Press Releases

After Months Of Pleas To "Stop The Cuts" Having Fallen On Deaf Ears In The Legislature, Advocates "Lend An Ear"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2009

Contact: Damien Filer 850-212-1858 damien@progressflorida.org

TALLAHASSEE – After months of unprecedented citizen engagement across the State of Florida, legislative leaders are poised to pass a budget that will have devastating consequences for Florida’s most vulnerable citizens – young and old.

“I have never seen such an outpouring of concern from everyday Floridians over what is being done to our state,” said longtime advocate Barbara DeVane. “And I have never seen a legislature so unwilling to listen to the pleas of Floridians to save our schools, protect our seniors and preserve our jobs and natural resources.”

Today, representatives from the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, Florida CHAIN, Florida PIRG, SEIU, Progress Florida and others delivered over-sized plastic ears to Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul along with the list below summarizing the activities of recent months aimed at letting the legislature know Floridians don’t want more cuts.

The purpose of the event was to send a message to legislative leaders to listen to the voice of Floridians who don’t want more budget cuts.

Progress Florida is a non-profit, statewide organization supporting progressive solutions for Florida. Visit us at www.ProgressFlorida.org.

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Florida Events Advocating More Revenue, Fewer Cuts in 2009 Legislative Session

January 27: Progress Florida launches the “Stop the Cuts” campaign urging Senate President Jeff Atwater to balance the budget with new revenues rather than cutting programs.

January 31: Education rally, 3,200 rally in Fort Pierce against budget cuts in St. Lucie.

February 11: 700 teachers protest budget cuts in Miami.

February 11: 150 gathered in Seminole County to protest budget cuts.

February 21: 1,500 rally in Fort Myers to protest budget cuts in Lee and Collier.

February 21: Hundreds rally in Orlando to protest Orange budget cuts.

February 23: 10,000 rally in Melbourne to protest Brevard budget cuts.

February 26: Hundreds rally against state school budget cuts in Fort Lauderdale.

February 27: Hundreds rally in St. Augustine against St. Johns budget cuts.

February 28: 6,000 rally at FEA’s Make Our Schools A Priority statewide rally in Orlando.

March 3: 1,000 faculty and students from Florida State and Florida A&M universities and Tallahassee Community College march to the Capitol to protest higher-education cuts.

March 3: 200 protest Escambia budget cuts at a rally in Pensacola.

March 3: Working with local leaders in Ocala/Marion County, Progress Florida launches Marions United For Public Education.

March 4: University of Florida students conduct a candlelight vigil against proposed budget cuts to undergrad programs.

March 7: Hundreds of people turn out in Orange Park to protest Clay budget cuts.

March 11: A delegation of long term care providers travel to Tallahassee to urge legislators to preserve funding for nursing home residents.

March 13: More than 100 teachers protest Clay budget cuts at a busy intersection in Keystone Heights.

March 17: 250 workers from every part of Florida (from Pensacola to Miami, from Jacksonville to Naples), rally on budget and revenue issues at Waller Park.

March 18: 2,000-3,000 people from throughout the state come to the Capitol for the PTA rally against education cuts.

March 18: Nearly 100 long term care providers travel to Tallahassee to urge legislators to preserve funding for nursing home residents.

March 19: Florida Alliance for Retired Americans event at Capitol with members from across the state, then meeting with Sen. Atwater.

March 23: Marions United for Public Education launches its “Save Our Schools” petition drive.

March 24: More than 1,000 Broward teachers rally for salary increases in Fort Lauderdale.

March 25: Nearly 100 long term care providers travel to Tallahassee to urge legislators to preserve funding for nursing home residents.

March 27: 200 people gathered under threatening skies in Orange Park for a rally against Clay budget cuts.

April 1: A delegation of long term care providers travel to Tallahassee to urge legislators to oppose Medicaid funding cuts to nursing home quality care.

April 2: Baker County Commission, City of Macclenny, rally against privatizing NE Florida State Hospital, 100 workers and community leaders.

April 6: Florida Health Care Association, AARP, SEIU and other advocates for nursing home residents and employees call on legislators to restore general revenue cuts.

April 7: Several hundred students and faculty rally against budget cuts at the University of Florida.

April 8: Dozens of Marions United for Public Education activists deliver over 600 “Save Our Schools” petitions directly to House Speaker Larry Cretul at his district office.

April 10: A delegation of long term care providers travel to Tallahassee to urge legislators to oppose Medicaid funding cuts to nursing home quality care.
April 14: more than 200 protest Indian River cuts at School Board meeting in Vero Beach.

April 15: Marions United activists deliver more than 800 petitions to Rep. Kurt Kelly’s office.

April 16: Baker County Commission, City of Macclenny rally against privatizing NE Florida State Hospital, 100 workers and community leaders.

April 20: More than 400 protest the possible closing of the Florida State University campus in Panama City.

April 21: 750 protest in Brooksville to save Hernando teacher jobs.

April 22: Marions United activists return to Speaker Cretul’s office, delivering more than 1,000 “Save Our Schools” petitions.

April 22: 200 protest in Inverness against cuts to Citrus schools.

April 22: A delegation from Alachua brings more than 7,000 letters in support of more funding.

April 22: 60 students protest budget cuts at the University of Florida.

April 23: Rally scheduled in Milton in support of Santa Rosa teachers.

April 24: Public employees rally against proposed pay cuts to state worker salaries, 50-100 workers from Jacksonville down to Stuart and Fort Pierce over to Chattahoochee and Marianna.

April 27: “Stop The Cuts” letter to Sen. Atwater signed by more than 7,500 Floridians delivered to Senate President’s office by Progress Florida.

April 30: Representatives from the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, Florida CHAIN, Florida PIRG, SEIU, Progress Florida and others visit Senate President and House Speaker’s office…