban this year, but gun control advocates say they are still fighting to get it on the ballot in 2022. By Skyler Swisher Feb 4, 2020 Education Voucher supporters denounce calls to stop funding schools that discriminate against gays Backers of Florida's largest school voucher program Tuesday to denounce efforts to convince corporations to halt donations. Two Orlando-based lawmakers have been urging corporations not to support program because some scholarships go to private schools with written anti-LGBTQ policies. By Gray Rohrer , Leslie Postal and Annie Martin Feb 4, 2020 Florida News South Florida has history of election screwups. Could Iowa chaos happen here? Florida has plenty of experience with election snafus — and the inevitable status as a national laughingstock that Iowa is now experiencing. It was hanging chads in the 2000 presidential election. In 2018 it was a misplaced box of ballots and a flawed ballot design in Broward and an election recount that dragged past Christmas in Palm Beach County. Despite the Sunshine State’s reputation for chaotic elections experts say the Iowa problems' can't happen here. That doesn’t guarantee that nothing will go wrong By Anthony Man Feb 4, 2020 Politics News Florida’s no-fault auto insurance on the chopping block again The House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee on Tuesday backed a measure (HB 771) that would replace a requirement that motorists carry personal-injury protection coverage — key to the no-fault system — with mandatory bodily injury coverage. By Jim Turner Feb 4, 2020 Politics News Florida Democrats blast Trump and their own party’s Iowa caucuses in advance of State of the Union U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Aventura, the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said it was long past the time to end Iowa’s early outsized role in picking presidential candidates. By Steven Lemongello and Anthony Man Feb 4, 2020 Education Mental health school absences sought for Florida students A bill passed by a Florida House panel would allow school districts to change their attendance policies to give students one mental-health day off each semester. It would count as an excused absence without needing a doctor’s note. By News Service of Florida Feb 4, 2020 News Florida senators approve tax break that could save rental-car giants Avis, Hertz and Enterprise $2 million each A group of Florida senators, including three from the Orlando area, agreed to give $2 million tax breaks to rental-car giants like Avis, Enterprise and Hertz. By Jason Garcia Feb 4, 2020 Advertisement Most read: Politics Florida’s no-fault auto insurance on the chopping block again Feb 4, 2020 Lake County Judge Group 2 - Judy A. Stewart Jul 24, 2016 Florida recount: Andrew Gillum won't concede, gains just 1 vote on Ron DeSantis Nov 15, 2018 Mural with Confederate flag is out, huge Florida-shaped piece wood is in at state Capitol Jan 15, 2020 Sen. Rick Scott becomes Trump point man on GOP health care policy Mar 30, 2019 must see Orange County Mug Shots UCF defeats Stanford at Spectrum Stadium Pictures: 1969's Woodstock music festival Pictures: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park Pictures: Disney's Animal Kingdom Wild Africa Trek Pictures: Veterans travel to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans Pictures: Orlando's new selfie warehouse Pictures: Orlando Sentinel Photography Showcase for July Pictures: Orlando's newest rides and attractions Pictures: New restaurants in Central Florida Pictures: Shawn Mendes at Amway Center National Mutt Day: Photos of Orlando adoptable mixed-breed dogs Pictures: Who's coming to Orlando in concert? Pictures: Key 2019 additions for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pictures: Key 2019 additions to Miami Dolphins Advertisement MORE POLITICS NEWS Business Park owners want to change Florida’s mobile home laws, making it easier to evict, advocates warn Decades-old protections for mobile-home owners could be upended under a series of proposals introduced this legislative session — and housing advocates warn they could result in more evictions for some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens. By Caroline Glenn Feb 4, 2020 Editorials Teach students English, but let them take tests in a language they understand | Editorial Florida makes kids take standardized tests in English, even if the kids don't speak English. Keep teaching students English, but the state should translate the tests so test results accurately reflect what kids know or don't know. By Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board Feb 4, 2020 Politics News Michael Bloomberg campaign launches anti-gun violence bus tour in Orlando, opens first Florida field office Bloomberg, the financial billionaire and former New York City mayor, had skipped the contentious Iowa Democratic caucuses and early primary states for a risky but potentially delegate-rich strategy of focusing on the larger states voting in March, including Florida. By Steven Lemongello Feb 3, 2020 Anti-LGBT schools receive Florida vouchers Marco Rubio criticizes banks for halting voucher contributions, says they’re seeking ‘wokeness points’ U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio criticized Fifth Third and Wells Fargo banks in a statement on Monday, saying the companies were seeking “'wokeness' points from the radical left” after they halted contributions to Florida’s largest voucher program unless the state prohibits private schools that receive the money from discriminating against LGBTQ students. By Annie Martin Feb 3, 2020 Florida News Proposed House budget refuels the fight over Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried’s gas pump stickers Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s office would have to replace stickers that display her smiling face on gas pumps by mid-September under a House budget proposal. A spokesman for House Speaker Jose Oliva said the House is taking the steps because Fried didn’t carry out the Legislature’s directive last year to replace the stickers. By Jim Turner Feb 3, 2020 Editorials DeSantis can run, but he shouldn’t hide from his Lev Parnas problem | Editorial Lev Parnas's role in the Trump impeachment has magnified the lingering questions about Parnas' dealings Florida politicians. Gov. Ron DeSantis has evaded the issue, but it's time for him to explain the relationship he had with the indicted fundraiser. By Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board Feb 3, 2020 Opinion How Congress voted: The Senate’s decision on calling impeachment witnesses Here's how Florida's senators voted on amendments to call witnesses and seek documents in President Trump's impeachment trial. By Mike Lafferty Feb 3, 2020 News Warren campaign opens second office in Florida, becomes 1st Dem candidate with office in Orlando The office had been in Elizabeth Warren's campaign plans since September, when officials announced its presence in Florida as part of its strategy vying for voters in the key battleground state. The campaign’s first state office opened in Miami last year. By Cristóbal Reyes Feb 1, 2020 Florida News Floridians won’t get to vote on an assault weapons ban in 2020 Florida voters won’t get to decide this year whether assault weapons should be banned. Supporters of the ban didn't collect enough signatures by the deadline to get the issue on the ballot. By Skyler Swisher Feb 1, 2020 Lake Sentinel Howey mayor, council member ask DeSantis to remove each other from office Feud between Howey-in-the-Hills mayor and council member has sent the town into turmoil. Now Mayor Martha MacFarlane and Town Council member Matt McGill are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove each other from office. By Martin E. Comas Jan 31, 2020 Columnist S...