Newspaper Articles on Policy Issues
Immigration
Eid, T. A. (2017, January 14). Trump poised to reform America's failed immigration policies. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/14/trump-poised-to-reform-americas-failed-immigration-policies/
Abortion
McGinley, L., & Goldstein, A. (2017, January 23). Trump reverses abortion-related U.S. policy, bans funding to international health groups - The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/01/23/trump-reverses-abortion-related-policy-to-ban-funding-to-international-health-groups/
Tax
Shear, M., Appelbaum, B., & Rappeport, A. (2017, January 26). White House Sows Confusion About Plan for a 20% Import Tax - The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/us/politics/mexico-wall-tax-trump.html
Federal legislation
Newly Signed Federal Law
One of the bills that was recently passed by the House and the Senate and that therefore became law is the one that provides an exception to a limitation against the appointment of individual as Secretary of Defense within a period of seven years of relief from active duty (that is a regular commissioned officer of the armed forces). The official title of the law is:
H.R.393 - To provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces.
This law allows the individual who is appointed by the President as the Secretary of Defense immediately after it has been passed and who has finished at least 3 years after relief from active duty as a member of the armed forces to be eligible for that position. This bill was introduced by Senator John McCain of Arizona. It was specifically introduced in order to allow James Mattis, the person who President Donald Trump nominated as the Secretary of Defense to be eligible for the position. Mattis has only been out of active duty for 3 years and therefore, under the existing law, he would not have been eligible for this position. However, with the passage of the bill, he was exempted from this limitation and all that remained therefore was to be approved as the Secretary of Defense. The bill is testament to the fact that even the current laws (especially those that relate to the appointment of public officers) can be circumvented in order make even those persons who are not eligible or who do not qualify for those positions under current law to be eligible.
Legislative History
Newspaper Articles on State Policy Issues
Abortion
Iannelli, J. (2017, January 11). Florida Bill Would Ban Abortion After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Miami New Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/state-bill-would-ban-abortion-after-20-weeks-of-pregnancy-9053784
Immigration
Lemongello, S. (2017, January 17). Democratic legislators call on Rubio to oppose Trump immigration plans - Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27, 2017, from http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-state-lawmakers-marco-rubio-20170117-story.html
Tax
Sweeney, D. (2017, January 25). Gov. Rick Scott calls for $618 million in tax cuts at Fort Lauderdale stop - Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-scott-tax-cut-plan-20170125-story.html
Legislation from Current Session
Non-governmental Policy Advocacy organizations
Florida Immigration Coalition
Home Page- https://floridaimmigrant.org/
Americans For Immigrant Justice
Home Page- http://www.aijustice.org/
References
Eid, T. A. (2017, January 14). Trump poised to reform America's failed immigration policies. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/14/trump-poised-to-reform-americas-failed-immigration-policies/
Iannelli, J. (2017, January 11). Florida Bill Would Ban Abortion After 20 Weeks of Pregnancy | Miami New Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/state-bill-would-ban-abortion-after-20-weeks-of-pregnancy-9053784
Lemongello, S. (2017, January 17). Democratic legislators call on Rubio to oppose Trump immigration plans - Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 27, 2017, from http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-state-lawmakers-marco-rubio-20170117-story.html
McGinley, L., & Goldstein, A. (2017, January 23). Trump reverses abortion-related U.S. policy, bans funding to international health groups - The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/01/23/trump-reverses-abortion-related-policy-to-ban-funding-to-international-health-groups/
Shear, M., Appelbaum, B., & Rappeport, A. (2017, January 26). White House Sows Confusion About Plan for a 20% Import Tax - The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/us/politics/mexico-wall-tax-trump.html
Sweeney, D. (2017, January 25). Gov. Rick Scott calls for $618 million in tax cuts at Fort Lauderdale stop - Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 27, 2017, from http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-scott-tax-cut-plan-20170125-story.html
https://www.congress.gov
http://www.flsenate.gov
