rssPosts by Ashley Lopez
Ashley Lopez lives in Miami, Fla. She covers reproductive rights and women's health issues for the Independent. She can be reached at ashley [at] floridaindependent [dot] com or on Twitter: @AshleyCalLopez.
Metz’s bill passes, despite dearth of evidence that ‘foreign law’ is entering Florida courts
A Florida House judiciary committee passed a bill today that would outlaw the use of “foreign law” in family court cases. The measure, and past incarnations of it, have been touted by right-wing activists as an attempt to “stop the spread of Sharia in Florida.”
School prayer bill passes another Florida House committee
A bill that would allow K-12 students to deliver “inspirational messages,” including prayers, during mandatory and non-mandatory school events was approved by a Florida House judiciary committee today.
Scott, Rubio, West invited to attend Values Voters Summit
Gov. Rick Scott, Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Allen West have been invited to attend this year’s Values Voters Summit — one of the biggest conservative and religious right summits in the country.
Planned Parenthood rallies as anti-abortion measures move through Legislature
With the final days of 2012′s legislative session drawing near, Planned Parenthood held a rally at the capitol yesterday to denounce a slew of anti-reproductive rights bills that have already made their way through committees in the Legislature this session.
House budget committee passes resurrected state employee drug testing bill
After debate over Fourth Amendment infringements, tight budgets and collective bargaining rights, a House budget committee today passed a bill allowing state agencies to randomly drug test their employees.
Scott backing renewed attempt to drug test state employees
A bill allowing state agencies to randomly drug test their employees, which was unexpectedly resurrected in the Florida House last week, has the support of Gov. Rick Scott.
CAIR speaks out against ‘foreign law’ bill up in House committee tomorrow
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is denouncing a bill that would regulate the “application of foreign law in certain cases,” set to be heard in a House committee meeting tomorrow. The group says the bill is anti-religion, and specifically anti-Islam.
Family Policy Council echoes objections to school prayer bill
The Florida Family Policy Council, one of the most influential anti-gay rights and anti-abortion groups in the state, is joining the chorus of opposition to a school prayer bill quickly making its way through the Florida Legislature.
Bill adding barrier to welfare, food stamps for drug felons passes third House committee
A bill that would require anyone with a drug-related felony conviction in his or her history to complete rehab before receiving cash assistance or food stamps from the state passed a third Florida House committee today.
Florida Catholic university sues feds over birth control mandate
Ave Maria University, a Catholic university in a town outside of Naples, is suing the federal government over a recent mandate requiring health insurers to cover contraception as a preventive service.
