For all the talk of “market forces” and “parent power,” the school choice movement has a dark side. And it is currently on full display.

In the wake of an eye-opening investigation by the Orlando Sentinel, state school choice supporters have been forced to face the rank discrimination against LGBTQ students and parents at private, religious schools that receive state-funded scholarships.

The response has been fevered. Supporters, including state lawmakers and religious leaders, have attempted to throw up straw men labeling the Sentinel’s facts as attacks low-income children of color and religious freedom.

Attacks on our local governments! Thousands of education staff, teachers and Floridians fight back against the menace in our Capitol! Our democratic rights threatened by our elected officials! All this and more in Week 1 of the Florida AFL-CIO’s 2020 Legislative Update: The Return Of Terror!

01/20

A controversial bill affecting union membership cleared the first of its two committee stops Wednesday.

The bill (HB 1), sponsored by Tampa Bay Republican Rep. Jamie Grant, would require public employees who want to join a union to sign a membership authorization form and for employers to verify the employee’s intent before any union dues can be collected for membership purposes.

It would also require employees to reauthorize membership annually.