rssPosts by Marcos Restrepo
Marcos Restrepo lives in Hollywood, Fla. He covers K-12 education, immigration, jobs and labor issues (including wage theft), HIV and AIDS, and the growing impact of Internet legislation on our daily lives. Email him at marcos [at] floridaindependent [dot] com.
Activists launch campaign against bill that would reduce tipped workers’ minimum wage
Fight for Florida has launched a new initiative to involve waiters and waitresses in a campaign to oppose a state Senate bill that would allow employers to pay tipped workers a lower minimum wage than what is currently authorized.
GOP wage theft bill to be debated in the House Wednesday
The House version of a GOP-sponsored bill that would prohibit Florida cities and counties from passing ordinances that crack down on wage theft, the practice of stiffing workers out of money they are owed, will appear Wednesday in a Judiciary committee session.
Scott, GOP legislators, business organizations to promote charter schools at Tallahassee rally
Business and political leaders will participate this Wednesday in the Florida Coalition of Public School Options’ second annual “School Choice Day” in Tallahassee, in a show of support for charter schools.
GOP wage theft bill amended, then stalled in Senate committee
A bill filed by state Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would prohibit Florida cities and counties from passing ordinances that crack down on wage theft, the practice of stiffing workers out of money they are owed, did not make it out of the Senate Judiciary committee Monday.
Scott’s office says governor hoping to operate AIDS Drug Assistance Program ‘more efficiently’
Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program waiting list increased to 949 people as of Thursday, according to the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (aka NASTAD).
Bill that would grant immigrant students in-state tuition dies in Senate committee
The Florida Senate Judiciary committee voted Thursday against a bill that would have allowed immigrant students who meet certain requirements to pay in-state tuition rates at Florida public colleges and universities.
Worker advocates want Senate to kill bill that prohibits local wage theft crackdowns
South Florida labor and worker’s rights organizations are mobilizing their members and calling on state senators to stop a GOP bill that would prohibit Florida cities and counties from passing ordinances that crack down on wage theft, the practice of stiffing workers out of money they are owed.
Activists call on Republicans to not support ‘anti-LGBT GOP presidential candidates’
The National Stonewall Democrats, the “national voice of LGBT Democrats” have launched a campaign urging gay and lesbian Republicans to not support “anti-LGBT GOP presidential candidates.”
Florida House education committee passes ‘Parent Empowerment’ bill
The Florida House education committee today passed the “Parent Empowerment in Education” bill filed by state Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami. The proposal would allow “parents of students assigned to certain underperforming public schools” to petition their school district to implement a “school turnaround option selected by parents.”
State Senate committee passes bill to reduce minimum wage for tipped workers
The state Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee passed a bill Thursday that would allow employers to pay tipped workers, waiters and waitresses, a lower minimum wage than what is currently authorized in Florida.
