Democrats call for more inclusivity on key issues like, housing, healthcare ahead of Florida’s legislative session

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While Florida lawmakers are getting ready to begin work in Tallahassee as the next legislative session gets underway on Tuesday, some are calling for all members to come together and work as a government and not just for individual political parties.

While this latest call is coming from Democratic groups, they said it’s an issue for all sides.

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Local Democrats are concerned about what’s going on in Tallahassee and the budget that’s going to be passed.

The group in Jacksonville was joined by others statewide to put out the word that this upcoming legislative session needs to be more inclusive and not divided on party lines.

They are concerned about new proposed laws that could affect healthcare, affordable housing, education, wages and retirement.

The group, Florida For All, is made up of individual community action groups like Florida Rising, Moms Demand Action and The Northside Coalition.

“Stop making it difficult for us to exercise our civic responsibilities. Let us come together across the party lines, it doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat, to address the issues that affect all of us as humans. It’s about our human rights. Let’s address those things,” said Kelly Frazier of the Northside Coalition.

Several laws will be taken up this session that the group said will divide the state. 

That has played out recently in Jacksonville with the removal of a Confederate monument and proposed state law that, if passed, would demand the return of it and all recently removed monuments.

There are also concerns over gun regulations that would allow rifles to be sold to 18-year-olds, instead of 21.

Florida For All said that would only add to local violence which they said played a part in the racist massacre at a Jacksonville Dollar General store last summer.

There will also be debates over housing, healthcare and education all with proposed legislative issues that are divisive on both sides.

“That is why we’re here. We’re asking them to work together across party lines to save lives and really address the real issues in Florida this session,” said Katie Hathaway with Moms Demand Action.

No one at the rally on Monday identified as a Republican, so News4JAX reached out to GOP leaders around the state, but they did not immediately respond.