Politics
Inspired by Elon Musk and Donald Trump, two Republicans want to deregulate Florida agencies
Inspired by Elon Musk and President Donald Trump cutting the fat in federal government, a pair of Republican lawmakers said they want to get rid of red tape in Florida, too. Their new bill would deregulate the state by expiring many agencies’ rules after eight years unless they get readopted and would make it easier for people to challenge the state’s rules in court.
“With more than 170,000 regulatory restrictions, Florida ranks 11th nationally in bureaucratic burden — putting it in the company of high-regulation states like New York and California,” said a joint press release put out by Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. Tiffany Esposito.
Burgess and Esposito’s legislation (SB 448/HB 305) would exempt the rules from ending in eight years if agencies are required to comply with federal law or receive federal money, or if they are rules under agencies run by elected officials or rules set from authority in the state constitution.
“An agency may not adopt any rule or issue any guidance document unless the agency has been expressly granted the power to do so by a specific statutory delegation,” the bill also outlines.
When asked for the reason behind the bill, a spokesman said, “Rep. Esposito has been boots on the ground in her day job as CEO of Southwest Florida Inc., listening to businesses frustrated by costly, bureaucratic roadblocks that serve no real purpose. She’s also inspired by President Trump and Elon Musk’s work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce the size of government.”
Their bill would also require regulatory agencies to do a cost-analysis and determine regulatory costs for rules.
Later, “an agency shall conduct a retrospective cost-benefit analysis for each adopted rule 4 years after the rule’s effective date,” the bill states.
The bill also allows people to challenge the enforcement of the state’s rules “based solely on the grounds that the agency lacked express statutory authority to adopt the rule,” the bill states. “Any party that prevails on such a challenge shall be entitled to recover reasonable costs and attorney fees.”
One reason why people could challenge the rules is if the agency didn’t provide the cost analysis or give estimated regulatory costs, according to the bill.
“President Trump got right to work reining in the size of government and putting an end to wasteful spending, and with this legislation, Florida will be ready to follow suit. By cutting through bureaucratic red tape and keeping regulations in check, we will ensure our state government is working smarter, businesses have the opportunity to flourish, and our economy continues to thrive,” Burgess said in a statement.
Added Esposito, “Government should serve the people, not the other way around. The bill aligns with President Trump’s call to shrink government and focus taxpayer dollars on real priorities.”
The lawmakers said their bill is supported by the Cicero Institute, a billionaire-backed think tank from Texas making headlines recently for working with states, including Florida, to ban homeless street camps. Its website says it wants “bold policies for a more functional future.”
“Unnecessary rules cost Florida businesses billions in lost productivity and compliance,” said Jonathan Wolfson, Policy Director at the Cicero Institute. “This bill moves Florida closer to becoming the nation’s leader in cutting bureaucratic waste.”
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Politics
There’s a new Sheriff in town, but he can’t do much to reshape his agency. Lawmakers hope to change that
Citrus County Sheriff Dave Vincent came in hamstrung when he took office in January.
Vincent’s plans to reorganize the agency were met immediately by a little-known state law specific to Citrus County that protects employees during a new sheriff’s transition.
House Bill 629, added to Statute in 2001, says the new Citrus County Sheriff must keep the same staff for six months, can’t reduce anyone’s salary by more than 6%, and can’t drop a commander or captain by more than one rank.
Vincent’s predecessor, Mike Prendergast, had issued about a dozen promotions in the weeks following his Primary loss to Vincent.
That should no longer be an issue following this year’s Session.
The Citrus County Legislative Delegation — Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and Rep. JJ Grow — agreed Friday to file a local bill that would repeal HB 629.
“It was very obvious the bill was outdated,” Grow, an Inverness Republican, said.
Vincent said laws are already on the books with protections for sheriff’s employees. He said repealing the Citrus County law won’t help his transition, but it will remove restrictions for future sheriffs.
“I’m looking out for the next man or woman who takes my position,” he said.
Friday’s Legislative Delegation was the first for Grow, who was elected in November in House District 23.
Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican, chaired the meeting. Other highlights:
— Ingoglia said he and Grow will file a bill calling for military veterans with 100% disability to no longer pay tolls. “We hope this is a slam dunk,” he said.
— Grow said he supported the City of Inverness’ $2 million request for an RV campground at Whispering Pines Park to generate revenue. “Makes a lot of sense,” he said.
— Melissa Bowermaster, executive director of Jessie’s Place Child Advocacy Center, requested $150,000 for designing an expansion. Ingoglia not only supported the request, he suggested he may ask for more.
— LifeStream Behavioral Center sought $2 million toward construction of a 60-bed behavioral services campus in Lecanto. Citrus and Hernando counties combined have pledged $4 million, the Legislature previously awarded $2 million, and LifeStream is covering the rest of the estimated $16 million project.
— Citrus County YMCA, which opened its doors in Lecanto in 2016 after an $8.3 million local capital campaign, is seeking $1.2 million to complete an expansion.
— Ingoglia said he would be requesting $350,000 for the Crystal Memorial Gardens restoration project. Crystal Memorial Gardens is an historic African American cemetery just outside Crystal River. Ingoglia said he has support from the Florida Legislative Black Caucus.
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Edmonds was captured by Nazi forces and refused an order to separate out Jewish American soldiers from other POWs.
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz is behind bipartisan legislation to honor a World War II veteran whose heroics likely saved the lives of a few hundred Jewish American soldiers.
Moskowitz is joining U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, a Tennessee Republican, to sponsor a bill posthumously awarding Roddie Edmonds the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal.
Edmonds is one of just five Americans honored by Yad Vashem as “Righteous Among the Nations.” That’s because Edmonds, after being captured by Nazi soldiers, refused to identify Jewish American soldiers within a prisoner-of-war camp, thus saving them from being targeted or even killed.
“During a period of darkness, hatred, and vile antisemitism, Roddie Edmonds showed unmatched bravery and solidarity,” Moskowitz said in a prepared statement announcing the legislation.
“His decision to stand by his fellow soldiers against the atrocities of Nazi Germany saved hundreds of Jewish American lives, and Congress can’t let that be forgotten. By honoring Roddie with this Congressional Gold Medal, we will stand with a humble American hero and ensure that his legacy of moral fortitude lives on.”
Edmonds was a master sergeant in the Army’s 422nd Infantry Regiment during his World War II service. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and was taken to the POW camp Stalag IX-A along with more than 1,000 Americans. Historians say it was there that the Nazis ordered Edmonds to disclose which soldiers were Jewish, even threatening him with death. But Edmonds refused.
It’s estimated that around 200 Jewish soldiers were in that POW camp along with Edmonds at the time.
Edmonds survived the war and passed away in 1985.
“Roddie Edmonds showed incredible bravery that should make every American proud,” Burchett said.
“He fearlessly faced down Nazi soldiers during World War II and saved hundreds of Jewish lives when he refused to turn in his fellow Jewish service members, even at gunpoint. This Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting way to honor his legacy.”
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