TALLAHASSEE – Drawing a countrywide spotlight as he prepares for a potential White Residence bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis opened the annual legislative session Tuesday by touting the state’s accomplishments and vowing to “swing for the fences so that we can make certain Florida remains number one particular.”
“We will stand powerful, we will maintain the line, we would not back down, and I can assure you this: You ain’t found nothin’ nevertheless,” DeSantis explained as he concluded his once-a-year State of the State deal with in the crowded Residence chamber.
DeSantis, drawing regular applause from the Republican-dominated Legislature, did not make any extraordinary policy announcements in the 30-moment speech but focused on challenges these as cracking down on illegal immigration, bucking COVID-19 limitations and blocking specific healthcare treatments for transgender minors.
Previously Tuesday, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, filed charges (SB 1718 and HB 1617) in search of to have out a collection of DeSantis’ immigration proposals.
“We need to even further reinforce our rules versus illegal immigration by maximizing work verification, increasing penalties for human smuggling and further disincentivizing unlawful migration to the state of Florida,” DeSantis stated. “Florida is not a sanctuary point out, and we will uphold the rule of regulation.”
While the State of the State deal with is always a superior-profile celebration in Tallahassee, DeSantis’ speech Tuesday drew national focus as he is commonly envisioned to run for president in 2024.
Democrats blasted DeSantis, arguing that he is additional focused on his political ambitions than difficulties this kind of as the state’s house-insurance plan troubles and economical wellbeing care.
Property Minority Chief Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, advised reporters soon after the State of the Point out handle that DeSantis is “exclusively targeted on running for the GOP nomination for president, and that is how he is governing ideal now as households experience.”
“The governor talked about staying number one particular on a good many issues,” Senate Minority Chief Lauren Book, D-Plantation, claimed. “But here’s what I know – we talk to our constituents each individual one working day. You know what they talk to us about? Not staying ready to afford prescriptions. Obtaining to operate harder to put meals on the table, to place gasoline in the car. They are unable to pay out their hire, they won’t be able to pay their home loans, they are not able to get residence insurance plan. And are people the issues that are remaining contemplated in this article? No.”
But Republican leaders heralded DeSantis as they spoke in the Senate and Home before the State of the Condition address. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, known as him “actually America’s governor,” even though Property Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, referred to as him “America’s biggest governor.”
With Republicans holding supermajorities in the Senate and Home, DeSantis and his GOP allies have a distinct path to passing their generally-shared priorities in the course of the session. He has outlined several priorities, from raising teacher salaries to chopping taxes.
DeSantis used elements of Tuesday’s speech to concentrate on pink-meat problems for Republican voters. As an case in point, he pointed to his resistance to this kind of items as mask mandates and vaccination mandates in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“No Floridian really should have to pick among a work they need to have and a shot they will not want,” DeSantis claimed.
He also took intention at clinical methods for transgender minors. Lawmakers are predicted to consider up expenditures that would make it unlawful for medical professionals to deliver solutions this sort of as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender youths.
“It is really sad that we have to say this, but our little ones are not guinea pigs for science experimentation, and we are unable to let persons to make funds off mutilating them,” DeSantis mentioned.
But Driskell accused DeSantis of building “culture war fights.”
“Ron DeSantis is so obsessed with ‘woke’ that he is asleep at the wheel,” she claimed.
