Legislative Session Week 2, ICE out of Minnesota

Here's what you need to know this week:
 

Florida Legislative Session Week 2

Below are updates on bills of concern to working families that were brought up in the legislature this week.

SB 216/ HB191: A further attack on unemployment insurance

On Wednesday in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, Senators debated and heard testimony a bill purports to fight fraud in the state's unemployment insurance system. Florida already has the worst unemployment insurance system in the country, and this bill seeks to create further barriers to access to unemployed workers.

Unfortunately, the bill passed committee on party lines 9-5.

You can watch testimony from Florida AFL-CIO Director of Public Policy and Politics Dr. Rich Templin on the Florida Channel at the 39:37 mark.
 

Elimination of Property Insurance Joint Resolutions

Following Governor DeSantis's call for a legislature-initiated ballot referendum to eliminate property insurance, legislators filed several competing House Joint Resolutions. Friday morning in the House Ways & Means Committee, Rep. Miller (R) presented HJR 203 which if approved by voters in November would create an increase in the homestead exemption for non-school ad valorem taxes by $100,000 per year for ten years. Thus, in Year 1 a $1 million home would only be taxed at 90% of its value. In Year 10, a $1 million home would only be taxed for school district levies and no other ad valorem taxes.

These property taxes go to fund municipal services; therefore, these proposed cuts would leave cities and counties with a huge budget shortfall. The bill requires maintaining funding levels for law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders, meaning just the leftovers could go towards city/county-funded services and programs such as sanitation, affordable housing, after-school programs, public transportation, libraries, and parks.

Bill Sponsor Representative Monique Miller (R-33, Brevard)
 

Despite testimony from opponents including the Florida League of Cities, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers, and members of Florida AFL-CIO Working Families Lobby Corps, the bill successfully passed the Committee. With that vote, the bill has made its way through all its committee stops and is ready to go to the floor of the House.

Over in State Affairs another property tax bill, HJR 213, also passed. This bill will have to go through Ways & Means, and we'll be sure to get into the details on that one if and when it is placed on the agenda.

For regular updates on legislative session, union members can join our weekly All Hands on Deck Zoom calls Monday at 6pm HERE. Additionally, Seeking Rents by Jason Garcia is a great podcast and newsletter covering the Florida Legislature. You can subscribe for free here: https://jasongarcia.substack.com/

The Working Families Lobby Corps (WFLC) remains the most powerful, organized and effective tool to protect ourselves and support our movement. That’s why we need you in the fight. Contact your local union about sending you to Tallahassee, then, click the flyer below to register!

Minnesota Day of Truth and Freedom

Following the invasion of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis and the subsequent murder of Renee Good, faith leaders, community groups, and unions, announced the Friday, January 23 Day of Truth and Freedom. Some local unions have joined a call for "no school, no work, no shopping;" however, in a memo to state federation and CLC officers, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, "our labor movement is focused on encouraging visibility that does not put workers or their contracts at risk. Labor’s participation in the day is about standing up against the unconstitutional detention of innocent Minnesotans and the indiscriminate targeting of people of color, regardless of immigration status—not putting more workers at risk."

Shuler's memo provided the following ways unions can show support:

1.      Share the News: Distribute the Minnesota AFL-CIO Statement on your social media and to your local networks.

2.      Mutual Aid: Help with emergency legal funds and mutual aid for union members detained and sent to other states. Many find themselves without resources to return home even after proving their status. If you can contribute or have partners who might be interested, please send them here. We encourage you to send checks to avoid additional service fees.

3.      Solidarity Actions: On Friday, January 23, encourage members to wear blue and post photos using #MNAFLCIO. Other ways to show support include placing candles in windows, holding faith vigils or writing to Minnesota-based corporations.

4.      Contact Congress:Take action here to demand Congress hold ICE accountable to the law.

Plant City ACE Hardware Warehouse Workers File for Union Election

Wednesday, the United Food and Commercial Workers filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a union election representing 182 warehouse workers for Ace Hardware in Plant City. We will keep you updated on the results and any calls for solidarity.

That's all for this week! Check out our website at wcflc.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you'd like to receive this weekly via email, please subscribe here: bit.ly/WCFLC