Florida Politics

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Advocates push heat relief for Central Florida’s most vulnerable

Many Central Floridians hid out from the scorching heat this week, but Vickie Evans, who is homeless, had no easy access to AC, shade or water.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/05/31/advocates-push-heat-relief-for-central-floridas-most-vulnerable/?

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Florida has paid vendor $50 million so far for stalled plan to import Canadian drugs

LAKELAND —  A cavernous warehouse owned by Life Science Logistics sits on an industrial street in Lakeland, built three years ago under a multimillion-dollar contract with the state to import and store prescription drugs from Canada.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/06/florida-has-paid-vendor-50-million-so-far-for-stalled-plan-to-import-canadian-drugs/?

3 moms sue Florida, saying state only helps parents who want books banned

Three Florida mothers sued the state Thursday, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights by providing help to parents who want books yanked from public schools but denying that same aid to them when they want to fight school book bans.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/06/3-moms-sue-florida-saying-state-only-helps-parents-who-want-books-banned/?

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Floridians outraged by shameful anti-worker heat law. Here’s how it happened | Commentary

I’ve written a lot of pieces about a lot of cruddy bills in Florida.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/11/floridians-outraged-by-shameful-anti-worker-heat-law-heres-how-it-happened-commentary/?

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Whistleblower accuses FDLE Commissioner, DeSantis of retaliation, wrongful termination

TALLAHASSEE –  A former top state law enforcement official claims he was forced to retire after questioning “unlawful directives” from Gov. Ron DeSantis, including requests to delay the release of public records, photograph and transport migrants out of state and arrest neo-Nazi demonstrators in Orlando.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/20/whistleblower-accuses-fdle-commissioner-desantis-of-retaliation-wrongful-termination/?

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Florida Supreme Court backs DeSantis regarding questions on ‘anti-riot’ law

The Florida Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday that the state’s “anti-riot” law, passed in 2021 which creates hasher penalties for protesters, does not apply to demonstrators who are present at a protest but don’t engage in violent or disorderly conduct.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/06/20/florida-supreme-court-backs-desantis-regarding-questions-on-anti-riot-law/?

ps:Of course they would!!

Survey of children’s wellbeing places Florida in the bottom half of states

Florida ranked 30th overall in the 2024 Kids Count Data Profile, a survey of wellbeing by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, with the biggest changes in math and reading scores and child deaths. 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/06/20/fl-students-math-proficiency-shows-8-drop-since-covid-19-pandemic/?

ps:Of course they are!!

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DeSantis tries to hide public records about migrant flights. Court says no | Commentary

This newspaper has uncovered scores of scandals through the years — everything from corruption at the expressway authority to criminal activity at Joel Greenberg’s trainwreck of a tax office.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/25/desantis-migrant-flights-hides-records-maxwell/?

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DeSantis vetoes bill to bolster warnings on bacteria at beaches, public waterways

Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed legislation that would have required health warnings about bacterial contamination and made it easier for swimmers, boaters and anyone else in or around the ocean and waterways to learn if there’s something dangerous in the water.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/06/29/desantis-vetoes-bill-to-improve-public-warnings-about-bacteria-contaminating-beaches-public-waterways/?

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Florida barred heat protection for workers, now Feds are stepping in

TALLAHASSEE — The Biden administration is moving forward with a proposal that would require heat protections for workers across the country, after Gov. Ron DeSantis this spring signed a controversial law barring Florida local governments from imposing such requirements on businesses.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/07/02/hot-topic-florida-barred-heat-protection-for-workers-now-feds-are-stepping-in/?

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Ron DeSantis Imposes $158 Fee on Disney World Guests

A new law imposed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis went into effect on Monday, and it impacts Walt Disney World Resort guests.

https://insidethemagic.net/2024/07/desantis-disney-world-red-light-camera-law-jc1/

ps:What another piece of work!!

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Satanists in Florida offer to fill school counselor roles after DeSantis law

( The Hill ) — Florida Satanists are volunteering to fill school counselor roles after Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a law allowing religious chaplains into public schools amid staffing shortages.

https://local.newsbreak.com/florida-state/3521269969071-satanists-in-florida-offer-to-fill-school-counselor-roles-after-desantis-law?

ps:Well this ought to be interesting??

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Florida officials urged not to pass up millions in food assistance again

TALLAHASSEE– State officials said they passed up millions of dollars in new federal food assistance money because they have more than enough programs to feed Florida’s hungry children this summer.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/07/08/florida-officials-urged-not-to-pass-up-millions-in-food-assistance-again/?

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Sex? Grandstanding? Arts leaders, experts examine why DeSantis cut funds — and prep for future

Could it be that simple? Was a cheekily titled piece of theater at the Tampa Fringe responsible for Gov. Ron DeSantis’s veto of $32 million in arts funding from the $116 billion 2024-25 state budget, affecting more than 600 organizations statewide and leaving all cultural grant programs unfunded for the first time ever?

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/07/08/ron-desantis-arts-budget-veto-reaction-florida/?

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Florida: The Who Cares State

Welcome to the Science-Free State of Florida, where facts are dismissed, obvious truths denied, and thinking discouraged.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/07/15/florida-the-who-cares-state/?

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Florida sits on federal EV money that could provide more chargers

Last week, lots of people were tee-heeing or tsk-tsking about the Florida Department of Transportation taking down the old “Welcome to Florida” signs (or “WTF” for short). The DOT then put up new state line signs saying, “Welcome to the Free State of Florida.”

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/07/18/florida-sits-on-federal-ev-money-that-could-provide-more-chargers/?

ps:"Instead, DOT sets up silly website criticizing Biden and defending gas guzzlers"

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Project 2025 is a bad bet for Florida’s future

The other day I was watching a campaign rally by the one reeeeally ooooold presidential candidate, and he was warning everyone about Project 2025.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/07/25/project-2025-is-a-bad-bet-for-floridas-future/?

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Florida poll: Trump ahead of Harris; abortion, marijuana amendments have enough support for passage

The amendment that would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution has enough support from voters to pass, a poll released Tuesday reports. So does a separate amendment that would legalize recreational marijuana for adults.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/07/30/florida-poll-trump-ahead-of-harris-abortion-marijuana-amendments-have-enough-support-for-passage/?

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Florida Democrats make last-ditch appeal to convince the state to seek federal summer food help

TALLAHASSEE — Florida House Democrats made a last-ditch effort to convince the DeSantis administration to sign up for $256 million in summer lunches for poor kids next year before Thursday’s deadline.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/14/florida-democrats-make-last-ditch-appeal-to-convince-the-state-to-seek-federal-summer-food-help/?

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Osceola schools considering new chaplain program, and the Satanic Temple wants in

Osceola County schools soon may allow religious chaplains to counsel their students, a move made possible by a new Florida law. But if they do, the Satanic Temple insists its ministers should be welcome on campuses, too.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/19/osceola-schools-considering-new-chaplain-program-and-the-satanic-temple-wants-in/?

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Conservatives are pushing ‘parental rights’ in Florida school board races Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “parental rights” campaign didn’t win him the Republican presidential nomination, but he’s still waging that fight on another front: Florida’s schools, where the movement could have an impact on public education long after he leaves office. Read more.

Why this matters: Though the seats are officially nonpartisan, DeSantis has endorsed 23 school board candidates across 14 counties this cycle — and targeted 14 incumbent members as part of his agenda to counter what he calls “woke” ideology in public schools. Much of the political debate in the races has hinged on “parents’ rights” at a time when both parties are fighting to win over the contested voting bloc of suburban women.   DeSantis built his national profile by leveraging culture wars, banning instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and limiting what Florida schools can teach about racism. He’s also embraced Moms for Liberty in their effort to flip school boards across the country.   Critics say there’s often a pattern when a conservative-leaning school board takes over — they go after the superintendent. After newly elected members took office in November 2022, superintendents in Brevard and three other counties were forced out — moves that critics say threw the districts into chaos and cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Related coverage ➤ Florida primary will set US Senate race but largely focus on state and local races  Schools have made slow progress on record absenteeism, with millions of kids still skipping class  Families face food insecurity in Republican-led states that turned down federal aid this summer

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Incumbents beat DeSantis-backed candidates in Florida school board races

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — School board candidates in Florida backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis were defeated Tuesday in several counties, results that opponents of the Republican say are a rebuke to his conservative education agenda.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-education-school-board-elections-parental-rights-desantis-9b04d5e108e538a6e0c8d53205be9d04?

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GOP supervisor of election incumbents speak out after defeating ‘election integrity’ candidates

A day after a group of Republican incumbent supervisors of elections held off primary challengers — many of whom disputed the 2020 presidential election and were running on “election integrity” platforms — several of them spoke out about what they and their offices have endured the past few years.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/21/gop-supervisor-of-election-incumbents-speak-out-after-defeating-election-integrity-candidates/?

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Editorial: Weird 2024 elections support killing Florida’s voter-excluding loophole

In dozens of Florida counties, as many as two-thirds of registered voters were shut out of decisions on the Tuesday primary ballot that could impact their governments for years to come. In those counties, voters’ party registration often spelled out the difference between a long and interesting ballot, and one that barely took up a third of a page.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/23/editorial-weird-2024-elections-support-killing-floridas-voter-excluding-loophole/?

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Golf courses in Florida state parks? Arnold Palmer killed this bad idea last time | Commentary

More than a decade ago, Florida lawmakers floated one of the worst ideas in this state’s long history of bad ideas. They wanted to grant one politically connected development company the exclusive rights to build golf courses and hotels in Florida’s award-winning park system.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/23/golf-courses-in-florida-state-parks-arnold-palmer-killed-this-bad-idea-last-time-commentary/?

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Editorial: DeSantis’ plan to desecrate parks deserves a hail of ‘hell no’

The Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park at Dania Beach, named for two civil rights heroes who fought for beach access for African Americans, is described by the state as “the last example of an undeveloped coastal ecosystem in Broward County.” If a state agency has its way, change that “last” to “lost.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/08/25/editorial-desantis-plan-to-desecrate-parks-deserves-a-hail-of-hell-no/?

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DeSantis’ plan to develop state parks faces setback as golf course backer pulls out

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Facing widespread opposition across the political spectrum, Gov. Ron DeSantis ' plan to develop state parks with business ventures — such as golf courses, pickleball courts and large hotels — has hit a snag after a key supporter pulled the plug.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-desantis-state-parks-golf-pickleball-development-9d03cd6981cad85f2f79e5fef7e2bdd7?

State definition of ‘religion’ too narrow, Satanic Temple says

The DeSantis administration, in encouraging introduction of religious chaplains into Florida’s public schools, has published a definition of “religion” that appears to exclude world faiths with millions of followers.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/08/27/state-definition-of-religion-too-narrow-satanic-temple-says/?

DEP public meetings on state park development plans have been postponed until next week

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has postponed meetings scheduled on Tuesday throughout the state for public comment on its controversial “Great Outdoors Initiative,” which originally called for adding three golf courses at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, plus pickleball, disc golf, and paddling facilities at eight other state parks.

https://floridaphoenix.com/briefs/dep-public-meetings-on-state-park-development-plans-have-been-postponed-until-next-week/?