Florida Politics

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Ron and Casey DeSantis were plotting a political dynasty in Florida. Then came a scandal

A year after his presidential ambitions collapsed, Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey can no longer lay claim to the future of the Republican Party. And in Florida, even their present is in jeopardy.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/27/politics/ron-casey-desantis-florida-scandal

‘DeSantis conservatives’ gather at Capitol to denounce Florida GOP House agenda

For the past month, something of a civil war has raged between Florida Republicans in Tallahassee.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/25/desantis-conservatives-gather-at-capitol-to-denounce-florida-gop-house-agenda/?

Teens need parental consent to get STI treatment, but not to work full-time, House votes

Although older teens could work unlimited hours, they wouldn’t be able to get treatment for sexually transmitted infections on their own under two bills the Florida House approved Friday.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/25/teens-need-parental-consent-to-get-sti-treatment-but-not-to-work-full-time-house-votes/?

ps:Exactly!!

Nobody wants your feeble prayers

Thoughts and prayers.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/04/28/nobody-wants-your-feeble-prayers/?

ps:Double that exactly!!!!!

Rollins College president speaks out against Trump higher-ed attacks

The president of Rollins College retires in June, and Grant Cornwell is using his last months in that role to speak out against President Donald Trump’s attacks on education.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/04/28/rollins-college-president-speaks-out-against-trump-higher-ed-attacks/?

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Poll of Florida Hispanic voters show majority hold negative view of President Trump’s first 100 days

A majority of Florida Hispanic voters believe the country is headed in the wrong direction and blame Donald Trump’s administration for that negative trajectory, according to a poll released on Monday.

https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/poll-of-florida-hispanic-voters-show-majority-hold-negative-view-of-president-trumps-first-100-days/?

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Florida lawmakers OK revamp of condo safety laws passed after deadly Surfside collapse

TALLAHASSEE — Saying they are responding to residents’ concerns about rising costs, the Florida Legislature on Wednesday signed off on proposed changes to condominium-safety laws passed after the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside that killed 98 people.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/04/30/florida-lawmakers-ok-revamp-of-condo-safety-laws-passed-after-deadly-surfside-collapse/?

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DeSantis creates school ‘liaisons’ to Hope Florida in Orange and Lake

Amid controversy over its finances, the embattled Hope Florida charity will expand into public schools, with two Central Florida school districts the first to take part, Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced this week.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/01/desantis-creates-school-liaisons-to-hope-florida-in-orange-and-lake/?

DeSantis pushes for feds to approve emergency management agency to house migrants

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants the Department of Homeland Security to grant the state’s emergency management agency authority to temporarily house immigrants detained for deportation.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/01/desantis-emergency-agency-housing-migrants/?

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DeSantis signs bill creating new hurdles for citizen ballot initiatives

TALLAHASSEE — Citizen petition drives are facing new regulations critics say are a “kill shot” to direct democracy that will make it nearly impossible for hot-button issues from abortion to marijuana legalization to make it on the ballot.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/02/lawmakers-ok-ballot-measure-changes-decried-as-subverting-direct-democracy/?

Can we afford the cost of cutting Head Start?

Childhood poverty doesn’t happen by accident – it is found at the intersection of poor public policy, generational poverty, and a lack of access to essential resources. 

https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/04/30/can-we-afford-the-cost-of-cutting-head-start/?

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Defiant Uthmeier says he won’t tell cops to stop arrests under suspended immigration law

Despite possibly facing contempt sanctions, Attorney General James Uthmeier won’t tell law enforcement to comply with a federal judge’s order suspending an immigration law that led to the arrest of a U.S. citizen.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/02/defiant-uthmeier-says-he-wont-tell-cops-to-stop-arrests-under-suspended-immigration-law/?

Florida Republicans are eating their own

And they’re not putting up with DeSantis’ games anymore.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/05/florida-republicans-are-eating-their-own/?

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Orlando commissioner Tony Ortiz switches from Republican to Democrat

Orlando city commissioner Tony Ortiz has switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, citing his disagreement with GOP positions on issues ranging from immigration to banning certain books in schools to dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/06/orlando-commissioner-tony-ortiz-switches-from-republican-to-democrat/?

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DeSantis threatens to veto sales tax cut

TALLAHASSEE — Potentially throwing a wrench into the budget process, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday threatened to veto a plan that would include lowering the state sales-tax rate as he continues to feud with House Speaker Daniel Perez.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/07/desantis-threatens-to-veto-sales-tax-cut/?

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DeSantis says he’ll sign bill to ban golf, hotels in Florida state parks

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he would sign a bill into law to prohibit doing exactly what his administration had proposed last year: building golf courses, hotels and other destructive amenities on state park land.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/07/desantis-says-hell-sign-bill-to-ban-golf-hotels-in-florida-state-parks/?

ps:Wow this guy is spinning!!!!!

Florida is full of expensive restoration projects. Conservation would be cheaper.

Before last week, I’d never heard of the frosted flatwoods salamander. Now that I have, I think it’s kind of cool. It’s a wiggly little amphibian with black-and-white stripes, sort of like if you crossed a zebra with one of those lizards that race across your porch.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/08/florida-is-full-of-expensive-restoration-projects-conservation-would-be-cheaper/?

DeSantis stands by AG James Uthmeier’s defiance of federal court order

Gov. Ron DeSantis is standing by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s open defiance of a federal court order requiring law enforcement agencies in Florida to halt immigration arrests under a new state immigration law.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/07/desantis-stands-by-ag-james-uthmeiers-defiance-of-federal-court-order/?

University of Florida names one presidential finalist, again

The University of Florida presidential search committee proposed a single finalist to fill the vacancy left by former President Ben Sasse: University of Michigan President Santa Ono. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/07/university-of-florida-names-one-presidential-finalist-again/?

Editorial: Go after invasive reptiles, not native bears

We have a suggestion for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission when it meets later this month: Take all the documents, web pages and press releases commission staff have prepared for a potential bear hunt later this year, and do a search-and-replace command that swaps the phrase “big invasive reptiles” for “black bears.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/08/editorial-go-after-invasive-reptiles-not-native-bears/?

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All eyes on Florida’s new statewide Medicaid managed-care bill

Some of Florida’s most vulnerable people who rely on Medicaid may wind up having their care flow through managed care organizations under a bill the Legislature passed this session.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/09/all-eyes-on-floridas-new-statewide-medicaid-managed-care-bill/?

The failed Florida election bill that angered voting rights and voting integrity advocates alike

An election bill requiring new Florida voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship failed to advance in the just-concluded regular legislative session, drawing sighs of relief from both voting-rights and voting-integrity groups, although for different reasons.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/08/the-failed-florida-election-bill-that-angered-voting-rights-and-voting-integrity-advocates-alike/?

Classroom locked-door law revisions target sheriffs’ concerns

Florida’s sheriffs asked for legislative clarification of a “clunky” 2024 school-safety law. Lawmakers responded, sending classroom door-locking revisions through both chambers.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/08/classroom-locked-door-law-revisions-target-sheriffs-concerns/?

Florida House, Senate budget deal ‘blown up’ by tax-cut concerns

TALLAHASSEE — The tentative budget deal Florida’s legislative leaders made last week has “blown up,” according to a memo from House Speaker Daniel Perez.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/09/florida-house-senate-budget-deal-blown-up-by-tax-cut-concerns/?

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Scott Maxwell: From homeless to hired. Orlando’s innovative hiring plan

Years ago, Calvin Thomas would escape the rigors of life by visiting Disney World —  but not the way most people do.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/09/orlando-hiring-homeless-first-step-maxwell/?

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Survey shows more Floridians support a property tax cut vs. sales tax

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continued his full-fledged campaign on Friday to get the Florida Legislature to back his idea of providing immediate targeted property tax relief this year to Floridians, and for lawmakers to jettison their proposed sales tax cut.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/09/survey-shows-more-floridians-support-a-property-tax-cut-vs-sales-tax/?

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Maxwell: Florida AG takes money from car dealers and does their bidding

A growing number of car buyers are cutting out the middleman and buying their cars directly from the manufacturers.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/13/uthmeier-florida-car-sales-scout-volkswagen-maxwell/?

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Floridians Pam Bondi, Marco Rubio at forefront of Trump’s controversies

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both joined President Trump’s cabinet promising to restore “integrity” to their offices. Nearly four months in, however, both prominent Floridians are neck deep in administration controversies.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/14/floridians-pam-bondi-marco-rubio-at-forefront-of-trumps-controversies/?

The floor is yours: House invites governor to pitch his property tax proposal to select committee

As House Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis continue to exchange barbs over taxes and the state’s budget breakdown, legislators charged with looking at property taxes challenged the governor to offer his ideas to them in person.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/13/the-floor-is-yours-house-invites-governor-to-pitch-his-property-tax-proposal-to-select-committee/?

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Rules for Florida proposed bear hunt: ‘It’s going to be a massacre’

Florida released proposed rules Wednesday for an annual hunt of the state’s largest land mammal, the black bear, but bear advocates quickly blasted those rules for favoring trophy hunters and said they could spark a massacre of the species.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/14/rules-for-florida-proposed-bear-hunt-its-going-to-be-a-massacre/?

Maxwell: Pam Bondi as ethics counselor for Qatar jet? What a farce

You may have heard that Donald Trump is interested in accepting a $400 million gift — an updated version of Air Force One that’s newer, fancier and more to the president’s liking — from the nation of Qatar.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/14/pam-bondi-donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-maxwell/?

ps:Where is the US AG? Oh that's right she said she works for trump and not for the best interest of the people of the USofA!!!!!

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Florida wildlife agency considers bringing back barbaric steel traps

Banned in Florida 53 years ago, they may now be okayed for public use despite their record of catching pets, rare panthers, even children.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/15/florida-wildlife-agency-considers-bringing-back-barbaric-steel-traps/?

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DeSantis signs a bill making Florida the 2nd state to ban fluoride from its water system

WEST PALM BEACH — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure Thursday prohibiting local governments from adding fluoride to their water systems, making it the second state in the country after Utah to implement a statewide ban on the mineral.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/15/desantis-signs-a-bill-making-florida-the-2nd-state-to-ban-fluoride-from-its-water-system/?

Florida could lose $1.6B annually in SNAP funds under GOP’s U.S. House budget

A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) report shows that Florida would likely lose at least $1.6 billion in federal dollars for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and advocates are sounding the alarm.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/15/florida-could-lose-1-6b-annually-in-snap-funds-under-gops-u-s-house-budget/?

ps:How sad is that?????

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Editorial: DeSantis-Perez tax-cut tiff obscures state budget’s real shortfalls

As of Friday, Florida is at T-plus five days on a budget for the coming fiscal year. And there are no signs that a spending plan will clear the launch pad any time soon.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/16/editorial-desantis-perez-tax-cut-tiff-obscures-state-budgets-real-shortfalls/?

Group that got $5 million from Hope Florida charity spent it without board knowing, chairman says

TALLAHASSEE — One of the nonprofits that received millions steered through a Hope Florida charity by the DeSantis administration took in and spent the money without the knowledge of its Board of Directors, the group’s chairman wrote Wednesday in a resignation letter.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/16/group-that-got-5-million-from-hope-florida-charity-spent-it-without-board-knowing-chairman-says/?

FAMU board picks a lobbyist with DeSantis ties as its next president

TALLAHASSEE — The board of Florida’s only public historically Black university has chosen a lobbyist with ties to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to be the school’s next president, alarming students, faculty and alumni who are outraged by the governor’s efforts to restrict the teaching of African American history and ban public colleges from using taxpayer money on diversity programs.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/16/board-of-floridas-only-public-hbcu-picks-a-lobbyist-with-ties-to-desantis-as-its-next-president/?

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Is killing Florida bears a good way to control them?

Following Florida’s first fatal bear attack this spring, there’s little argument that the state’s largest land mammal can be dangerous. But fierce debate persists over whether a good way to control bears is to kill them.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/18/is-killing-florida-bears-a-good-way-to-control-them/?

The pick to run Florida’s only public HBCU is an ally to top Florida Republicans

Florida’s only public historic Black university is turning to an ally of top Republicans to lead the institution despite an overwhelming outcry from alumni, who questioned the decision to pick someone with no ties to the school or higher education experience.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/16/the-pick-to-run-floridas-only-hbcu-is-an-ally-to-top-florida-republicans/?

Voters, this is how little the Florida Legislature thinks of you

You’ve heard of the U.S. Constitution, right? You can see one of the 1789 originals right there in the National Archives.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/19/voters-this-is-how-little-the-florida-legislature-thinks-of-you/?

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Hope Florida’s foster care claims ring hollow, child welfare groups say

TAMPA — Hope Florida helped more than 21,000 families referred to it by child protective investigators, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/20/hope-floridas-foster-care-claims-ring-hollow-child-welfare-groups-say-2/?

Maxwell: DeSantis in hot seat with Hope Florida probe and “Free Kill’ veto

Often in politics, it’s Republicans vs. Democrats. But right now in Florida, it’s Ron DeSantis vs. the world.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/20/maxwell-desantis-in-hot-seat-with-hope-florida-probe-and-free-kill-veto/?

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Maxwell: Don’t overtax Floridians while giving corporations a pass

This year’s legislative session was basically a political pu pu platter, offering a little bit of everything — political infighting, lobbyist-driven favoritism and a few good bills.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/22/maxwell-dont-overtax-floridians-while-giving-corporations-a-pass/?

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FAMU President, DeSantis’ Choice

Florida A&M University has weathered its share of storms, the most recent being a deeply embarrassing debacle when a Texas donor conned former FAMU President Larry Robinson and a close circle of school officials into believing that the hallowed institution was the recipient of a $237.75 million gift. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/23/famu-president-desantis-choice/?

Judge weighs blocking Florida ballot initiative law

TALLAHASSEE — “Fear and uncertainty” about a new law targeting the state’s ballot-initiative process has led to a significant drop in people working to collect signatures for 2026 ballot measures, groups challenging the law told a federal judge on Thursday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/23/judge-weighs-blocking-florida-ballot-initiative-law/?

Commentary: The lives of 1.4 million Floridians are in our senators’ hands — Don’t cut Medicaid

As president of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), I represent more than a million direct support professionals (DSPs) across the country — individuals who provide daily, hands-on support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/24/the-lives-of-1-4-million-floridians-are-in-our-senators-hands-opinion/?

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Feted as a Florida hero, anti-drug advocate now embroiled in Hope Florida controversy

TALLAHASSEE – Two months ago, anti-drug lobbyist Amy Ronshausen was feted at the Governor’s Mansion and praised by Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis as a “Florida Hero” for helping defeat a November ballot initiative to legalize marijuana.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/27/feted-as-a-florida-hero-anti-drug-advocate-now-embroiled-in-hope-florida-controversy/?

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In Tampa, Florida Democrats talk candidly about their problems and hopes for future success

Donald Trump’s victory in November had led the Democratic Party nationally to engage in some serious soul searching. In Florida, it was the second successive electoral blowout, and the conversations about how to cope with that reality are underway.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/27/in-tampa-discussion-florida-dems-talk-candidly-about-their-problems-and-hopes-for-future-success/?

An immigrant advocacy group is celebrating this bill DeSantis signed to curb legal services scams

Amid ongoing raids in Florida immigrant communities, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signed a bill Thursday creating an avenue for relief against people unlawfully providing immigration legal services.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/05/23/an-immigrant-advocacy-group-is-celebrating-this-bill-desantis-signed-to-curb-legal-services-scams/?

DeSantis signs bill to allow the formerly incarcerated to obtain credits for vocational licenses

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a measure (SB 472) that ensures that credits earned from prison-based classes count toward professional licensing, providing more opportunities for the formerly incarcerated to become self-sufficient.

https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/desantis-signs-bill-to-allow-the-formerly-incarcerated-to-obtain-credits-for-vocational-licenses/?

Florida disease-tracking chart returns: Measles, mpox, hepatitis surveillance now available

Disease-tracking information in Florida is available again, allowing residents to learn about outbreaks in their county once more.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/27/florida-disease-tracking-chart-returns-measles-mpox-hepititis-surveillance-now-available/?

In Florida property tax debate, use a ‘scalpel’ not a ‘chainsaw,’ officials argue

Property taxes are necessary to fund local governments and agencies but can be unfair to first-time homebuyers, a group of local Democrats argued Tuesday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/27/in-florida-property-tax-debate-use-a-scalpel-not-a-chainsaw-officials-argue/?

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Hope Florida Foundation paid woman who then posted video praising charity

TALLAHASSEE – The Hope Florida Foundation paid a Lakeland physical therapy assistant $588 in March. Days later, a social media video popped up of the woman praising how the organization tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis helped her out of poverty.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/05/28/hope-florida-foundation-paid-woman-who-then-posted-video-praising-charity/?