Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging them to oppose any Democratic resistance to President Donald Trump (R) and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. The goal of the initiative is to cut waste and abuse in the federal government.

The letter, which comes as the government funding deadline quickly approaches, was sent alongside a multitude of Sen. Scott's colleagues in the Republican Conference of both chambers. It begins by providing a rationale to defend DOGE and its goals.

"President Trump campaigned on a promise to the American people to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and his resounding victory last November confirms he has been given a mandate by our constituents to make good on that promise," began Sen. Scott and his colleagues. "His clear message that taxpayers deserve to know not only how their money is being spent, but also that it is being spent responsibly, resonated with voters."

Later in the letter, Scott and his cohorts shared that they are "deeply concerned" with the prospect of Democrats maintaining the "unsustainable status quo" related to DOGE's government spending efforts with the deadline less than two weeks away.

"Rather than negotiating in good faith to find a solution that keeps the government open, we understand that Democrats are insisting that any government funding deal include policy provisions that would tie the hands of the President and prohibit DOGE from continuing their efforts to promote transparency and accountability in government spending," the Republicans wrote. "It has become clear that many Congressional Democrats would prefer a government shutdown rather than even attempt to rein in bloated federal bureaucracies."

The Republicans then told their party leadership that they would not support a funding package that would "be weaponized against President Trump" and that they should reject any effort aimed at diminishing DOGE.

They concluded their correspondence by saying the United States of America cannot allow the left side of the aisle to interfere with Trump and Musk's initiative.

"A bloated federal bureaucracy and unsupervised, unaccountable federal spending have contributed to the existential fiscal threat our country faces, with a $36 trillion national debt growing because of perennial budget deficits. Our country cannot afford to allow Democrats to frustrate President Trump’s work to rein in government spending and bring needed and long-overdue accountability to Washington. We look forward to working with you to resist these attempts, and ensure that the President can continue to deliver on his mandate," the letter concludes.

Senator Scott and Representative Andy Harris (R-MD) were joined by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Mike Lee (R-UT), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), along with Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Brandon Gill (R-TX), Mark Harris (R-NC), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL) and Ralph Norman (R-SC).

The post Scott, Colleagues Urge GOP Leadership to Support DOGE appeared first on The Floridian.

While lambasting the Covid vaccine on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned how effective flu shots are and whether physicians push them in return for compensation.

His comments came at a Tampa press conference to pressure lawmakers to permanently ban the Covid vaccine mandates he signed in 2021. DeSantis' opposition to the Covid vaccine, however, segued him into another pushed-for vaccine: the flu shot.

"That's a whole other thing, this flu shot—how effective that is...It doesn't exactly have a stellar record with efficacy," he said, before asking Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo to look into how physicians are being compensated by pharmaceutical companies.

"The question is why is this stuff being pushed on the society? Because people make money off of it! That's why it's being pushed, I think we all know that," DeSantis added.

Getting a flu vaccine every year is highly recommended by various health agencies, including the Center for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic. Because flu season usually runs from October to May, and because it's a mercurial virus subject to frequent changes, the vaccine is usually available around September.

The CDC estimated that the flu vaccination prevented 6 million flu-related illnesses in the U.S. in the 2022-2023 flu season, 2.9 million medical visits, 65,000 hospitalizations, and 3,700 deaths. Since 2010, the vaccine has averaged a 38% effectiveness rate.

DeSantis's vaccine skepticism is heavily reflected in the views of Surgeon General Ladapo, who has been a vocal anti-vaccine advocate and strongly aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.

Florida opponents have accused Ladapo's direction of leading to an increase in cured diseases, such as Measles, which had a small outbreak in Broward and Orange Counties last year. Earlier this week, a Miami high school student came down with the highly infectious disease.

The post DeSantis Questions Efficacy, Payments of Flu Shot: Not a 'Stellar Record' appeared first on The Floridian.

Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) announced the filing of HB 983, a legislation designed to reform Florida's Homeowners Association (HOA) by enhancing enforcement, improving transparency, and empowering residents with stronger rights.

"As Florida continues to grow, it is critical that our HOA system is fair, transparent, and accessible to all residents," Porra said in a press release. "HB 983 introduces key reforms that address persistent challenges in HOA governance, ensuring that homeowners are protected from unfair practices and have a greater say in the communities they call home."

Juan Carlos Porras added HB 983 seeks to "ensure that HOAs operate accountable while providing homeowners with the necessary tools to protect their interests."

The bill would authorize local law enforcement agencies to investigate, audit, and inspect HOAs within their jurisdictions. The release noted this would provide oversight to enforce compliance under state law.

Furthermore, HB 983 would reform the recall process by adjusting voting regulations and quorum requirements, thus preventing board members from stalling or obstructing recalls.

In his statement, Porras mentioned the bill's introduction of "One Way Attorney's Fees", a provision that allows homeowners to recuperate legal costs after winning lawsuits against their HOA, which he says will decrease the financial burden on residents seeking legal recourse.

The release said HOAs have been poorly run because of financial mismanagement, fraudulent activity, lack of transparency, and obstruction of homeowner rights, thus adding more stress for residents.

On those points, HB 983 would increase transparency by requiring prospective homebuyers to receive significant HOA documentation and records before finalizing a property, which it says will guarantee the prospective homebuyer understands their obligation before purchasing.

The bill specifies it strengthens Florida Statute 720, which requires legal protections for homeowners and guarantees that HOA laws are honored.

"HB 983 will require more transparency for prospective homebuyers, grants enforcement authority to local law enforcement, and completely reforms the recall process among many other critical reforms," Porras added on X. "This bill is reflective of the momentum behind HOA reform here in Florida and I am honored to continue tackling the issue!"

If passed, HB 983 would take effect on July 1.

The post Rep. Porras Announces Filing of Bill Strengthening HOA Regulations appeared first on The Floridian.

Sen. Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) and Rep. Hillary Cassel (R-Dania Beach) recently filed bills to show Florida's support for the Jewish State by expanding the state's existing anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) law.

Tom Leek and Hillary Cassel, under SB 1678/HB 1519, would enhance the state's policy against opponents who participate in boycotts against Israel.

Florida's BDS law currently covers commercial boycotts. If passed, the legislation would also include academic institutions and non-profit organizations that participate in boycotts against the Jewish State.

In addition, the bill would ban state financial interactions with groups that boycott Israel or participate in antisemitic discrimination or behavior. The law would also apply to political subdivisions fomenting Jewish hate.

The bill would also require grant applications to comply with the state's anti-discrimination laws and attest against participation in boycotts or antisemitic behavior against Israel. It adds that violators would be subject to penalties and repayment of funds.

The bill comes after Cassel switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in December over, in part, her former party's lack of support for the Jewish State.

"As a mother, I want to help build a world where our children are judged on their character and their actions not on their labels," Cassel said at the time.  "As a proud Jewish woman, I have been increasingly troubled by the Democratic Party’s failure to unequivocally support Israel and its willingness to tolerate extreme progressive voices that justify or condone acts of terrorism."

Another Florida lawmaker, Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne), has been at the forefront of legislation against anti-Jewish bigotry, especially after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

"We need to immediately expel any non-Americans who are or have advocated for Muslim terror as a first step," he told The Floridian in a text message. "We need to investigate and prosecute organizations on college campuses—includ[ing] those administrators and faculty that support them—and outside them that promote Muslim terror. 

If approved, the legislation would take effect July 1.

The post Leek, Cassel Push Strengthening Anti-BDS Law in Support of Israel appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida Chief Financial Officer and Congressional District 1 Republican congressional nominee Jimmy Patronis (R-FL) spoke to The Floridian regarding the persistent antics of House Democrats during President Donald Trump's Address to the Joint Session of Congress last night. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-FL) also called out his fellow Democrats over their behavior.

For context, one of President Trump's special guests for his address to Congress included a young boy who has battled brain cancer but has dreamed of serving in law enforcement. During the speech, Trump declared him an honorary United States Secret Service agent, bringing forth thunderous applause.

You can view the moment below:

13-year-old D.J. Daniel was diagnosed with brain cancer and given five months to live — and that was six years ago.

Since then, D.J. and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true — and tonight, President Trump made him an honorary member of the Secret Service. pic.twitter.com/9FuDCUIfos

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2025

This sparked little to no reaction from House Democrats, as it seemed planned that they were not going to clap for anything in Trump's speech. He even called them out for it, too.

However, CFO Patronis shared his thoughts on the issue with The Floridian.

WATCH: Florida CFO @JimmyPatronis TORCHES Democrats' reaction to last night's Presidental Speech. The Floridian asked, and he didn’t hold back.

"The #Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real thing."
"Transparency's the best disinfectant."#flpol via- @JavManjarres -… pic.twitter.com/cz5DcKdImh

— The Floridian (@Floridianpress) March 5, 2025

"You know, it's unfortunate," Patronis began. "I think when you look at a young man who's fighting cancer who was given an honorary Secret Service status, or the young man who was given his notice that he was going to be accepted into the Naval Academy (Patronis meant West Point)."

The congressional hopeful continued, sharing that a lot of the stories President Trump highlighted should be celebrated in a bipartisan fashion, not along party lines.

"Those are achievements we should be excited about as a nation, not a partisan fight. You know, the Trump derangement syndrome is a real thing, and the Democrats are just eaten up with it," said Patronis. "Unfortunately, how they stand and accept the type of expenditure that this previous administration was doing is unacceptable, but I'm glad it seemed right like again like I said, transparency is the best disinfectant."

Moreover, State Sen. Pizzo shared his displeasure with the Democrats who refused to stand up for the child with brain cancer.

To @TheDemocrats in Congress, who couldn’t stand to applaud a 13-year-old boy who survived brain cancer, shame on you.

— Sen. Jason Pizzo (@senpizzo) March 5, 2025

To the Democrats in Congress, who couldn’t stand to applaud a 13-year-old boy who survived brain cancer, shame on you.

The post Patronis, Pizzo Scathe U.S. House Democrats for Antics During Trump's Address appeared first on The Floridian.

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Legislature kicked off the 2025 Legislative Session, but the talk of the town was First Lady Casey DeSantis’s probable 2026 gubernatorial run and a running Black List of Republican lawmakers that the DeSantis’s embrace.

From rumors of reality, Mrs. DeSantis is expected to announce her run for Governor in the coming weeks, and while the DeSantis’s enjoy widespread name identification, not all Republicans want to see a third DeSantis term.

The one Republican lawmaker that is at the very top of the DeSantis ‘Black List’ is State Senator Randy Fine, who recinded his endorsement of Gov. DeSantis during the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary race.

According to Sen. Fine, who walked out of the House chamber moments before DeSantis appeared to deliver his address,  a “black list” exists that extends further than just the Governor’s Mansion.

“Of course, there is a black list. It’s a blacklist that involves the Governor’s mansion, it involves events in your distric—there is absolutely a blacklist,” said Sen. Fine in an interview with The Floridian.

Fine contends that DeSantis claims that DeSantis did not invite him to a Hanukkah party at the Mansion in 2023.

“I am the only Jewish Republican,” said Fine. “Last year, he didn’t do one at all. I guess not running for office, you don’t have to do anything for Jews, but previous year he had a Hannukah party and he didn’t invite me.”

Fine concluded by opining about a potential Mrs. DeSantis gubernatorial run, saying that  Republican voters would not vote for a third DeSantis term in office.

“I don’t think there is a path. I don’t think Republican voters go for the nepotism thing, or the third term. We are the term limit party. I don’t think it sells,” he concluded.

The post DeSantis Accused of Black Listing Republican Lawmakers From Governor's Mansion appeared first on The Floridian.

TALLAHASSEE—Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo issued a rebuttal Monday to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' State of the State Address where he bluntly laid out his concerns on the direction of the state, including its hardline focus on social issues and misteps on illegal immigration.

However, Sen.Pizzo, considered a moderate Democrat, didn't exactly come to his party's defense for its lack of offense over Gov. DeSantis' grip on the Florida GOP since he assumed office in 2019.

It also could be another signal that his run for governor is starting to gain more validity.

"No Republican, certainly no serious Democrat, sought to expand any of the policies or positions Republicans claimed were so rampant and so necessary to defeat," Pizzo said in his speech. "I have never pushed to install or even expand CRT [Critical Race Theory], ESG [Environmental, Social and Governance], DEI [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion] or wokeism. For none of these will lower your property insurance, your rent, nor will they result in your kids' GPAs getting higher, or their test scores going higher."

Sen. Pizzo expressed that the state Republican platform for years was to "be bold" by championing issues of economic opportunity, protecting Florida's environment, improving education, and defending the safety of its communities.

He instead argued that was nothing of the sort, and contended the governor's reign has had a "crippling effect" on the executive branch.

Pizzo also wondered, despite its abundance of problems, how Florida Republicans have held legislative and executive control for decades in the state while seizing on mundane issues instead of tackling its real problems.

For context, Republicans have held the governorship and legislative control in Florida since 1999. The last time Florida had a Democratic governor was Buddy MacKay, and that was for 24 days after Democratic Governor Lawton Chiles died unexpectedly in 1998.

Pizzo argued Florida's more pressing problems were "failing infrastructure, plummeting test scores, spikes in homeowners insurance and housing costs." He also mentioned the Florida National Guard being called in to fill critical staffing shortages at state prisons.

The 48-year-old is a former state prosecutor and pragmatic thinker on public safety.

"The only rankings we've held steady on during the last six years are nearing the bottom in law enforcement salaries and near the top in insurance premiums and human trafficking," Pizzo said.

Pizzo also addressed recent Republican infighting on illegal immigration, which eventually culminated in DeSantis signing a package of anti-illegal immigration measures into law earlier this month.

Pizzo argued his strong policy against illegal immigration was the rightful way to go.

"I, the Democratic minority leader, was the first to file the bill requiring E-Verify for all employers because you are not serious about curbing illegal immigration if you continue to coward to donors and not listen to our citizens," Pizzo said.

Despite his concerns, Pizzo played a bit of a political seesaw by praising DeSantis over his handling of disasters from hurricanes and other storms, including in his district in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

"The governor has been a good executive when performing executive functions. My own district has truly benefited and appreciated disaster responses after storms, direct assistance following the tragic loss of 98 lives in my district, and the shift from legislators having to beg for dollars to bring home each session, to objective criteria applied to infrastructure project applications direct to state agencies," Pizzo said.

He also expressed optimism over Senate President Ben Albritton's and House Speaker Daniel Perez's legislative agenda for the impending term. After all, Pizzo could soon find himself competing in a state Republicans have dominated for decades, perhaps against Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds.

"Senate President Ben Albritton presented an agenda, a legislative agenda, that is robust and real to feed families, to foster economic growth, to protect our children, our homes, demand efficiencies with your tax dollars, and the right to course the years of neglect and indifference, Speaker Perez expressed much of the same," Pizzo said.

The post Jason Pizzo Gives Straightforward, Blunt Takes on DeSantis' State of the State Address appeared first on The Floridian.

Fresh off an immigration battle with GOP leaders, Gov. Ron DeSantis is now asking the Legislature to greenlight open carry and repeal provisions of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, a gun-tightening package passed after Florida's deadliest school shooting.

But, bucking the governor, Republican Senate President Ben Albritton is pushing back against DeSantis's request for more Second Amendment protections. This would include open carry, lowering the rifle-buying age to 18, and nixing Florida's red flag laws, which allow courts to temporarily confiscate a gun owner's firearms if they're deemed a threat to themselves or others.

"I'm under the impression after spending time with law enforcement that they feel like [red flag laws are] working," Albritton said Tuesday, noting that he's still opposed to open carry legislation. "If we can stop the next Nikolas Cruz, I say we just hold tight and let the thing work. It appears to be working."

Still "working through" whether to support lowering the gun-buying age, Albritton's beliefs draw a stark contrast with DeSantis' urgings. At his State of the State address on Tuesday, kicking off the 60-day legislative session, and at a press conference directly after, DeSantis claimed that Florida needs to take action on gun laws to truly become a conservative bastion and the "Free State of Florida."

But parts of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act, named for the high school where 17 Floridians were massacred on Valentine's Day 2018, are standing in the way.

"We need to be a strong Second Amendment state," DeSantis said.  "I don't know what the Legislature is going to do in those respects, but I can tell you that we, in spite of us saying we're the free state...We've definitely lagged on that issue."

Albritton, along with House Speaker Danny Perez, led the rare conservative revolt charge against DeSantis in January, opposing his call for a special session to address illegal immigration. They adjourned the governor's session 15 minutes after it began before starting their own starring a different, Legislature-drafted immigration bill.

Though the measure passed, DeSantis promised to veto it—leading the legislative leaders to engage in week-long discussions to call a third—and final—special session featuring a compromise bill. It passed resoundingly, seemingly sealing up the month-long discord throughout the GOP supermajority.

But gun laws are showing signs of being the next Republican fight.

GOP lawmakers, who enjoy a solid supermajority in both chambers, are largely in agreement with one of his three gun requests: lowering the gun-buying age from 21 to 18. Of the 11 conservative bills filed to loosen gun laws, including expanding the areas Floridians can conceal carry and legalizing bump stocks, three tackle the gun-purchasing age.

"That is something I support, whether it passes the House or not," said House Speaker Danny Perez, who dodged questions on if he backed open carry or the repeal of red flag laws, considering none of the filed bills address red flag or open carry laws.

Since the sweeping Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Act was bipartisanly approved in 2018, the calls for its more restrictive elements to be struck have only grown. Last year, the House approved a bill lowering the gun-buying age to 18, though no companion bill was filed in the Senate. President Albritton in December said he wasn't ready to "pick sides" on whether or not to amend the gun-buying age.

On Feb. 14, 2018, 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with his AR-15 rifle. 14 students and 3 teachers were killed, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting in the state's history. In response, the Legislature under Gov. Rick Scott called a special session to pass massive gun reform legislation.

The post 'Stop the Next Nikolas Cruz': GOP Leader Pushes Back on DeSantis' Open Carry, Red Flag Ideas appeared first on The Floridian.

While Gov. Ron DeSantis and GOP lawmakers agree that excess government spending needs to be cut, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez are starting to point the finger at the state government.

On the first day of the 60-day legislative session, Albritton and Perez echoed Gov. Ron DeSantis's call for a state version of the Department of Government Efficiency to investigate local overspending. But the GOP leaders, perhaps reinvigorating their month-old rub with the governor, believe the investigation needs to turn its eyes toward DeSantis's state government.

"We are a state and nation of laws that should be created by elected officials…not appointed professional staff," Albritton said Tuesday, outlining his priorities for the 2025 session. "Florida government is not, and should not, be immune to this kind of scrutiny."

In the House, Perez agreed, telling Representatives that "we're living in an age of disruption."

"Let’s pass actual reforms rather than symbolic gestures; let’s repeal government programs instead of reshuffling them. Let’s swing for the fences and not just try to get on base," he said, before taking a shot at DeSantis's much-paraded sales tax holidays on items like camping gear, back-to-school items, and—the governor hopes—guns and ammo.

"We spend every new dime of recurring revenue while congratulating ourselves for giving easy to fund, non-recurring sales tax holidays," Perez added.

They seemingly responded to DeSantis lauding Florida for its lowest per-capita debt in the nation and the 2024-2025 budget, which provided for less money than the year prior. This was partially due to his line-item vetoes totaling nearly $1 billion, though the Legislature overrode his striking of thousands in legislative support (the first time the legislature has overridden a budget veto in 15 years).

In another departure from the governor, Perez has created a series of House working groups to analyze DeSantis's budget vetoes and decide which ones to try to override.

Albritton and Perez led the rare charge against DeSantis in January, opposing his call for a special session to address illegal immigration. They adjourned the governor's session 15 minutes after it began before starting their own starring a different, Legislature-drafted immigration bill.

Though the measure passed, DeSantis promised to veto it—leading the legislative leaders to engage in week-long discussions to call a third—and final—special session starring a compromise bill. It passed resoundingly, seemingly sealing up the month-long discord throughout the GOP supermajority.

DeSantis last week announced his plan to create a state DOGE task force, mirroring Donald Trump and Elon Musk's new federal agency that hopes to cut thousands of unnecessary positions and save the federal government $2 trillion. The one-year group is expected to disband 70 state boards, audit state universities, and examine local government spending.

The bill creating the task force has yet to be filed.

The post 'Age of Disruption': Perez, Albritton Call for 'Scrutiny' of State Government Spending appeared first on The Floridian.

Miami Republican Sen. Alexis Calatayud recently filed a bill that would establish a Parkinson’s Disease Research Program to support innovative research and provide caregiver assistance to those with the disease.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and other bodily functions. Commonly viewed symptoms include tremors (involuntary shaking) in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head.

Often occurring around the age of 60, Early-onset Parkinson's disease can develop in people under 50 years old.

Parkinson's disease affects over 1 million Americans and 10 million people worldwide. Also, about 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Actor Michael J. Fox and legendary late boxer Muhammad Ali are two well-known figures who were diagnosed with the disease. Notably, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease.

Alexis Calaytud's bill, SB 1800, a Parkinson's Disease Research Progam would be established through the Florida Department of Health (DOH). The bill would also require DOH to create a  registry for people in the program.

Moreover, DOH would create a Parkinson's Disease Research Advisory Board consisting of the following representatives:

• Leading research institutions in the state
• Parkinson's disease advocacy organizations
• Caregiver support groups
• The medical community specializes in neurological diseases

Through SB 1800, the Florida Legislature would appropriate funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Parkinson's Disease Research Program for FY 2025-2026. Specifically, 20 million dollars would be awarded through competitive grants to state universities, research institutions, and medical centers actively involved in Parkinson's disease research.

Another five million dollars would be allocated to establish and expand programs that support caregivers of individuals living with the disease, including respite care, training, and mental health resources.

The bill says priority would be given to innovative therapies and projects trying to find a cure for the disease.

Additionally, the bill states grant recipients would be required to submit an annual report to DOH detailing the progress of funded research, outcomes and measurable impacts of caregiver support programs, and additional recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the program.

If passed, SB 1800 would take effect on Oct 1, 2025.

The post Sen. Alexis Calatayud Files Bill to Increase Parkinson's Disease Reasearch appeared first on The Floridian.

Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and John Snyder (R-Stuart) recently filed a joint resolution to alter the shape of state government by eliminating the office of lieutenant governor and establishing a Cabinet-level position centered on government efficiency.

Tyler Sirois' and John Snyder's resolution, HJR 1325, would remove the constitutional provision requiring the office of lieutenant governor and, on the flip side, create a cabinet officer initiating a Commissioner of Government Efficiency.

Recently, former Florida Lt. Governor Jeanette Nunez resigned to become interim president of Florida International University (FIU), leaving the lieutenant governor position open. The proposal would thus make her former position obsolete.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced a state-level version of Elon Musk's Department of Governmental Efficiency, or DOGE. HJR 1325 would essentially steer the idea into the framework of Florida law.

Under HJR 1325, the Commissioner of Government Efficiency would oversee auditing, investigating, and reporting on instances of fraud, waste, and abuse in the executive branch and local governments, much like Musk's plans at the federal level.

The resolution also calls to repeal the constitutional provision of the Government Efficiency Task Force. A ballot question would also be initiated asking voters to keep or eliminate the office of the commissioner of government efficiency.

Moving forward, the commissioner of government efficiency would be appointed by the legislature in 2027 and become an elected position the following year. A 2044 ballot initiative would allow voters to determine if the office should be kept or abolished in 2046.

If passed, HJR 1325 would appear on the November 2026 ballot for voter approval. Notably, amendments need 60% of voter approval to be enshrined into Florida's constitution.

The post Plan Would Abolish Lieutenant Governor, Start Efficiency Position appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida lawmakers are set to debate a whopping 26 gun-related bills as the state's 60-day legislative session kicks off Tuesday, making firearm laws one of the top priorities for the Sunshine State Legislature.

Made up of 15 Democrat-backed measures and eleven Republican ones, many of the suggested laws ask for Florida law to bend in opposite directions. Conservatives hope to further loosen gun restrictions, which were bipartisanly tightened after the massacre at a Parkland high school in 2018, and Democrats are trying to fend off their efforts in the increasingly red state.

Although 32 gun-related bills were filed across both chambers, seven are duplicates, leaving 26 comparable proposals. All but four have counterparts in both the House and Senate, which is necessary for any bill to become law.

What are the Republican bills?

Republicans are focusing on lowering the minimum age to purchase firearms, seeking to reverse a provision passed after the Parkland shooting that raised the age from 18 to 21. Three bills filed by Rep. Michelle Salzman and Senators Jay Collins, Randy Fine, and Blaise Ingoglia aim to roll back that age requirement, a measure Republicans have attempted in previous sessions.

Four other bills by Fine, Collins, Sen. Joe Gruters, and Rep. Jeff Holcomb would expand the locations where Floridians can carry concealed weapons. Gruters' asks that judges be allowed to conceal-carry firearms in courthouses, Fine's would let college students carry on campus, and Holcomb's and Collins' would both allow off-duty law enforcement officers to have handguns at athletic events.

The remaining bills would legalize tools that let certain weapons fire like machine guns—called bump stocks—repeal a law banning the sale of firearms and ammunition during an emergency, criminalize AI-gun detection software in most public spaces, and consider certain military and law enforcement officers in compliance with concealed weapons licensing laws.

Four of the 15 Democrat-filed gun bills, filed by Rep. Dan Daley and Sen. Tina Polsky, would require background checks for ammunition sales or transfers.

Two more bills filed by Polsky and Rep. Kevin Chambliss directly challenge the Republican-backed bump stock proposal by reclassifying modified guns as illegal machine guns.

Three of the bills tackle firearms and ammunition left in unattended vehicles. Rep. Yvonne Hinson and Senators Darryl Rouson and Lori Berman have filed bills requiring unattended guns and ammo to be locked in vehicles, with Berman's version providing criminal penalties for violators.

Another three bills, filed by Polsky and Rep. Christine Hunchofsky, require background checks for everyone involved—"in whole or in part"—in the sale or transfer of a firearm, banning all dealings involving guns without a valid serial number, and creating the Veteran's Firearm Suicide Reduction Task Force to combat the devastatingly high rate of suicide among veterans, which is 57% higher than the national average.

The remaining bills repeal a law preempting firearm policies to the Legislature, create a list of "sensitive locations" where firearms are banned—directly contradicting both Fine's and Gruters' bills—and bans semi-automatic weapons and large-capacity magazines.

The post Gunshine State? FL Lawmakers to Debate Slew of Measures Loosening, Tightening Gun Laws appeared first on The Floridian.

The US Department of the Treasury has announced new sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong companies allegedly helping build Iranian military drones. 

The latest sanctions were described as part of President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign on Iran.”

Six entities operating out of China and Hong Kong were sanctioned for reportedly supplying critical components of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), i.e., drones, to Iranian company Pishtazan Kavosh Gostar Boshra (PKGB) and its subsidiary Narin Sepehr Mobin Isatis (NSMI).

According to the Treasury Department, PKGB and NSMI are major suppliers for Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs.

“Iran continues to try to find new ways to procure the key components it needs to bolster its UAV weapons program through new front companies and third-country suppliers,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

President Trump previously issued executive orders during his first term and earlier this month to undermine Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs. 

“Treasury remains committed to disrupting the schemes that enable Iran to send its deadly weapons abroad to its terrorist proxies and other destabilizing actors,” continued Secretary Bessent. 

US-Iran tensions have reached unprecedented levels, as the latter has increased hostile activity against the former and its allies since Hamas’ October 7th attacks.

Trump has repeatedly stated he will leverage US military, financial, and diplomatic strength to deter Iran from executing and financing its destabilizing agenda.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced a series of measures tightening sanctions on Iran’s illicit oil sales via its ‘Ghost Fleet.’

Iran has recently expanded efforts to circumvent US-imposed oil exports by covertly shipping Iranian oil through a network of foreign tankers colloquially referred to as Iran’s ‘Ghost Fleet.’

According to the Treasury Department, Iran has harnessed its illicit oil trade to generate billions of dollars that it subsequently funnels to its military and proxy groups.

Sanctions target oil brokers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Hong Kong, tanker operators and managers in India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the head of Iran’s National Iranian Oil Company, and the Iranian Oil Terminals Company (IOTC).

The post US Sanctions Chinese and Hong Kong Companies Helping Build Iranian Drones appeared first on The Floridian.

Venezuelan Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado commended President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector by revoking oil export licenses. 

Machado made her comments during an interview with Donald Trump Jr where she discussed Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro’s repressive regime. 

President Trump cancelled former President Joe Biden’s Venezuelan oil export licenses, effectively reimposing sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector that had been levied during Trump’s first term. 

Trump cited concerns regarding immigration enforcement and Dictator Maduro’s failure to permit free and fair elections as justifying the revocations.

“This is a huge step, and it sends a clear, firm message that Maduro is in huge trouble, and President Trump is with the Venezuelan people, with security, with freedom, with prosperity and peace for the whole region,” said Machado. 

President Biden had granted the oil export licenses in the ‘Barbados Agreement’ in exchange for assurances from Maduro he would host free and fair elections. 

Despite promises of allowing free and fair elections, the Venezuelan regime barred opposition leader Machado from participating in the same despite winning a landslide primary elections victory.

However, Machado invested her political capital into former Venezuelan Ambassador Edmundo Gonzalez, who subsequently won the presidential elections.

Subsequently, Gonzalez was forced to seek political asylum in Spain after the Maduro regime rejected the election results and threatened to arrest him.

Instead of Biden’s conciliatory approach, Trump’s cabinet and close allies, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have lobbied for a hardline strategy to Venezuela with the ultimate goal of a democratic transition rather than negotiating with Maduro to help the US economy.  

“I send my gratitude to President Trump,” continued Machado. “This is the correct thing to do, its the right thing to do, the right moment to do it, and I am sure that this will have consequences in the very short term and I am very sure that the Venezuelan people feel right now secured that we are not alone.”

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Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) filed a bill on Wednesday to protect Florida individuals against victimization over fake sexual images.

Wyman Duggan's HB 1161 would force the removal of altered sexual depictions posted on an internet website or online platform without the person's consent. It also mandates the website or internet platform to establish a policy process to remove the fake images or videos by Dec. 31, 2025, after the victim acknowledges becoming a target.

The bill also specified that the internet, website, or platform would not be criminally liable for the depiction.

HB 1161 is an extension of a bill passed in 2022 by former Democratic Leader Lauren Book. The law set criminal and civil penalties for online predators who knowingly share "deepfake" sexually explicit images without a person's consent on the internet, sometimes called "revenge porn."

“When personal and private images are stolen, bought, and sold online, we can now hold bad actors accountable,” Book said. “By recognizing the crime of ‘cyber trafficking’ and acknowledging the existence of deepfake images, we have given victims of these crimes hope that they will be heard and helped. Every single state in the country must follow Florida’s lead by updating their laws to reflect new threats in the digital age.”

If passed, HB 1161 would take effect upon becoming law.

Wyman Duggan also filed another bill to increase the statute of limitations on crimes against children. Specifically, HB 1171 would start the limitation when a law enforcement agency is notified of the crime.

If passed, HB 1171 would take effect on July 1.

The Floridian has reached out to Speaker Pro Tempore Duggan for comment on HB 1161 and 1171

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Cryptically quoting a famous baseball player, Florida's First Lady suggested on Friday that she might run to replace her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis.

First Lady DeSantis, a former reporter, invoked baseball legend Yogi Berra in her response to a question at a Miami press conference Friday morning asking if she was considering a gubernatorial bid.

"To quote the late great Yogi Berra: ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it,'" DeSantis said before quickly taking a seat. When asked what the Berra quote means in terms of the race, the governor offered a coy reply on his wife's behalf:

"I think she's leaving that to the imagination and to start talking about good old Yogi Berra, because he's had a lot of very perceptive comments," smiled the governor, a former baseball player himself. "He said if people don't wanna come to the ballpark, no one's gonna stop them."

The DeSantises' response came amid a storm of speculation that the First Lady plans to challenge the Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds for the Republican nomination. Last week, The Floridian first reported that Gov. DeSantis planned to travel to D.C. to lobby President Trump to not endorse Donalds. He hoped he'd consider his wife, Casey, instead.

Hours later, Trump seemingly bucked the Florida governor by publicly urging Donalds to run for the 2026 seat.

DeSantis began to critique his forecasted successor, claiming Donalds hasn't been part of "any of the victories over the left" in Florida because he was busy "campaigning in other states"—another shot across the bow at the Congressman's recent controversy over not showing up to vote on a House bill.

He indirectly contrasted Trump's candidate with Florida's First Lady, gushing over her "dedication to conservatism." DeSantis told onlookers earlier this week that Republican commentator Rush Limbaugh had claimed the First Lady would be the only governor better than DeSantis.

Four days after the Trump endorsement, Donalds jumped into the race. DeSantis has since declined to comment on Donalds' position in the race, though he and his wife delivered the strongest suggestion that she was considering a run on Friday.

"You guys can read into that...I've had people coming up to me for years, begging to get her in the fray," the Florida governor chuckled on Friday, stepping up to the podium. He praised his wife's "rock solid values," noting that some who serve a "lifetime" haven't made as much of a political impact as the First Lady.

Yogi Berra was a former New York Yankees catcher, manager, and coach who played for 19 seasons. He won 10 World Series championships and was infamously known for his "Yogi-isms," often described as "comically wise" and "paradoxical." The "fork in the road" saying was first printed in his 1998 book "The Yogi Book: I Really Didn't Say Everything I Said!"

Though it's widely interpreted to mean taking action is better than no choice at all, Berra said the quote came from giving his friend directions to his house.

The post 'When You Come to a Fork in the Road, Take it': Casey DeSantis Fuels Governor Rumors appeared first on The Floridian.

Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) filed a bill on Wednesday that would direct the Florida Department of Education to start a pilot program to implement a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices by students in school.

"This will allow us to take a closer look at phone-free school campuses, which I believe can encourage students to connect more personally with each other and their teachers and better support their academic efforts," Burgess said.

Under Danny Burgess' SB 1296, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. and the department would coordinate with and select six districts representing two small, two medium, and two large counties that currently, or will in the 2025-2026 academic year, implement the cell phone ban policy.

In 2023, Florida passed a bill banning the use of cell phones during instructional time.

Burgess added the ban covers school grounds and students involved in school activities off school property. He also thanked former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and his Foundation for Florida's Future not-for-profit for backing the legislation.

"Proud to have the support of @JebBush's @AFloridaPromise, which has noted that data shows eliminating the distraction of cell phones, not just in the classroom but on campus throughout the school day, results in better school climate and academic outcomes," Burgess said.

Following the program, the Department of Education would provide a report to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives before Dec. 1, 2026, summarizing the findings. The review would specifically recap the ban's policy effect on each district, including student achievement and behavior.

It also would overview the policy's effect on students with disabilities and English Language Learners who may use electronic devices for educational purposes. Moreover, the report would consider students who use cell phones for medical reasons or emergencies and on places like school buses before or after school.

It also said, upon review, it would include a model policy that other school districts and charter schools may adopt.

As a penalty, the report mentioned a list of student code of conduct provisions for violations of the policy, including the use of cell phones to bully, harass, or threaten other students and for occurrences of academic cheating, among others.

If passed, SB 1296 would take effect on July 1.

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Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't know that right-wing podcaster Andrew Tate, facing rape and trafficking charges in Romania, was flying to Florida until he read about it in the media Thursday morning.

And the Florida Governor, who's taken a strong stance against sexual crimes throughout his two terms, is not pleased.

"I have confidence that whether it's [U.S. Attorney General] Pam Bondi or [Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem, that they will be looking at [rebuffing Tate's entry]," DeSantis said at a Thursday morning press conference in Starke, before noting that while the issue is a federal one, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is looking into what "state hooks and jurisdiction" the Sunshine State may have.

"The reality is no, Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct," DeSantis continued. "I don't know how it came to this. We were not involved, and we were not notified."

Uthmeier has since partnered with state law enforcement to conduct a "preliminary inquiry," promising to hold the alleged criminals accountable if their supposed crimes "trigger Florida jurisdiction," he said on social media.

The New York Times reported early Thursday that British-American influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate boarded a flight to Florida from Romania, where they've been held since 2022 on charges of rape, human trafficking, money laundering, and starting an organized crime group. They've denied all wrongdoing.

Prosecutors lifted a travel ban on the brothers allegedly after President Donald Trump's administration asked Romanian authorities to ease restrictions on Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist who garnered a mass following for his "alpha male" views, podcast, and book, unsurprisingly titled "The Way of Alpha." Romania's Foreign Ministry denies any U.S. pressure in the lifted ban.

The brothers, who landed in Fort Lauderdale around 11 a.m., are expected to head back to Romania for their next court appearance on March 24, their defense lawyer told CNN.

The older, more well-known, and more criminally accused brother, Andrew, has racked up billions of views on social media platforms like TikTok and X for his views on female submission and male dominance. A four-time kickboxing world champion, Tate's controversial beliefs include claiming that women should "bear responsibility" for sexual assault—a view that got him banned from Twitter before it became X, where he's since been reinstated.

The Tate brothers were first detained in Bucharest, Romania in Dec. 2022 as part of an investigation into alleged rape and human trafficking. They were charged six months later and banned from leaving the country. In March 2024, British police were granted a warrant to extradite the elder Tate to the UK on other allegations of rape and human trafficking, the BBC reported.

Separately, in May 2024, four women in the UK brought a civil case against the brothers, seeking damages for alleged injuries incurred after a sexual assault. In July 2024, the two began to fend off another civil case in the UK alleging that they hadn't paid any taxes on the revenue brought in from their online businesses, including their platform "Hustlers University."

The two deny all wrongdoing and have since set off for Florida.

DeSantis, meanwhile, has been a strong opponent of human trafficking and sexual crimes. Most recently, he approved $4.9 million in the state budget to expand access to emergency beds for trafficking victims, established a $900,000 grant through the Department of Children and Families to enhance anti-trafficking training for law enforcement, and signed a slew of legislation targeting online predators.

The post DeSantis to Accused Rapist Andrew Tate: 'Florida is Not a Place Where You're Welcome' appeared first on The Floridian.