Issues we care about

The Equality Act

The Manatee County Democratic Party supports the passage of the Equality Act. The Equality Act supports the rights of the LGBT community by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces, public funding and jury service.

The Democratic Party believes that every American should be treated with respect and dignity and should not be discriminated against because of who they are, or who they love. - Tracy Pratt, Chair, Manatee County Democratic Party

COVID-19 Relief Bill

Manatee County Democrats Chairwoman Tracy Pratt addresses the popular COVID-19 relief package Friday, 7 p.m., on ABC7. The bill will have a final vote in the U.S. House next week and is expected to go before President Biden in mid-March. The bill includes money for a national vaccination program, $1,400 relief checks for Americans, and expanded unemployment benefits

In the News - Local, State and National Issues

Vaccinations Benefitting Political Supporters

Democratic Florida Rep. Charlie Crist sent a letter to acting U.S. Attorney General Monty Wilkinson on Sunday, calling on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over allegations that the governor was selecting vaccine administration sites to benefit political supporters. https://thehill.com/.../539806-crist-calls-on-doj-to...

Vote By Mail Suppression

Democrats who register to vote by mail (VBM) are significantly more likely to participate in an election than those who decide to vote in person. So the GOP's response is the introduction of Senate Bill 90, which sets up roadblocks to make it more difficult to register to VBM. The Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will held a hearing on SB90, where it passed the first round in committee.

Contact the committee members TODAY by phone/email and tell them to VOTE NO on SB90. https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/EE?pref=full...

Police Reform

Time is running out. The Florida Legislative Black Caucus

is calling on Republicans in the Florida Senate and House of Representatives to schedule hearings on numerous police-reform bills. These reforms would “reimagine” law enforcement — not by defunding or dismantling it, but by raising training standards, tracking incidents of police violence, and banning dangerous practices such as chokeholds. https://www.floridaphoenix.com/.../black-lawmakers.../...

Concealed Weapons in Churches

February 14 marked the third anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings in Parkland. Seventeen people were killed. A Florida House subcommittee has advanced a bill (HB259) allowing concealed weapons in religious institutions, even if there is a school on the property. Contact Reps. Tommy Gregory (850-717-5073, tommy.gregory@myfloridahouse.gov), Michele Rayner, (850-717-5070, michele.rayner@myfloridahouse.gov) and Will Robinson (850-717-5071, will.robinson@myfloridahouse.gov) and tell them we need sensible gun laws. https://floridapolitics.com/.../402739-guns-in-churches...

GOP Script to Fight Democrats on COVID Relief Bill

Be prepared for Rep. Vern Buchanan to lash out at Democrats “for their votes preventing schools from opening, killing oil and gas jobs, and whatever socialist agenda item they come up with next.” It's all part of a script from the National Republican Congressional Committee to fight back at the Democrats for posing a COVID relief plan that includes money for a national vaccination program, investments for schools to reopen, relief checks of $1,400, and expanded unemployment benefits. Buchanan VOTED AGAINST the relief plan as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. So don't be surprised if his next step is to parrot this negative rhetoric. http://ow.ly/rw3b50DFYK9