Awake The State: Drastic Cuts To Civil Rights Commission

Governor Rick Scott is proposing drastic budget cuts to Florida ’s only independent, state civil rights entity – the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR).

The Governor’s budget recommendations propose a 56% reduction in FCHR’s current staff (from 53 to 23 positions) and a 40% reduction in FCHR’s annual budget, which essentially leaves the agency unable to function!

The anti-discrimination laws governing our Commission protect Floridians based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, familial or marital status in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and state employee whistleblower retaliation. The FCHR leadership has spoken out on anti-LGBT hate crimes and bullying and Equality Florida is leading the effort to add sexual orientation and gender identity to these existing vital protections.

Reckless budget cuts such as these have sparked a statewide grassroots response called Awake the State.

Find out where an Awake the State Rally is happening in your community by clicking this link: Awake The State
http://tinyurl.com/awakethestate
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Below is information on the committee that will be voting on these cuts.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/BGA/

Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations

CHAIR: Senator Alan Hays (R)
VICE CHAIR: Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)
· Senator Larcenia J. Bullard (D)
· Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R)
· Senator Anthony C. "Tony" Hill, Sr. (D)
· Senator Dennis L. Jones, D.C. (R)
· Senator Jack Latvala (R)

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx…
House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee
Representatives:
Hooper, Ed (R)
Chair
Mayfield, Debbie (R)
Vice Chair
Gibbons, Joseph A. (D)
Democratic Ranking Member
Bovo, Jr., Esteban L. (R)

Campbell, Daphne D. (D)

Costello, Fredrick W. (R)

Gaetz, Matt (R)

Harrison, Shawn (R)

Julien, John Patrick (D)

Nelson, Bryan (R)

Nuñez, Jeanette M. (R)

O'Toole, H. Marlene (R)

Patronis, Jimmy (R)

Thurston, Jr., Perry E. (D)

Waldman, James W. (D)