NCJW LEADERS MEET IN FORT LAUDERDALE
 NCJW Greater Miami Section members (from left) Kathy Hurwitz, Fran Levey, Nancy Kaufman, CEO NCJW, Inc., Debbie Hoffman, NCJW National President, Robin Strauss, Laura Guren Rodriguez |
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STATE OF THE STATE
Valentine's Day is all about flowers, chocolates and pronouncements of enduring love. Not too much of that these days in the Florida Legislature! There are, however, several legislators who deserve large bouquets of roses for their courage to fight for a better, more just, more humane society. We will send them these figurative bouquets below, but first we need to remind some legislators that women need more than roses -- they need economic equality, they need health care, and they need respect!REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
HB 1411/SB 1722 OMNIBUS TRAP bill (Burton/Stargel)
- would mandate medically unnecessary regulations that have closed abortion providers across the country.
- many onerous anti-reproductive health regulations including requiring physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. The admitting privileges mandate is opposed by leading medical groups – it just puts another obstacle before women who make the personal decision to have a safe and legal abortion.
- threatens to defund Planned Parenthood even though more than 90 percent of what they do nationally is lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, and STD testing and treatment.
This week HB 1411 passed its final committee of reference, the Health & Human Services Committee and has moved to floor of the House. We will know on Monday if it is to receive Second (and maybe Third Reading) this week.
The Senate companion bill SB 1722 will be heard in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17.
 TAKE ACTION TODAY!
CALL the following senators on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and ask them to VOTE AGAINST SB 1722.
Chair Rene Garcia: (850) 487-5038
Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto: (850) 487-5030
Senator Garrett Richter: (850) 487-5023
Senator Denise Grimsley: (850) 487-5021
Message:
I am calling to OPPOSE SB 1722.. Politicians should not be interfering in women's personal health decisions. Vote NO on this bill
If you are in Tallahassee, please attend the the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on Wednesday, February 17th from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm in the Senate Office Building, Room 401.
SIGN the PETITION
The Pro-Choice coalition also has created a petition in opposition to this legislation. If it manages to reach the Governor’s office, the petition can demonstrate the large number of Floridians who oppose these attacks on women's reproductive health and rights.
Please sign the PETITION and forward it to others: https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=20297
FAMILY LAW
As I indicated last week, the Legislature seems determined to enact family law "reform", with as little discussion and opportunity for debate as possible. They seem totally unconcerned about the enormous impact this legislation could have on women, children and families. So where do things stand on this day of "flowers and love"?
HB 455 (Burton) "Alimony" - passed the only two committees of reference it had and may be on the floor of the House on WEDNESDAY, Feb.17 for Second Reading.
SB668 (Stargel) "Family Law" was not heard by the Judiciary Committee last week, but will be the first item on the agenda on TUESDAY, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. 110 Senate Office Building . It has two more committees of reference (but this can change). Senator Sotointends to introduce an amendment to require the establishment of a Task Force to study the socio-economic impact of alimony reform before the Legislature approves any changes.
CS/SB250 (Lee) "Parenting and Time Sharing" passed the Rules Committee and is on its way to the Senate floor to be heard on Second Reading on THURSDAY, Feb.18
These bills :
- involve a sweeping change in the way that alimony is calculated and modified. And, as the critics have argued, none of these proposed changes is based on economic or sociological impact studies. The numbers seem, as one analyst has written, to be "pulled out of the sky". The alimony provisions will end up impoverishing many women, particularly older women and those who were stay-at-home mothers.
- would radically change how child custody/ time-sharing would be determined in Florida. It would create a legal presumption of 50/50 time-sharing (different than custody). The presumption would inure to the benefit of all parents even if one of the parents was an alcoholic, abuser or drug dependent. Florida would be the only state with such a law. The presumption could only be overcome if the parent challenging the presumption enters into a legal fight.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
CALL the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and ask them to OPPOSE SB668.
(For their phone numbers, click on the name of the Senator and it will take you to his or her home page where the Tallahassee office phone number is listed)
Message:
- Please vote YES on Senator Soto's amendment to establish a Task Force to examine the potential impact of this legislation on women and children.
- If Senator Soto's amendment fails, please vote NO on SB 668. We shouldn't be experimenting with the safety and well-being of our children without really knowing what we are doing.
BOUQUETS
Some of our legislators from both parties, have demonstrated real courage in introducing legislation that will improve the lives of Floridians and create a more equal and just society. Others have fought against legislation that would result in Florida becoming a more dangerous and unequal place to live. They all deserve our thanks and bouquets!
An incomplete list of those we can consider our "Valentines":
Senator Abruzzo (D), for introducing SB 120, the Competitive Workforce Act which would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in the workplace, housing and public accommodation. His persistence resulted in this bill being heard for the first time in ten years and, although it failed on a tie vote (5-5), he energetically fought for it.
Senator Diaz de la Portilla (R) for refusing to agenda the Campus Carry and Open Carry bills on the Senate Judiciary Committee which he chairs. He listened to the people of Florida, a rare but welcome trait in Tallahassee.
Senator Joyner (D) & Rep. Berman (D) . They introduced SB 1116/HB947, which would create a pilot program to fund “Long Acting Reversible Contraception” or LARC for low income young women in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Modeled after a similar highly successful program launched six years ago in Colorado, the pilot program would set aside money to pay for free, long-term birth control such as IUDs and hormonal implants. A recent study of Colorado’s LARC results noted that in the first four years of the program, the teen birth rate declined 40 percent, and subsequent births dropped 53 percent. SB 1116 has now easily passed two Committees in the Senate.
Senator Latvala(R) & Rep. Kerner (D) for continuing to recognize the importance of legislative action to help identify and rescue victims of human trafficking. Although HB 469 seems to be stalled in the House, SB 818, will be heard in Fiscal Policy, its final committee in the Senate, on Thursday, February 18. Also kudos go to Rep. Kerner for his outspoken and effective opposition to the gun legislation this session.
Representatives Katie Edwards (D) & Clarke-Reed (D) for standing up for women's reproductive rights in the Health & Human Services Committee debate on HB1411, "Termination of Pregnancy".
A special Valentine to the five Republicans who voted against defunding Planned Parenthood in the House Budget: Representatives Tom Goodson, Shawn Harrison, Mike Miller, Rene Plascenia, Holly Raschein. Thank you for your courage!
FIND A BILL AND TRACK IT:
In the House: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/default.aspx
In the Senate: http://www.flsenate.gov/ |
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WASHINGTON WORD
WHY COURTS MATTER
NCJW issued the following statement last night:
"The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) sends condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Justice Antonin Scalia whose sudden death today shocked the country. Justice Scalia served our country for three decades on the US Supreme Court, playing an important role in landmark decisions impacting almost every aspect of our lives. We urge the US Senate to rise above partisan politics and act quickly to consider President Obama’s nominee to fill this crucial seat on the highest court. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time."
While one of the issues of the election was always going to be the importance of the courts and judicial appointments, this has now become the central issue of the upcoming election.
There is already heated debate about whether President Obama should appoint a new Supreme Court Justice quickly and request confirmation by the U.S. Senate or whether this appointment should be left to the new President elected in November. It is clear that the President has a constitutional obligation to appoint a successor to the Supreme Court and the Senate has a constitutional obligation to consider this appointment. But, given the political environment, it may take months -- if not a year -- before the Supreme Court has a full bench.
The death of Justice Scalia results in a Supreme Court of 8 justices, with all the potential implications that this can have for the important cases currently before the Court, including issues of affirmative action, union rights, voting rights, abortion, health care, immigration, among others. If the Court splits 4-4 on a case, the lower court decision stands. In some cases this would be a desirable result (Fisher v University of Texas at Austin) -- in others it would be much less favorable, (Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt). For a review of cases that have not yet been decided by the Court (and, in some cases, have not yet been heard), see http://cl.ly/00060a3i1E1l
Meanwhile, the issue of Senate confirmation for circuit courts of appeals and district courts remain. This week the Senate confirmed two more judicial nominees, both to district courts in Iowa — home state of Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Neither of them had to wait long to go through the process despite the fact that there were several other nominees in line that they skipped (from TN, NJ, MD, and NE) who have waited much longer.
On February 11, President Obama nominated Judge Abdul K. Kallon to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Kallon would be the first African-American judge to sit on this 11th Circuit Court of Appeals representing Alabama. Circuit court nominees are facing the most obstruction when it comes to moving through the confirmation process. Only two circuit court nominees have been confirmed in this Congress.
The current number of judicial vacancies:
- 1 Supreme Court vacancy
- 81 current vacancies, 31 of which are considered judicial emergencies
- 42 total current vacancies without a nominee
- 39 nominees pending in the Senate
In Florida, there are still five federal court vacancies with the only one person, Mary Barzee, nominated so far. She has waited 820 days for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The other four vacancies, one of which has been pending for 563 days, do not even have nominees.
Washington Institute 2016/March 13-15
The buzz is strong. This is going to be the best Washington Institute ever! Don’t miss NCJW’s premier public policy event with in-depth issue briefings from political leaders and policymakers along with specialized advocacy skills trainings and meetings on Capitol Hill. More information here.
Want to talk to our Senators about Judicial vacancies? This will be one of our issues this year -- come join us.
Featured speakers and awardees:
Senator Elizabeth Warren!!
Social Action Award: Roberta Kaplan and Edith Windsor, attorney and plantiff in landmark case U.S. v. Windsor
Plenary speaker: Mara Liasson, NPR National Political Correspondent
Plenary moderator: Jane Eisner, Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish Daily Forward
Visit ncjw.org/wi2016 to:
- Register yourself and/or others for the conference
- Reserve a room at the Omni Shoreham Hotel;
Not an NCJW member? No problem! If you are passionate about social justice issues, then the place to be from March 13-15 is at Washington Institute!
Contact Linda Geller-Schwartz lndgellerschwartz@gmail.com |
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FLORIDA SECTIONS NEWS
IF YOU WANT YOUR SECTION NEWS REPORTED AND UPDATED, PLEASE SEND IT TO ME!lndgellerschwartz@gmail.com
40 Florida NCJW Leaders had a very successful meeting with NCJW CEO Nancy Kaufman and President Debbie Hoffman in Fort Lauderdale on February 10, 2016 to discuss Strategic Directions for NCJW. It was great to get Sections together to share ideas for the future. The conclusion was that there are so many ways sections can cooperate, coordinate and learn from each other if we could establish the best mechanisms to achieve this. For more information contact Janet Solitt<janetsol@aol.com>
Palm Beach: Feb. 3rd held Lunch & Learn, "Separation of Religion and State: Ensuring religious freedom in America" Speaker: John Lynch, Americans for the Separation of Church and State. For more information, contact lndgellerschwartz@gmail.com
SE Atlantic Section: Jan 31, "Mimosas Munch & Mingle: March for the Hungry Kickoff", and Feb. 27th "Broadway in Boca" an exciting event at the Wick to see "Curtains", followed by gourmet dessert party. For more information contact amdavidson01@gmail.com
Sarasota-Manatee held a very successful "Women in Power" event honoring three prominent community leaders,Clare Segall, Hillary Steele, Felice Schulaner. Lisa Gadomski-Gonzalez, a Norma Cohen Scholarship Recipient, also spoke. This scholarship is awarded by NCJW to non-traditional students who have gone back to school to achieve an education in order to better their lives. For more information contact Lauren Brownstein, laurenbrownstein@ymail.com
Kendall The Human Trafficking Committee has been doing presentations in several local schools. The Section participated in a Human Trafficking Walk on January 29 and a meeting of Hadassah on Human Trafficking on Jan. 31. For further information contact kendallncjw@gmail.com.
Miami: participated in the National Day of Action for a $15 minimum wage on Nov. 10 at the Government Center in Miami. For more information about the section contact rstrausmd@yahoo.com
Tallahassee : January 26th - Legislative Cocktail Party for Tallahassee Institute participants, members and invitees. Senator Abruzzo addressed the group and Linda Geller-Schwartz, SPA, provided a legislative update.. For information contact Lanie Cohan laniecohan@yahoo.com
Valencia Shores: On Jan. 25 300 people attended a program on "Confronting Today's Anti-Semitism: What Can We Do About It?" with a panel from the Anti-Defamation League, Stand With Us and a local rabbi. They addressed the changing and increasingly sophisticated nature of anti-Semitism especially with the rise of ant-Zionism and offered suggestions for individuals and groups to confront the problem. In February the Section will hold a program on Jewish Genealogy and a Book and Author event featuring Fedora Horowitz, author of Jaffa Beach.. For further information, contact Ann Albersheim aaamike@yahoo.com
Deerfield Beach: On Feb. 17th at 1 pm. an event featuring Evelyn Shahin, on the "Middle East Perspective of Jews Living in Arab Countries". For further information, contact Barbara Silman, silmanbs@gmail.com 518-569-1021
Hollywood: Feb. 18th presentation on Sex Trafficking. For information contact: Millie YachterBestmaids712@gmail.com.
NCJW in the News:
Kendall NCJW in the News:
"Organizations Team Up with PTA/PTSA to bring Successful Symposium on Human Trafficking to Palmetto Bay Schools by Annette Katz"
Organizations Team Up with PTA/PTSA to bring Successful Symposium on Human Trafficking to Palmetto Bay Schools by Annette Katz
Over the holiday break there was a number of stories about the Hotline Legislation that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. For example
News Channel 5 West Palm Beach on the National Trafficking Hotline law:
http://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/human-trafficking-posters-become-law-on-january-1
A news report on the Jan 7th Event in Palm Beach County
http://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-palm-beach-post/20160108/281990376510054/TextView
CLICK ON FACEBOOK BUTTON BELOW AND FRIEND NCJW FLORIDA
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Mark you calendars!
Florida Legislature
2016 Session:January 12 - March 11, 2016
Washington Institute:March 13-15, 2016
"Women in Israel; What is at Stake" April 4, 2016, Shari Eshet, Director of NCJW Israel Office speaks at Wycliffe Country Club, Wellington, FL |
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