Mac Bride Success in Florida Repeal-Attempt Beaten Back

Posted By: March 29, 2013

Washington, D.C. January 23, 2002 —

The attempt to repeal Mac Bride Principles- legislation in the State of Florida has been beaten back.”

I am happy to report that the Bill that would repeal Mac Bride has been withdrawn by its sponsor, Senator Debby P. Sanderson (Republican, Fort Lauderdale)”, said Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Capitol Hill -based Irish National Caucus, the group that initiated and launched the Mac Bride Principles in November 1984.

The Caucus also launched and lead the campaign to beat back the repeal-attempt in Florida. “I want to congratulate and thank Senator Sanderson”, said a grateful Fr. Mc Manus. ” When she realized it was wrong to be anti-Mac Bride, she had the grace and courage to admit her mistake and withdraw the offensive Bill. That is an impressive quality in a politician , and she deserves the respect and thanks of all Irish-Americans in the State of Florida”. The Florida Mac Bride law (S.121.153.F.S.)was passed in July 1988 and provides anti-discrimination restrictions on investments in institutions doing business in Northern Ireland. Senator Sanderson prefiled her repeal-Bill (Senate Bill 1160) on January 14, 2002 and withdrew it on January 22, 2002 — as announced in the official Florida Senate website ,which reports the status of Bills. Fr. Mc Manus concluded by saying: “This has helped to put us all on notice. If a repeal can be attempted in Florida , it can be attempted in any of the 18 States that have passed Mac Bride. We must be ever-vigilant”