Radio silence

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, an effort to spread democracy to Cuba over radio is being silenced. Days after the President signed an executive order to dismantle Voice of America programming worldwide, the federal government put Radio Martí employees on paid leave.

It’s part of the move to eliminate the United States Agency for Global Media. The White House called Voice of America, the most prominent mouthpiece of the agency, “The Voice of Radical America.” But the closing of Radio Martí, famous for its anti-communist messaging, frustrated Florida lawmakers across the political spectrum. Launched under Republican President Ronald Reagan, the station has pushed back on statewide media under Cuba’s communist leadership, first under military dictator Fidel Castro and continuing into the current communist regime of President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.

“Radio Martí has been key to countering the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime’s propaganda,” posted Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican. “As government programs evolve, I will work with President Trump to make sure the Cuban people have the access to the uncensored news they deserve!”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz voiced less optimism about Trump’s intentions to help Cubans. “Trump is illegally silencing Voice of America and Radio Martí, which have countered anti-American foreign propaganda and brought truth to Cubans for decades,” she posted. “Mr. President, whose side are you on?”

The destruction of the agency came as a surprise, especially after Trump named former Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, a loyalist with a broadcasting background, as a Special Adviser to the Agency, to put her in charge of Voice of America later this year, according to The Washington Post.

But after initially voicing enthusiasm for how U.S. media overseas could be used to spread Trump’s agenda, Lake sounded a new note this weekend. She was the one who sent an email notifying employees of the agency of the impacts of Trump’s order and specifically cited the effects on the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which runs Radio Martí, in her email.

“From top-to-bottom, this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer — a national security risk for this nation — and irretrievably broken,” she later boasted on social media. “While there are bright spots within the agency with personnel who are talented and dedicated public servants, this is the exception rather than the rule.”

The administration decided to shut down Radio Martí after Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Hialeah Republican, spent years fighting for more funding for the station in Congress. When Republicans reclaimed the House majority in 2022, Díaz-Balart, as chair of the Appropriations National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Subcommittee, wanted to raise the station’s funding to $30 million, twice what former President Joe Biden’s administration budgeted.

Cutting & compromising

As the Senate finalized a budget that was ultimately passed and delivered to Trump, both Florida Senators made clear they wanted it trimmed even further.

Sens. Ashley Moody and Rick Scott, both Florida Republicans, voted for an amendment proposed by Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican. The amendment would have significantly reduced foreign aid and codified Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommendations.

“Tonight, I stood with Donald Trump to keep the government open and put his foreign aid cuts into law,” posted Moody, a Plant City Republican.

“I will continue to work for additional cuts to wasteful spending, just as I did by supporting the Sen. Paul amendment, to ensure waste, fraud and abuse of your hard-earned tax dollars is done for good.”

In total, 27 Republicans supported the measure, the only Republican-filed amendment to the budget that the Senate considered, which had already passed the U.S. House. But 26 Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune, joined with Democrats in nixing the proposed change.

Meanwhile, several Democratic amendments, including items blocking DOGE funding and rehiring recently laid-off veterans, failed in a series of party-line votes, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski the only Republican supporting any of the proposals.

Both Moody and Scott went on to support the budget overall. That passed in a 54-46 vote. Only one Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, supported the budget package, while Paul cast the only Republican vote against it.

Scott, a Naples Republican, also wanted to see more budget cuts but did not want a government shutdown.

“Republicans are standing with President Trump and the American people,” he posted ahead of the vote. “We’re ready to vote and keep the government open. It’s past time Democrats get on board.”

Few Democrats ultimately supported the budget on the final vote, but nine members of the minority caucus voted for cloture, a procedural vote that allowed the package to move forward.

Fighting for the 404

As Florida continues fighting for control of its permitting process, Moody and Scott filed legislation to codify the state’s program.

The Republican Senators introduced the Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act to restore Florida’s 404 program. Approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the last months of Trump’s first term, the program transferred permitting authority from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Department of Environmental Protection, but that transfer was later challenged in court by the Center for Biological Diversity. A federal judge last year ruled that the EPA hadn’t considered impacts on endangered species when it authorized the policy.

Scott, a former Governor, said state government officials have proved themselves as responsible stewards of the environment.

“Florida is home to unique waterways and natural resources that should not be subject to a one-size-fits-all federal regulatory framework,” he said. “The Maintaining Cooperative Permitting Act safeguards the Clean Water Act permitting authorities that I championed as Governor and helped secure as Senator in President Trump’s first term. It ensures that the State of Florida has the authority to make informed and timely decisions for our residents while also preserving our state’s precious natural resources for future generations to protect and enjoy.”

As Florida’s Attorney General, Moody defended the state program when it was challenged and agreed.

“As a fifth-generation Floridian, protecting our state’s natural beauty is deeply important to me. Florida has made significant efforts to conserve its incredible natural resources,” she said. “However, under the Biden administration, our ability to protect our environment has been hindered by federal bureaucracy and excessive red tape, and Section 404 permit applications for projects that benefit the environment and the public became subject to a federal backlog. States should have the right to make decisions about their own natural resources, not be dictated to by Washington bureaucrats.”

Organ grinders

Allegations of forced organ transplants have long plagued the Chinese market, with studies finding evidence of the removal of hearts, lungs and other body parts from individuals before they are declared brain-dead. Now, Rep. Neal Dunn wants to shut down any organ imports from the Eastern superpower.

The Panama City Republican filed the Block Organ Transplant Purchases from China Act, legislation that would prohibit any federal reimbursements for transplants and related procedures if the origin of organs cannot be verified. Under the bill, only procedures using the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network could be covered.

“The Chinese Communist Party has a long track record of human rights violations stemming from illegal organ harvesting in their own country,” said Dunn, a physician.

“Communist Party authorities regularly target Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in China for this barbaric practice. The United States must do everything in its power to ensure that we are not participating in illegal Chinese organ harvesting. The BLOCK Act is an important step toward ensuring that health care providers are not complicit in this atrocity and hold anyone who knowingly participates in this practice accountable.”

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican, was also an introducing co-sponsor on the legislation.

“There is overwhelming evidence that China has systemically targeted ethnic and religious minorities for forcibly acquired organ donation and that the country regularly violates internationally accepted rules regarding organ donorship,” Bilirakis said. “We cannot remain silent in the face of these gross human rights violations and perpetuate the practice by offering a marketplace for the ill-gotten organs.”

Honoring veterans

Rep. Mike Haridopolos recounted the service of three veterans living on the Space Coast on the House floor. In separate speeches, the Indian Harbor Beach Republican honored Army Sgt. 1st Class Melvin Morris, Master Sgt. Arcadio Santiago-Rodriguez and Lt. Cmdr. John Paul Surprenant.

“These men represent the very best of American courage and dedication to duty,” Haridopolos said. “It was a privilege to recognize their heroic contributions, ensuring their legacy lives on.”

Morris, a Cocoa resident, received a Medal of Honor for his service in 2014, and Haridopolos said he continues advocating for veterans.

Santiago-Rodriguez, a 101-year-old Korean War veteran, earned the Silver Star for leadership of the Borinqueneers, and Haridopolos has pursued a Congressional Gold Medal for the Army veteran.

Surprenant, a Navy veteran turning 100 soon, was a crewman on the first atomic missile submarine and now lives in Melbourne. Haridopolos praised the retired officer’s commitment to country and family.

To watch Haridopolos as he honors Sgt. 1st Class Morris, please click the image below:

Star benefits restoration

Bilirakis also reintroduced the Major Richard Star Act, a bipartisan bill that would restore benefits for some 50,000 medically retired veterans who have not been allowed to collect both full retirement and disability compensation.

“The brave men and women who return from serving our country should be able to receive the benefits promised to them. Military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation are two completely different benefits. One does not diminish the merits of the other,” said Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican.

“I am committed to rectifying this injustice for all veterans, and passage of the Major Richard Star Act will get us one step closer to our goal of ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.”

The bill is named for Richard Star, a veterans advocate who died in 2021.

Bilirakis filed the bill with Rep. Raul Ruiz, a California Democrat. Meanwhile, Scott will carry the Senate companion bill with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat.

Limited interest

​​While the elimination of student debt has proved politically controversial, two Florida lawmakers are working across the aisle to limit the crush of interest on students.

Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, a St. Petersburg Republican, and Jared Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat, introduced the Affordable Loans for Students Act with Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican. The bill would cap the interest rate on federal student loans at 2%.

“Hardworking Americans shouldn’t be saddled with more student loan debt than what they took out just because of interest rates — but that’s what many Floridians who took out loans face, sometimes decades after they went to school,” Moskowitz said.

“This mounting financial burden is a major barrier to Florida families buying a home, saving for retirement, and setting their own kids up for success. There’s a clear, bipartisan consensus that it needs to be addressed, and my common sense legislation with Reps. Lawler and Luna moves that process forward by capping student loan interest rates at 2% across the board. The bottom line is our government shouldn’t be handicapping American families through unreasonable interest rates on their student loans, and this bill implements a measured approach to keep loans accessible and ensure that educational opportunities truly set young Floridians up for success.”

The bill would apply retroactively to existing loans and allow the consolidation of multiple loans. The bill provides for refinancing to ease the rate adjustment process but will enable individuals to opt against that.

“High interest rates add years, sometimes even decades, to the time it takes for student loans to be paid off. This is unacceptable — the federal government should not be putting strain on its students and young graduates for profit,” Luna said. “This legislation caps and ends excessive interest rates, expanding access to college degrees and making American workers even more competitive in the modern workforce.”

Navigator cuts

While Trump has not pushed for the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, as he did in his first term, Rep. Kathy Castor said the Republican administration has tried to undermine the insurance marketplace.

The Tampa Democrat questioned administration cuts to health care navigators, federal employees tasked with helping individuals obtain insurance. She co-led a letter to Stephanie Carlton, acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, demanding explanations for the cuts.

“We are deeply concerned with the shortsighted decision to practically eliminate funding for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Navigator program,” the letter reads. “ACA Navigators serve an indispensable role in assisting millions of Americans with access to health care and helping families lower their cost of living. We vehemently oppose this $90 million cut as families will struggle to determine which of the thousands of plans and options work best for them and could ultimately put health care out of reach for many.”

Twenty-two representatives, all Democrats, signed the letter, including Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Darren Soto, and Wasserman Schultz.

“Since 2013, the ACA Navigator program has been a critical investment in Americans who most need help accessing health care coverage,” the letter continues. “We oppose efforts to cripple the Navigator program and urge you to reverse course on the proposed cuts.”

Make hives thrive again

Counterfeit honey has inspired bipartisan bitterness, including from Rep. Greg Steube.

The Sarasota Republican filed the Honey Integrity Act with Rep. Jimmy Panetta, a California Democrat. The legislation seeks to thicken the standards for pure honey and crack down on selling fraudulent sweets.

“I’m introducing the Honey Integrity Act in the House to crack down on the mislabeling and sale of fake products to American consumers,” Steube said. “This bill establishes clear standards for honey and accountability for bad actors without adding more government red tape. Families have the right to know the honey they are buying is real.”

The bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to formalize language on honey labels to ensure integrity, enhance federal oversight by the Health and Human Services Department, require the destruction of fake honey when discovered by federal agents, and establish accountability without adding federal bureaucracy.

“We must protect American honey producers and make sure consumers get the quality produce they pay for at the grocery store,” Steube said.

Stockpiling crypto

A push to back cryptocurrency with federal strength could become law. Rep. Byron Donalds filed legislation to codify Trump’s plan for a crypto reserve.

The Naples Republican, a wealth adviser before his election to Congress, introduced the Reserve and Stockpile Act.

“President Trump has pledged to make America the crypto capital of the world, and his executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile does just that,” Donalds said.

The legislation would establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, capitalized with bitcoin forfeited in criminal or civil forfeiture and now owned by the Treasury Department, and a separate U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile with all similarly seized other assets.

For the reserve, the bill would authorize budget-neutral strategies for acquiring bitcoin, while the stockpile would only have forfeited assets.

“In the Sunshine State, we’ve seen firsthand the growth and prosperity of innovation generated by this next-generation financial technology,” Donalds said. “This is why I’m proud to introduce the ‘Reserve and Stockpile Act’ to cement this important policy win for America into law. For years, the Democrats waged war on crypto. Now is the time for Congressional Republicans to decisively end this war.”

Roadway to equity

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ended prior policies under Biden that he believed “injected racial justice” into road planning. Now, Rep. Frederica Wilson wants Congress to restore the principle of equity to infrastructure.

The Miami-Dade Democrat introduced the Transportation Equity Act, which would reestablish an advisory committee and strategic recommendations with diverse perspectives on transportation planning.

“While the administration is busy eliminating programs aimed at increasing equal opportunity for all, I am focused on empowering communities to have a greater say in how transportation policies and investments are implemented. All Americans deserve a seat at the table in shaping their transportation futures,” Wilson said.

“Whether it’s folks who don’t live near any public transit, those who can’t afford the fares, or people with disabilities who need extra support to get around, our government should all be in the business of providing better transportation resources to every single person. That is why I’m introducing the ‘Transportation Equity Act’ to reinstate the Transportation Equity Advisory Committee. This bill will empower stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on solutions that promote accessibility, reduce disparities, and create fair opportunities for all Americans.”

On this day

March 18, 2014 — “U.S. closes Syrian embassy and orders diplomatic staff back to Damascus” via The Guardian — The United States announced the closure of Syria’s embassy in Washington. Daniel Rubinstein, the Special Envoy for Syria, said the embassy had already suspended consular services. “This week marks the third anniversary of the Syrian revolution. For three years, Bashar al-Assad has refused to heed the call of the Syrian people to step aside,” he said in a statement to reporters. Rubinstein said the decision to close the embassy, as well as honorary consulates in Troy, Michigan, and Houston, was “in consideration of the atrocities the Assad regime has committed against the Syrian people.”

March 18, 1959 — “Hawaii admitted to become 50th state of the union” via the National Constitution Center — President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admissions Act a week after Congress passed it. Hawaii officially became the 50th state on Aug. 21 that year. Following the signing of the Act, Hawaii residents voted in June to accept the terms of statehood. The Constitution grants general state-creation powers to Congress in Article IV, Section 3, under the Admissions Clause. Since 1789, states have joined the union in various ways. The usual process has been for Congress to grant territorial status as a precursor, with a territory creating a local constitution for its citizens that conforms to the federal Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.

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An effort to expand eligibility for Florida Bright Futures scholarships won support of a key Senate appropriations panel.

The Senate Higher Education Appropriations Committee advanced legislation (SB 270) to make scholarships available to more children of military members who have been deployed overseas. If the bill becomes law, those who graduated from schools outside Florida may be eligible for the state scholarship program if a parent retired from the military within the last 12 months.

“A local issue happened back home where a constituent ended their military service overseas, their son had gone to school overseas, and they wanted him to be able to complete his schooling over there, since he had basically grown up in that academic setting,” explained Sen. Danny Burgess, a Zephyrhills Republican.

“But he, under the letter of the law, will have lost his Bright Futures eligibility that he otherwise is qualified for. We just want to give a military family a little more runway to be able to get home at a reasonable time and still qualify for something that they otherwise would qualify for.”

The Bright Futures program offers scholarships to Florida high school students who meet certain grade point average criteria, complete certain high school curriculum requirements and satisfy community service hour requirements. Those scholarships can be used in Florida colleges, universities and vocational schools.

The committee passed an amendment making clear the legislation won’t kick in until the next school year.

A fiscal analysis predicts the bill, if passed, could mean $7.6 million more in scholarships are awarded following the 2026-27 school year. That could grow to an additional $11.2 million in added costs each year by the time the Class of 2029 graduates.

Burgess’ bill also would include Advanced Placement Capstone designations with eligible high school diplomas. That College Board program offers the designation for students who complete two academically broad one-year programs in AP Research and AP Seminar.

The bill ultimately won unanimous support, with members from across the political spectrum praising the successes of Bright Futures. Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, said he had personally benefited from the Florida Medallion Scholarship, one of the offerings of Bright Futures, when he attended and graduated from the University of Central Florida.

“It doesn’t mean, certainly, that I had a free college education,” Smith said. “It took me about 14 years to pay off my student loan debt even with the Medallion scholarship. But I would not have been able to put myself through school without that really important Bright Futures scholarship.”

The legislation previously won support from the Senate Education Postsecondary Committee and heads now to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee.

Meanwhile, a House companion bill (HB 1107) filed by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, a Lakeland Republican, awaits action in the House Education Administration Subcommittee.

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Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death nationwide. Annually, over 32,000 Floridians die from smoking tobacco products. This surpasses the combined mortality rate from automobile accidents, illegal drugs, alcohol abuse, murders and suicides. Despite these risks, an estimated 2 million Floridians continue to smoke tobacco products.

Smoking tobacco is not only deadly, but it is also costly. In Florida alone, health care costs directly related to smoking exceed $10 billion annually. About $1.62 billion of the cost is paid for with taxpayer dollars in the form of Medicaid. To cover the costs of smoking-caused government expenditures, Florida taxpayers pay approximately $840 per household.

Lawmakers — from Tallahassee to Washington, D.C. — should assist individuals in the transition away from cigarettes and toward less harmful alternatives, including heated tobacco products (HTPs). Unlike traditional cigarettes, HTPs do not burn tobacco. Rather, HTPs heat a small amount of tobacco just below the point of combustion, creating an aerosol of nicotine without the smoke. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the production of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals is significantly reduced when there is no combustion. Although the health risks are not eliminated, scientific studies show an average 90 to 99% decrease in harmful and potentially harmful constituents, suggesting a complete transition from cigarettes to HTPs would improve the health of tobacco users and reduce societal costs.

The FDA currently recognizes a risk continuum for tobacco products, with cigarettes representing the highest risk. Florida Senate Bill 1418 and House Bill 785 propose excluding heated tobacco products (HTPs) from the statutory definition of “cigarette,” recognizing that non-combustible HTPs warrant different tax treatment than more harmful cigarettes. This judicious approach could mitigate the harms associated with tobacco use and improve public health. HTPs may represent a less harmful alternative, but their market penetration hinges on legislative classification and taxation of these novel products.

Introducing HTPs into the U.S. market and providing incentives in the form of lower taxes compared to those of cigarettes can go a long way toward reducing cigarette use. In Japan, for example, cigarette sales dropped more than 50% during the first 10 years after HTPs were introduced. With the right tax structure and policies, these products could have a similar impact in the U.S.

Florida legislators should seize the opportunity to help more Floridians transition away from cigarettes and toward less harmful forms of tobacco. By implementing a risk-based tax policy for tobacco products, lawmakers can incentivize more adults who smoke tobacco to make the switch to these lower-risk alternatives. Not only would this improve and promote public health for generations to come, but it would also best serve Florida taxpayers by reducing the cost of long-term health care and improving health outcomes for smokers.

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Dominic M. Calabro is president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch.

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