rssPosts by Cooper Levey-Baker
Cooper Levey-Baker lives in Sarasota, Fla., and is the editor of The Florida Independent. When he does get the chance to write stories, they're usually about redistricting. Email him at cooper [at] floridaindependent [dot] com.
Court shoots down anti-Fair Districts appeal
A three-judge panel today denied an appeal filed by Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart and the Florida House in their quest to have one of Florida’s two Fair Districts amendments thrown out.
Live-blogging the Senate’s field hearing on new voting restrictions (Update: Hearing adjourned)
We’re live-blogging this afternoon’s U.S. Senate field hearing on the new voting restrictions approved by state legislatures around the country — including Florida’s — last year. Send me an email with any comments you’ve got, or hit us up on Twitter, and I’ll be sure to post them here. Keep hitting refresh to get the latest.
AUDIO: Listen to The Florida Independent’s Marcos Restrepo on Democracy Now!
The Florida Independent’s Marcos Restrepo appeared on Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez this morning to discuss the GOP presidential primary and the role immigration policy is playing in the race. Listen to the segment after the jump.
In Sarasota, Gingrich calls Obama a ‘Saul Alinsky radical,’ pledges to end Agenda 21 (Updated)
GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich accused President Obama of being a “Saul Alinsky radical” who works to “appease the Taliban” at a campaign rally held in a Sarasota airplane hangar today.
Dockery: State Senate’s redistricting maps ‘do not meet’ Fair Districts criteria
The redistricting maps approved by the Florida Senate on Tuesday “do not meet the criteria set forth by the Fair Districts amendments,” writes state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, in a new column explaining her decision to buck the party line and vote against the maps.
State Senate approves redistricting plan; Fair Districts supporters cry foul
The Florida Senate voted 34-6 yesterday to approve new congressional and state Senate district lines; opponents of the chamber’s maps were quick to argue that the new redistricting plans “do not comply” with the Fair Districts requirements approved by voters in 2010.
Occupy Tampa to celebrate anniversary by targeting for-profit university
According to a new press release, protesters affiliated with Occupy Tampa will today celebrate the movement’s three-month anniversary by marching on Argosy University, “operated by Education Management Corporation in which Goldman Sachs is a principal investor.”
Oral arguments in anti-Fair Districts appeal coming next Tuesday
The same day the Florida Legislature meets to kick off its 2012 session, lawyers for Reps. Corrine Brown and Mario Diaz-Balart and the state House will again argue their case against one of the two Fair Districts amendments approved by Florida voters in November 2010.
Gaetz: Charlotte County concerns prompted shift in Florida Senate’s District 13 map
The Florida Senate redistricting committee has released a revamped draft of how it proposes to redraw Florida’s congressional lines. The new map shows a big shift in the district of Rep. Vern Buchanan — a shift that came about because of urgings from Charlotte County residents to lump them in with other coastal residents, according to committee chairman Don Gaetz.
Broward Republicans say redistricting proposals for Allen West are unconstitutional
The Miami Herald today published an “open letter” from Broward County GOP chairman Richard DeNapoli to the Florida Legislature’s redistricting committees. In it, DeNapoli sharply criticizes state lawmakers’ proposals for how Rep. Allen West’s district should be redrawn, saying they doesn’t live up to the Fair Districts standards approved by Florida voters in November 2010.
