Politics
Common sense steps to protect Florida from foreign influence
As Americans, we naturally see charitable organizations as dedicated forces for good, committed to uplifting our communities. Unfortunately, adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) see something entirely different: an opportunity to exploit our goodwill as a vector for influence and manipulation.
Senate Bill 700, sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, addresses this vulnerability head-on — and it’s precisely the type of common-sense measure we at Common Sense America wholeheartedly support.
The Florida Senate will vote on this important bill this week, and it will then be sent to the House of Representatives for review.
In my work advocating for sensible policies to protect America’s national security and economic independence, one thing is clear: China is aggressively working to weaken the U.S. at every level — not just through military might or cyberattacks but through strategic infiltration of local institutions.
This is not speculation; it’s reality.
The Director of National Intelligence recently warned explicitly that the CCP is “redoubling its efforts to build influence at the state and local level to shift U.S. policy in China’s favor,” taking advantage of the fact that local governments and community organizations often lack the resources to vet the sources and intentions behind the support they receive.
This kind of foreign influence is a strategic threat, especially when hidden within our charitable institutions.
SB 700 smartly prohibits charitable organizations from soliciting or accepting contributions from foreign sources identified as threats to our security. Moreover, it creates the Honest Services Registry, requiring charities to disclose their foreign funding sources.
This is precisely the common-sense transparency measure that ensures Floridians can support causes confidently, knowing their contributions aren’t inadvertently advancing foreign interests hostile to America.
Common Sense America firmly believes that safeguarding our national security and local autonomy requires clear, practical measures that eliminate opportunities for foreign adversaries to exploit our open and trusting society. SB 700 represents precisely this approach — it isn’t about limiting charity; it’s about protecting the integrity of Florida’s communities and institutions.
As I regularly emphasize in testimony across the nation, proactive transparency measures such as Florida’s Honest Services Registry aren’t optional; they’re essential. Ensuring our institutions, especially those dedicated to public trust and benevolence, remain free from foreign interference is simply common sense.
I commend Truenow’s leadership on SB 700 and urge all Floridians to support this critical legislation. It’s time we protect our state — and our country — from threats cleverly disguised as charity.
___
Steve Crim is the Executive Director of Common Sense America, an advocacy group dedicated to promoting common-sense policy solutions that protect national security and economic resilience.
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
A new media report appears to confirm that the $10 million Hope Florida received as part of a settlement with Centene should have covered money owed to taxpayers, despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’s denial.
DeSantis and his team have said that a $10 million donation to Hope Florida was extra cash, a “cherry on top,” or a “sweetener” for the deal.
The Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald obtained a copy of a draft agreement between the state and Centene after Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor overcharged taxpayers by $67 million for medications.
“That’s the exact amount DeSantis officials settled on with Centene last year. But instead of returning all $67 million to state and federal coffers, they sent $10 million of it to the Hope Florida Foundation,” the story published Tuesday said.
“The money was then sent to two nonprofit organizations that aren’t required to report how they spend their funds. Those ‘dark money’ groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by DeSantis’ chief of staff in a series of transactions that some Republican lawmakers believe were illegal.”
Rep. Alex Andrade, a Republican who chairs the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, is planning to question Hope Florida officials and others this week.
Read more on Florida Politics.
Evening Reads
—“As controversies pile up, Donald Trump allies increasingly turn on one another” via Chris Megerian and Zeke Miller of The Associated Press
—”An immigrant held in U.S. custody ‘has simply disappeared’” via Miriam Jordan of The New York Times
—”Defending democracy is easier when you listen to voters” via Nate Silver of the Silver Bulletin
—”Under Pete Hegseth, chaos prevails at the Pentagon” via Greg Jaffe and Helene Cooper of The New York Times
—”Why Florida’s public universities are collaborating with ICE” via Devan Schwartz and Sean Rameswaram of Vox
—”Amid AHCA scandal, Medicaid accountability bill heads to Senate floor” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix
—“Why Florida’s condo owners are so desperate to sell” via Deborah Acosta of The Wall Street Journal
—“Are Q-Pilled family members lost for good?” via Fortesa Latifi of Rolling Stone
—”Gov. Ron DeSantis leaves top offices vacant for weeks with no replacements in sight” via Gray Rohrer of the USA Today Network-Florida
—”Don Gaetz says Joel Rudman has withdrawn bid for Pensacola State College Board” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
Quote of the Day
“(Ron DeSantis) is either misinformed by his shrinking circle, or he’s lying.”
— Rep. Alex Andrade, on DeSantis’ statements on the Centene-Hope Florida scandal.
Put it on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Raise a Burning Rubber to the House Commerce Committee for greenlighting a bill that would bump Florida’s speed limit up a notch.
The Commerce Committee also gets a round of Dragnets for sending a bill that would protect minors from online predators to the chamber floor.
It’s not much, but former Rep. Joel Rudman gets an Exit Strategy for withdrawing his nom and not wasting the Senate Ethics & Elections Committee’s time in the waning days of Session.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Seminoles playing again after shooting
For the first time since the mass shooting that left two dead and six injured at the FSU Student Union, Florida State will play a sporting event as the Seminoles host Stetson tonight (6 p.m. ET, ACC Network X).
Florida State (29-7, 11-4 ACC) leads the Atlantic Coast Conference and is ranked fourth in the D1baseball.com poll this week. FSU pitcher Joey Volini was named the national pitcher of the month for March after winning all five decisions in the month and posting an ERA of 1.09 while striking out 50 batters over 33 innings of work.
Seminoles slugger Alex Lodise was named the midseason national player of the year by D1Baseball. The junior from St. Augustine leads the team with a .434 batting average and has slammed 13 home runs with a team-high 47 runs batted in.
Stetson (27-14, 16-2 ASUN) has already clinched a berth in the ASUN conference tournament.
The meeting is scheduled to be the 98th matchup between the two programs, with FSU holding a 70-27 lead in the alltime series, including winning 19 of the last 20 at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.
Last year, FSU beat the Hatters 7-2 in the NCAA Regionals on the strength of home runs in the first two innings. Florida State went on to win the regional and later the Super Regional, advancing to the College World Series.
___
Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
Elon Musk worries Chinese companies will fill out the world’s Top 10 robot companies—but claims Tesla is, and will stay, No. 1
Kanye West’s Loud Auditions Aggravating Residents in L.A. Neighborhood
Stella McCartney marks Earth Month with London flagship installation
-
Politics8 years agoCongress rolls out ‘Better Deal,’ new economic agenda
-
Entertainment8 years ago
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Entertainment8 years ago
New Season 8 Walking Dead trailer flashes forward in time
-
Entertainment8 years ago
Mod turns ‘Counter-Strike’ into a ‘Tekken’ clone with fighting chickens
-
Tech8 years ago
Microsoft Paint is finally dead, and the world Is a better place
-
Tech8 years ago
Ford’s 2018 Mustang GT can do 0-to-60 mph in under 4 seconds
-
Tech8 years ago
Mobile Google CEO Promises 11 Daydream-compatible phones
-
Tech8 years ago
Hulu hires Google marketing veteran Kelly Campbell as CMO