REACTIONS FROM AROUND FL TO THE END OF DOMA AND PROP 8

What people are saying about the Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage [Tampa Bay Times] “President Barack Obama: “I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law…U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson: “The Supreme Court said the Constitution prohibits discrimination of lawfully wedded same-sex couples. I support this decision.”…U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor: “Florida leaders should embrace this decision and address the outdated and discriminatory Article I; Section 27 of the Florida Constitution that bars many Florida married couples from equal rights and treatment even after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling today…U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings: “As we celebrate today’s news, I am reminded of the extraordinary progress that we have made in recent years to advance LGBT equality in this country…U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch: “As we applaud this historic victory for civil rights, we must also remember that the struggle for marriage equality continues…State Rep. Darryl Rouson: “This is a significant day for our nation. My hope is that one day Florida will join those states in recognizing the equality of all people to marry…State Rep. Janet Cruz: “I am thrilled that the Court’s actions recognize that all Americans are equal and that any adult regardless of whom they love has a right to be married…State Rep. Linda Stewart: “Any legislation that alienates a single class of people because of whom they are or who they love has no place in a country in which its founding promise has always been equality before the law…State Rep. Joe Saunders: “These rulings … prove the country is moving everyday toward full marriage equality and basic fairness for LGBT Americans…State Rep. Kionne McGhee: “Today’s overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act is a sweeping affirmation of same-sex marriage that deserves applause…State Rep. Alan Williams: “The ruling is a victory for Civil Rights…Allison Tant: “As Democrats, we are committed to full equality for every American. Today, the Supreme Court moved us further toward that goal.

SCOTT, RUBIO DECRY CIVIL RIGHTS VICTORY OF GLBT AMERICANS

Scott says he and state law support “traditional marriage” [Orlando Sentinel] “Gov. Rick Scott had a brief press availability this afternoon, primarily to allow him to react to theU.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Actthat defines marriage as between a man and a woman…Asked his owned views, Scott noted that he was married at 19. ‘I believe in traditional marriage,’ he said.”

Marco Rubio: Supreme Court mistaken on same-sex marriage [Sun Sentinel] “Marriage is best defined as “the union between one man and one woman,” U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio asserted on Wednesday, while accusing the Supreme Court of over-stepping its role by striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. ‘The sweeping language of today’s majority opinion is more troubling than the ruling itself, as it points to further interference by the Court in the years to come,’ the Florida Republican said…U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Democrat…took a far different view. ‘Today’s Supreme Court rulings mark a giant step forward for marriage equality,’ she said. ‘If we are truly a nation where the pursuit of happiness is for one and for all, then any person regardless of gender should be allowed to live in a committed relationship with the one they love. The Supreme Court rulings set us on this path, and there is more work to be done until there is equality in every state including Florida.'”

FL GLBT ACTIVISTS NOW TURN FOCUS TO REPEALING FL BAN

Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage rulings heighten focus on Florida ban [Palm Beach Post] “The U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings Wednesday expanding gay rights brought a swift reaction in Florida, with some saying the decisions now turn the focus on Tallahassee and the state’s own 2008 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. ‘As Democrats, we are committed to full equality for every American,’ said Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant. ‘Today, the Supreme Court moved us further toward that goal. All married couples will now enjoy the federal benefits and protections they have been wrongfully denied for years.’ She added, ‘There is still a long road ahead before we achieve full equality for GLBT Americans, and here in Florida we stand committed to continue this fight.’ A gay rights advocacy organization, Equality Florida, last week unveiled a statewide campaign called ‘Get Engaged,’ ultimately aimed at ending the state’s constitutional prohibition against same-sex marriage.”

SENATOR NELSON: IF GOV. SCOTT WERE SERIOUS ABOUT JOB CREATION HE WOULD CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE 

Nelson keeping pressure on Scott to call special session on Medicaid [Sarasota Herald Tribune] “U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is trying to keep the political pressure on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to call a special session to expand Medicaid to 1 million low income people. Nelson, a Democrat, has sent yet another email to Scott warning that the state could lose almost 122,000 jobs over the next ten years if the Legislature isn’t called back into session to expand the program as part of the Affordable Care Act by January. ‘Earlier this month you traveled to Paris for an air show and while there announced a French firm would move to Florida over the next several years and create 40 jobs in our state. I congratulate you,’ Nelson says in the email to Scott. ‘But, if you were to call a special session of the Legislature and urge state lawmakers to listen to the people and business leaders of Florida, the expansion of Medicaid alone could create 3,000 times that many jobs.'”

AFTER TORPEDOING FARM BILL, CONGRESSMAN SOUTHERLAND IS ON THE DEFENSE

Southerland on defense over farm bill [Tampa Bay Times] “U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland signalled how worried he was over his roll in killing the farm bill last week when he hastily turned to friends including Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and the Florida Farm Bureau to vouch for the Panama City Republican’s strong support for agriculture interests in Florida. But it won’t stop Democrats from bludgeoning Southerland with the farm bill, which died after he introduced a controversial amendment to allow states to increase work requirements for food stamp recipients. ‘It was a partisan poison pill, the last amendment of the day. And it was enough to kill the measure,’ said Time magazine. Today the Florida Democratic party hosted a conference call with Democratic Jackson County Commissioner Jeremy Branch, a food safety consultant, who accused Southerland of being more interested in pleasing tea party activists than looking out for his own district.”

THE WORLDS SMALLEST VIOLIN PLAYING THE WORLDS SADDEST SONG…

Rubio says tea party criticism ‘Has been a real trial for me’ [Tampa Bay Times] “Sen. Marco Rubio, increasingly battered by conservatives over his role in the immigration bill, both coddled and pushed back against his critics in a speech today. ‘To hear the worry, anxiety and growing anger in the voices of so many people who helped me get elected to the Senate, who I agree with on virtually every other issue, has been a real trial for me,’ the Florida Republican said.”