Category: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

DeSantis ‘Speaks His Mind’ at Jewish Leadership Conference in NYC

Despite dozens of protesters and a previously canceled venue, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke at the Jewish Leadership Conference in New York City on June 12, telling the crowd of approximately 700, “They can’t cancel me, I’m going to speak my mind.” Many of the protesters outside the conference at Chelsea Piers held signs objecting…


DeSantis Backs Retired K-9 Blue With Aid for Veterinary Care

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis has always maintained that he “backs the blue.” Now he is backing the blue that stands on four legs.  On June 10, the governor signed a bill that establishes care for the “retired warriors” of the K-9 force. SB 226, or The Care for Retired Police Dogs bill, will help…


DeSantis Signs Six New Bills, Touts Florida as ‘Most Military-Friendly State’

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed six bills that will aid the almost 1.5 million active and past military members and their families living in Florida, he said at a press conference in Fort Walton Beach on June 9. “Florida is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and I am proud to continue that commitment to…


DeSantis Vetoes Everglades Bill Over Concerns of Wetland Destruction

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–It was a no go on the Everglades bill for Gov. Ron DeSantis as he vetoed it, expressing concerns about wetland destruction. In a veto letter to the Secretary of State, DeSantis said the bill could have hindered Everglades restoration which he had deemed important when he took office in 2019. “While the…


DeSantis Looking to Protect Kids From ‘Inappropriate’ Drag Shows

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis is considering using child safety laws to protect children from drag shows. “It used to be kids would be off-limits … everybody agreed with that,” DeSantis said at a June 8 press conference at Fort Myers Beach. “Now it just seems like there’s a concerted effort to be exposing kids…


DeSantis Aims to Target Gun ‘Lunatics,’ Not Guns

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wants to focus on gun “lunatics” rather than targeting Second Amendment rights when it comes to preventing mass shootings. “When you’re dealing with [gun-related crime] … you focus on the criminal,” he said at a June 8 press conference. “You focus on the lunatic—you don’t kneecap the rights…


DeSantis Signs School Safety Bill

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bipartisan-supported school safety bill on June 7 that addresses gun violence in schools. The bill, HB 1421, adds to Florida’s list of school safety reforms that have been legislated since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day in 2018. Florida Democrats had begun pushing for…


DeSantis Signs Nearly $110 Billion ‘Freedom First Budget’

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov Ron DeSantis on June 2 signed what he called the “Freedom First” budget totaling almost $110 billion for fiscal year 2022-2023, to blunt the impact for Floridians of a “Biden-induced recession.” “Our commitment to freedom has paid off,” he said at a press conference at The Villages. “Our responsible fiscal policies have put…


DeSantis Is Looking to Hire Director for the New Florida State Guard

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Gov. Ron DeSantis said on June 1 that he is looking for someone with “military-style” leadership to head the newly re-established Florida State Guard (FLSG). DeSantis wants someone who will lead Florida’s civilian force in a way that will assist and support state emergency response agencies. The Director of the FLSG will be…


Florida Lawmakers Deliver New Property Insurance Package to DeSantis

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–Both chambers of the Florida legislature approved a new legislative package geared toward rising property insurance rates, created a $2 billion reinsurance fund. and wrote new rules around coverage denials and what attorneys are able to charge during litigation.  As hurricane season looms, the measure now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk for…