Category Education
Despite legislative progress public school advocates can never rest easy
The school “choice” movement suffered a significant setback in the Florida Senate yesterday when the companion bill to HB 7099 was withdrawn by its sponsor Senator Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton). We have devoted much of our space in recent weeks to galvanizing progressive opinion against HB 7099. Much like the initial “A+ plan” pushed by Governor […]
Videos: Voucher supporters concede they are doing a run around the Constitution
In a video obtained by The Florida Squeeze, the CATO Institute’s Andrew Coulson concedes that voucher programs are potentially doing a run around serious constitutional questions both on the state and national level. AMCSC Clip2 from Nozo Media on Vimeo. In the following clip Coulson expounds upon his premise.
Committee Democrats close ranks and oppose voucher expansion
Today, Democratic members of the House Choice and Innovation Committee (aka the voucher committee) closed ranks and opposed the HR 7099 which would deliver the largest expansion of the voucher program in the state’s history. Both Reps. Shevrin Jones (D-Hollywood) and Randolph Bracy (D-Orlando) who had voted on the pro-voucher side of a much more […]
Videos: Voucher groups admitting to squeezing Democrats and using low-income children as the “face” of program for political purposes
HB 7099, the largest potential expansion to date of school vouchers in Florida will pass the House Choice and Innovation Committee today (aka the voucher committee). The Florida Squeeze obtained two videos where Florida pro-voucher leader Doug Tuthill, himself a one-time liberal Democrat talking about how political contributions and playing in Democratic primaries has moved […]
School “choice” advocates continue to pour money into Democratic campaigns
We’ve spent a lot of time the past week discussing the dangerous school “choice” proposals making their way through the legislature this session. As the deliberations about legislation that would destroy Florida’s public schools continue we have continued to explore the operation behind the proponents of vouchers. The Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory has exposed a […]
School “choice” – Charlie Crist needs to help Democrats hold the line
Yesterday, we discussed the need for Democrats to stay unified on the dangerous school voucher proposal making its way through the Florida House. With the potential of a few Democrats wavering on this fundamental issue, perhaps a statement by Charlie Crist would make all the difference. Multiple progressive activists throughout the state have told me […]
Rick Scott’s Tax Abatement: #itsnotworking
Rick Scott and his Republican allies in the legislature have given tax break after tax break to companies on the premise of bringing new jobs to the state. The companies that get tax breaks are usually the ones that contribute most to political campaigns or that hire the best connected lobbyists in the capital. The […]
Snyder’s Take: The Future Is Now
Don’t get it twisted. The ousting of Minority Leader Daryl Rouson and the subsequent election of Progressive Champion Mark Pafford to the same position is huge news. No. It’s a BFD. It proves what many of us have already known: the progressive movement in Florida is spreading statewide like a central Florida dry season brush […]
Zest of the Day: Low-income schools struggle under state’s grading system
From the Miami Herald.
Allen West Comeback?
Rick Scott recently said Allen West would be a good pick for Lieutenant Governor. Seriously. This news would be welcomed by the media, for which West is a treasure trove of memorable quotes. We all remember his comments about his colleagues being members of the Communist Party. And his never ending racist wind ups against […]
The Florida Squeeze 