http://spacecoastfreethought.org/newsletters.html

Bills in the Florida Legislature that would require ultrasounds prior to all abortions and that would allow (the Senate) or require (the House) public school teachers to present information critical of evolution failed to get approved before the end of the legislative term. The abortion bill failed when the Senate voted 20-20 (i.e., didn’t pass), and the academic freedom bill failed because the House and Senate couldn’t resolve the differences in their separate bills.

The Florida House last week added an amendment to the “Evolution Academic Freedom” bill that would require teachers to present a “critical analysis” of evolution. The previous language only allowed them to do that, which as bad enough because we all know that the “critical analysis” will be the flawed criticisms touted by “Intelligent Design” proponents. The bill would also prevent students from being penalized for advocating those flawed criticisms.

The House is expected to approve the bill on Monday (April 28), but the amendment requires that the Senate re-vote before it can be approved. The Senate narrowly approved the bill prior to the amendment (21-17), so this a good opportunity to influence your State Senators by contacting them on Monday to encourage them to strike this down.

You can find your Senator and his/her email from this map:

Florida Senator District Map

Brevard County State Senators:Senator Bill Posey, (850) 487-5053, posey.bill.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Mike Haridopolos, (850) 487-5056, haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov

UPDATE: The House has passed the amended bill. Now the Senate must vote on it. Not sure when that will happen.

http://spacecoastfreethought.org/newsletters.html

It contains details about Church-State legal issues affecting Brevard residents during the last month:

National

• Supreme Court to Consider Religious Monuments Case

Florida

• Amendment to Remove Prohibition of Government Religious Funding of Religion Approved for November Ballot
• Amendment to Allow Government Funding of Religious-based Public Services Fails
• “Evolution Academic Freedom” Bill Moving Through Florida Senate and House
• House Approves Bill That Would Require Ultrasounds Prior to All Abortions