FLORIDA DIGEST April 23, 2008

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Sun-Sentinel
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-House pushes referendum on slashing property taxes 30%
The Florida House is poised today to approve a tax cut package that wouldslice an average property owner's bill in Broward and Palm Beach counties bymore than 30 percent, in a bid to place unprecedented restrictions on localtaxation.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/

-Housing expert sees S. Florida struggling in 2009
South Florida's tattered housing market is stumbling into the spring sellingseason, with any hope for a recovery still months away, experts say.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flzhousingbr0423sbapr23,0,7335741.story

-Broward County groups push their causes in Tallahassee
Service cuts in 'tight budget year' chief concern
TALLAHASSEE - It may be a little late in the legislative game to make aprofound impact, but Broward Days - the annual chance for Broward politicaland business leaders to mingle and connect with Tallahassee lawmakers andlobbyists - kicked off Tuesday in an upbeat and optimistic mood.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-flfbroward0423sbapr23,0,5117866.story


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Steve Rothaus
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/steve_rothaus/
Go to this link for the following articles:

-Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor Have a Gay Ol' Time
In town filming I Love You Phillip Morris, based on the true story of aTexan convict who fell in love with his celly, Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor andRodrigo Santoro were spotted doing some field research at Edison Farrow'sMartini Tuesdays party at Halo, the gay bar off Lincoln Road, where theywere hanging out at a table, drinking champagne (water for Carrey). SaidMcGregor, "Jim's character is a con artist and an escape artist, who escapesfrom prison to be with me. It's an incredible story." If you live here onSouth Beach that story is more typical than incredible, but we'll take it.
http://blogs.herald.com/scene_in_the_tropics/2008/04/jim-carrey-and.html


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The Aqua Foundation for Women presents the
2008 VIP Cocktail Receiption
At The Home of Olive Watson and Joanne Rover/Watson
7305 Belle Meade Island Drive, Miami, Fl 33138
Saturday, May 10
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS
De Palazzo
Heddy Pena
FOUNDERS AWARD
Carol Coombes
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER AWARD
Maria Pino
The AFW is 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote theequality, strength, health and visibility of South Florida lesbian, bisexualand transgender women. Monies raised from this event and the Foundation'ssignature weekend, Aqua Girl, as well as through individual and groupdonations, go directly towards educating, empowering and fostering thewomen's communities.
RSVP (800) 494.TIXS or online at www.boxofficetickets.com.
For more information, please call 305.576.AQUA
or visit www.aquagirl.org


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You are invited! Adriane Reesey
Democratic Candidate for
Broward County Supervisor of Elections
invites you to a Fundraiser
Saturday May 17, 2008
At the Long Key Nature Center Davie, Florida
Special guest VIP Janet Reno Former US Attorney General
VIP Social - $250 4:00pm - 4:30pm includes Reception
Reception only- $100 4:30pm - 6:30pm
RSVP's Only 954-594-3363
or www.votereesey2008.com


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In Celebration of National Poetry Month
Lavender Writes & the Broward County Library
Present: A Spring Poetry Extravaganza
Saturday, April 26 7 p.m.
Broward Main Library
100 S. Andrews Avenue, Bienes Center 6th Floor
Fort Lauderdale 954-357-7348
Lavender Writes provides service and support to lesbian and gay writers bysponsoring writing workshops, developing public forums for writers topresent their work and offering assistance with publication. Non-gay readersand audience members are also welcome to participate.


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From Mark LaFontaine for Florida State House District #92
For the full letter, contact rays.list@comcast.net

-Things are heating up in the race for the Florida Legislature from District92! Here's a quick summary of what's going on: Tops in fundraising -without lobbyists! Thanks to you, we're number one! When the amounts weretallied for the first quarter of the year, my campaign once again raisedmore than anyone else in this race. And here's the important part - we didit without taking lobbyist money! While my opponents are raising money fromlobbyists, my funding is coming from the community. That's a strong messagethat says who I'll owe my victory to - you, not the lobbyists. Even thoughwe're on top, we still need to keep on track to bring change to Tallahassee. We also have a growing roster of events coming up. The next one is abrunch hosted by Harve Brosten, which is this Sunday, April 27 at 11am.
Harve is opening his home in Palm-Aire to Mark's supporters. For more
information or to RSVP call (954) 651-3147.
http://marklafontaine.com/donate.html


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Fort Report
http://www.fortreport.com/
Go to the links for the following articles:

-Our position: A bill that pushes women to see sonogram before abortioninvades privacy
There is no relationship more deserving of privacy than that between apatient and her doctor.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed23208apr23,0,75769.story

-Amendment 2 erodes rights, protects no one
Same-sex marriage has been prohibited in Florida since the 1997 Defense ofMarriage Act was passed. Marriage is defined by law as the legal union ofone man and one woman only. A same-sex marriage performed in another stateor country is not recognized in Florida, period. Yet, the proponents of theso-called "Marriage Amendment," (Amendment 2) to the state constitution, andthe media, continue to refer to this amendment as a "gay marriage ban."
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/opnOPN61042308.htm

-School budget cuts 'the unraveling of public education'
DELAND -- A $24 million budget-cutting plan that would impact everythingfrom Volusia County public school classrooms to sports programs andadministrators' paychecks was released Tuesday, and there's more to come.
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01042308.htm

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