Politics

Florida officials react to presidential inauguration of Donald Trump

Published

2 weeks ago

January 20, 2025

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation greeted the second term of President Donald Trump with a full range of enthusiasm.

Republicans welcomed Trump’s declaration that “America’s decline is over,” a clear slam on former President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, Democrats promised to weather policy shifts under the new administration.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Naples Republican, posted: “It’s an honor to be in the Capitol as President Trump outlined his plan to BRING AMERICA BACK!”

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican, posted: “As we celebrate this exciting new chapter in our nation’s history, please be assured that we will hit the ground running to keep our commitments to you. Together, we will restore an America First agenda!”

U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, a Gainesville Republican, posted: “Congratulations to President Trump on this momentous Inauguration Day! I am looking forward to working together with a strong agenda to deliver for the American people to rebuild our economy, strengthen border security, revitalize the energy sector, and put more money back in everyone’s pockets.”

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat, issued a statement: “Inauguration Day is what makes our country a democracy — the peaceful transition of power and the integrity of our electoral process. No matter what comes, I stand ready to work across the aisle with anyone, especially those that are willing to work in a bipartisan manner on efforts to improve the lives of all Americans. House Democrats and I will continue to work to deliver results for the American people by putting people over politics. I will always fight for the needs of my neighbors, including when our rights and freedoms are threatened. May the new administration and my Republican colleagues in Congress remember we as a country work better when we are united rather than divided.”

U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Hialeah Republican, posted: “It’s a glorious day for the beginning of a new golden age in America. Congratulations, President Donald Trump, on being sworn in as our next Commander-in-Chief. The American people wanted real change, and I look forward to supporting your agenda in getting our country back on track and undoing the damage done, both domestically and abroad, by the previous administration.”

U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, a Panama City Republican, posted: “Thank you Donald Trump for pledging to implement provisions in my bill, the Troop Act, which would reinstate soldiers who were discharged for refusing to take a COVID shot. Today marks the beginning of the American golden age!”

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, issued a statement: ““The peaceful transition of power is a cornerstone of our democracy. I believe it is important to attend the Inauguration as a show of respect for the democratic process and the will of the voters. In the upcoming Congress, I remain committed to seeking common ground with the new Administration where possible, while standing firm against extremism when necessary.”

U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, a Miami-Dade Republican, posted: “COMMUNIST CHINA HAS NO BUSINESS IN OUR HEMISPHERE! TRUMP WILL KICK THE COMMUNIST CHINESE OUT OF PANAMÁ! PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT!”

U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, posted: “Congratulations to the 47th President of the United States of America. It is a new era for our nation. Thank you to Florida’s 7th District for entrusting me to represent you. We will secure our borders, strengthen our economy, safeguard our children, and build a robust military.”

U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, posted: “The day is finally here. For four years, Miami and America have suffered under the brutal failure of Biden-Harris inflationary economic policy. Donald Trump and his pro-growth, pro-family agenda will bring a new GOLDEN AGE of economic prosperity. Gaining energy independence and asserting energy dominance are KEY for our national security. President Trump’s executive orders unleashing American energy ensures that our $$$ is not flowing to murderous oil regimes like Venezuela and Iran. More US energy = more freedom!”

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Politics

Gov. DeSantis teases budget proposals, including tax cuts and Highway Patrol pay hike

Published

15 minutes ago

January 31, 2025

May Greene

‘They’ve done a lot of missions in addition to just the normal stuff. So they deserve that.’

While formal budget and spending proposals aren’t available yet, Gov. Ron DeSantis says they’re coming by the “end of the weekend” as required.

And though he was true to his word when he told a Destin audience that he was “not going to necessarily go into a lot of it” on Friday, DeSantis mentioned some ways he wanted to help people keep more of their money.

On at least one of them, Floridians will be able to make that decision if DeSantis gets his way.

He said that “any taxes we can eliminate” are up for grabs, including a move to “crack down on property taxes in the state” through a constitutional amendment on next year’s ballot.

“Homestead deduction needs to dramatically increase for people,” DeSantis said, given the increasingly high cost of housing driven by “demand” and other factors, including insurance rates.

The administration will “be working over the next year, year and a half to see what we can present for voters to be able to vote in the next election for some major, major property tax limitations and relief,” along with “some other tax stuff.”

Spending will increase in one way, meanwhile, with proposed pay increases for highway patrol troopers pending in light of deployments to the Mexican border.

“They’ve done a lot of missions in addition to just the normal stuff. So they deserve that, and we’re going to make sure that we get that done,” DeSantis said.

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Politics

Tom Fabricio measure would keep some complaints against law enforcement, correction officers confidential

Published

46 minutes ago

January 31, 2025

May Greene

Law enforcement officers and correctional officers could have certain complaints lodged against them kept off their records if a new bill filed Thursday passes.

Miami Lakes Republican Rep. Tom Fabricio’s measure (HB 317) would exempt records of any investigations made into complaints against a law enforcement officer or a correctional officer from their personnel file under certain conditions.

Complaints filed against officers would be required to be given under oath and submitted in writing, and if an officer is subject to an interrogation that could lead to disciplinary action, then all information related to the investigation would have to be given to the officer or their representative before any interrogation into the allegations could begin, according to the bill.

That would include the names of the person or persons who filed the complaint, all witness statements, and any supporting evidence such as incident reports, GPS locator information, and video and audio recordings.

Florida statute currently states, “all information obtained pursuant to the investigation by the agency of the complaint is confidential,” and is exempt from public record until the investigation “ceases to be active” or until the agency decides whether to file charges against the officer.

The measure would amend that statute, adding that the officer be “provided a copy of the complaint signed by the complainant under oath before the effective date of the action.”

Current law already allows officers facing disciplinary action the right to address the findings with their respective agency heads before any disciplinary action can be imposed.

However, the new measure would allow such records to be left out of an officer’s personnel file if the investigation into their conduct did not end in disciplinary action. Furthermore, the existence of the investigation would not affect an officer’s ability to be promoted, get a pay raise, or receive a commendation.

Under the bill, the contents of both the complaint and the investigation would remain confidential until a final determination is made by investigators. The bill does not guarantee continued employment for officers under investigation.

The bill would further protect law enforcement and correctional officers protections by establishing penalties against those who make false complaints. Under the bill, someone found guilty of filing a false complaint could be charged with a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

If passed, the bill would become law on July 1.

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Politics

Gov. DeSantis ready to ‘get in the game’ of migrant transfers to GITMO

Published

2 hours ago

January 31, 2025

May Greene

President Trump has ordered the Cuba-based detention center to be prepped for full capacity as part of his deportation push.

Saying Guantánamo Bay is a “hell of a lot closer” to Florida than Martha’s Vineyard, Ron DeSantis reiterated interest in sending migrants there in accordance with a Donald Trump executive order.

“I think it’d be a great place, quite frankly, to have criminal aliens,” DeSantis said Friday in Destin, adding that Florida is “going to be able to assist” moving undocumented immigrants to the base in Cuba.

The Governor has made this case all week that the state is a logical launching pad for deportations.

DeSantis posted to social media Wednesday that he’s “happy to send flights from Florida down that way with deportees in tow,” in the wake of Trump saying he’s telling the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to “begin preparing the 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantánamo Bay” for an influx of undocumented immigrants.

“What better state to take advantage of that than the state of Florida,” he told podcaster Dave Rubin Tuesday.

DeSantis also said this week “deputized” state forces who can “make the same decisions” as Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Border Patrol could also “take them back to Haiti or the Bahamas or wherever they are coming from, right on the spot” if they “intercept them on the sea.”

The Trump Executive Order calls “to expand the Migrant Operations Center at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay to full capacity to provide additional detention space for high-priority criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States, and to address attendant immigration enforcement needs … in order to halt the border invasion, dismantle criminal cartels, and restore national sovereignty.”

It does not contemplate a state role in extradition or extraterritorial transport.

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