Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo recently joined The Katie Phang Show on MSNBC to talk about the state's recent green light on a package of anti-immigration measures, which among other things includes the death penalty for illegal immigrants who commit capital crimes.
"The Supreme Court well settled in 1976 in Woodson vs State, it's having [a] mandatory death penalty is a violation of the 8th Amendment and 87' found the 14th Amendment due process violations," Pizzo said.
Jason Pizzo, a former state prosecutor in Florida, mentioned while he was not against the death penalty, he was against proposing sending a message that's just a "bunch of hot air" if it is challenged in court.
As part of the bills Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law, Phang mentioned the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) will assist with Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to make migrant traffic stops on state highways.
Pizzo replied by noting the policy was consistent in the state's messaging.
"The MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) that was signed between FHP and ICE a couple of weeks ago is actually like the 47th or we have in the state. They're under 287 (g), it's a subsection in federal statute," Pizzo said. "It allows the voluntary participation of county facilities that have jails, and also a warrant service kind of idea joining in and lending support."
Notably, the MOA Pizzo mentioned did not require legislative participation.
As a whole, Pizzo called much of the state's illegal immigration crackdown a "stunt", including the anti-illegal immigration package passed earlier this month.
"The bill has 1268 lines of talking tough on combatting illegal immigration from a criminal perspective, but 17 lines go after the in-state tuition waiver that was given to kids in Florida that we've had perhaps since infancy until 12th grade in the public school system, and now in joining an in-state tuition to colleges and universities," Pizzo said.
During the exchange, Pizzo also commented on President Donald Trump's recent endorsement of Congressman Byron Donalds for Florida Governor. Pizzo himself has hinted at a run at the state's top job over the last several months.
"What Trump did by sort of endorsing Byron Donalds, really what he did is turn the spigot off on DeSantis being able to fundraise," Pizzo said. "That's really what it is. DeSantis loves to fundraise, loves the grift."
While Donalds now appears to be the frontrunner with Trump's endorsement, Pizzo indicated he wouldn't mind other Florida officials jumping into the race, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz.
While Pizzo hasn't officially announced a run himself, he welcomed the idea of Gaetz jumping into the race, and in the past shrugged off his chances.
"I would love for Matt Gaetz to run. He's not shy. If Matt feels sort of alienated for all the loyalty and rather rejected from it, perhaps he pops in and becomes a spoiler," Pizzo added.
He also warned Florida Democrats to not "take the bait" if the party were to regain the Governor's mansion regardless of who came out of the GOP field. In the same breath, Pizzo hoped the party would move away from progressivism and focus on issues more pressing to Floridians.
"My mother made it very clear before I ran for office, don't go a day without knowing what it costs for a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, and a gallon of gas. Today, in the State of Florida, you're out of pocket fifteen and a half dollars just to get the dozen eggs, gallon of milk, and a gallon of gas," Pizzo said.
