I came home for weekend duty with the Navy Reserve. It's been a long few weeks, but especially given world events, it is always grounding to remember what got me into public service in the first place.
Speaking of coming together as a Nation... I can summerize the last two weeks as needlessly divisive . House Republicans cut $200 million from our local schools (and 11 other districts) for simply following CDC guidance during the peak of the Delta Wave last Fall, they followed it up with the one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation with NO exception for rape or incest. This week, they rammed through the "Don't Say Gay" bill and "Stop WOKE" act as an unmistakable attack on LGBTQ folks and persons of color.
One thing is painfully certain, this majority is doubling-down on partisan red-meat issues instead of working for ALL Floridians.
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Thankfully, I was well protected on the House Floor this week, Detective LaVigne was our Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Day!!!
After the tragedy a year ago when we lost her father on watch, she has never quit, and instead has been promoted TWICE now to the rank of Detective! Cathy was one proud Momma and it was such an honor to have them both.
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We did have a few big wins this week. First among them, I was PROUD to have helped pass HJR-1 off the House Floor today! HJR-1 will be a new $50k property tax exemption for military families, first responders, classroom teachers, and child welfare professionals. It's a HUGE new tax cut for folks very deserving of a well-earned break.
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Good News: Our robo call bill from last year is finally starting to have the desired affect! There's still a lot more work to do, but I'm working on it!
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Speaking of that, I offered an amendment on the House Republicans sham "Data Privacy" bill that would have prevented political campaigns, parties, and governments from sharing your contact information. The Republicans want to attack our small businesses with this requirement and I feel as though we should hold ourselves to at least the same standards that we require of business. It failed in a party-line vote... shocking.
I was also proud to stand against an attempt to eliminate Hillsborough Virtual School that so many of us relied on during the pandemic. On top of the $14m punitive cut to our schools, this elimination of a choice that thousands of our local kids rely on is incredibly concerning. ( Story [[link removed]] )
ICYMI: I'm now logging all these e-mails as blog posts on the website. Want to see what I've been working on that you may have missed? Check out the NEW News & Events Page! [[link removed]]
And I'll close with one word, along with the same word from all my colleagues:
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Andrew Learned
Candidate for Florida House (FL-59)
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