By Kat Cammack

On September 19th, House Republicans voted to keep the government open and spending flat. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats made the choice to shut down the federal government.

While the political blame game plays out on national television, the facts are clear:

• Senate Democrats are pushing an alternative funding bill that includes $200 billion in healthcare coverage for illegal immigrants (which can be found on page 57, section 2141 of their proposal).
• They also want to roll back $50 billion in direct rural healthcare investments and redirect $400 billion in subsidies that go directly to insurance company.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, in an operation led by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, charged seven defendants for their involvement in a multilevel criminal enterprise centered on stealing smoke detectors from The Home Depot.

“This operation is the result of a great partnership between Florida’s Ag Law and our Office of Statewide Prosecution,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “We are proud that Florida doesn’t have stores with merchandise locked behind glass like you see in California, and we intend to keep it that way.”

“Today’s announcement shows Florida means business when it comes to organized retail theft. Our Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement — working with local and state partners — led a months-long investigation that dismantled a major criminal enterprise stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of products from Home Depot stores across our state,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “While too many states are weakening their laws and turning a blind eye to retail theft, Florida is strengthening its laws and holding criminals accountable. If you steal from Florida businesses and citizens, expect to be caught and prosecuted.”

“At The Home Depot, combating organized retail crime is about protecting the safety of our customers, associates, and communities,” said Scott Glenn, vice president of asset protection for The Home Depot. “We’re grateful for the leadership and willingness of Attorney General Uthmeier and Florida lawmakers to stop these criminals, and we remain committed to working with law enforcement and policymakers to address this growing issue.” Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Parental Rights is filing of a civil enforcement action against Roku, Inc. and its Florida subsidiary for violations of the Florida Digital Bill of Rights (FDBOR) and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA).

“Florida families deserve to know what is happening with their children’s personal information,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Parents—not technology companies—direct the upbringing of their children. We will hold any company that conceals or exploits that information accountable.”

Roku is a platform for streaming video content; it acts as a smartphone for your TV, providing access to a vast library of apps for movies, TV shows, live news, sports, and more. Roku is the U.S. market leader in streaming video distribution, reaching 145 million people as of 2024. Continue reading →

On September 19th, House Republicans voted to keep the government open and spending flat. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats made the choice to shut down the federal government.

While the political blame game plays out on national television, the facts are clear:

• Senate Democrats are pushing an alternative funding bill that includes $200 billion in healthcare coverage for illegal immigrants (which can be found on page 57, section 2141 of their proposal).
• They also want to roll back $50 billion in direct rural healthcare investments and redirect $400 billion in subsidies that go directly to insurance companies.

Keep in mind—these insurance subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. Democrats are holding critical programs for working families hostage over a provision that doesn’t even take effect for months.

Meanwhile, our troops are serving without pay, federal law enforcement officers are risking their lives uncertain of their next paycheck, and millions of women and children who rely on WIC are seeing their nutritional benefits run dry.

This reckless shutdown is hurting everyday Americans and putting livelihoods in jeopardy. It’s time for Senate Democrats to stop playing politics and join House Republicans in passing a clean, bipartisan funding extension—the same bill they’ve supported four times before. Continue reading →

As Democrats continue playing politics with your hard-earned tax dollars, let’s be clear on why we’re here.

Democrats are blocking House Republicans’ plan to keep the government open because they’re demanding radical carve-outs, including free health care and special benefits for illegal immigrants. In Subsection E of their counterproposal, they’ve explicitly requested:

• Medicaid coverage for illegal immigrants, even paying more for their emergency care than for American seniors, children, or disabled patients;
• Reinstating Obamacare subsidies for non-citizens that low-income American citizens cannot access;
• Preserving California’s gimmick to funnel Medicaid dollars into its “illegals-only” program.

That’s the real fight: Democrats are willing to shut down government services for you and your family in order to guarantee taxpayer-funded benefits for people here illegally. This is unacceptable.

Here’s what a shutdown means for Florida families, seniors, students, veterans, and small businesses.

• Social Security & Medicare

Social Security checks will still go out. Applications, appeals, benefit changes, and card replacements will continue.

Some services—like benefit verifications, third-party requests, and corrections unrelated to benefits—will pause.

Medicare and Medicaid payments will continue, but it may be harder to reach someone for help due to staff furloughs. Continue reading →

Home ownership is a big part of the American dream and the FAIRtax can play a big part in helping to realize that dream. Under the current income tax system, working families are at a disadvantage when trying to save for a home of their own. *First, there is federal withholding from your paychecks which feeds the government before you can feed your family. Everything you purchase is with post-tax dollars reducing your buying power. *Second, when you purchase items necessary for everyday living, you are paying the 17-30% of the embedded tax costs that are created and hidden within the cost of those items.

Remember, corporations do not pay taxes, they simply pass them along to you in the price at the retail level. *Third, if you try to bank money in a savings account, you are taxed on any interest that may accrue. The same holds true for any investments you may be able to make. How can the FAIRtax help? *First, under the FAIRtax there is no federal withholding from your paycheck giving you an instant “raise” in pay as you bring home what you earn. *Second, although embedded costs will be removed, items for retail sale are subject to the FAIRtax.

This should leave prices relatively the same but remember, you are now purchasing those items with pre-taxed dollars giving you more buying power. Plus you will be receiving the “prebate” which reimburses you for the tax paid up to your poverty line. You can save even more if you purchase “used” goods as these items are no longer subject to the FAIRtax. *Third, under the FAIRtax there is no tax on savings and investments making saving for that home much quicker and easier. For more information please go to FAIRtax.org

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.– Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Heritage Foundation ranked Florida number one in Education Freedom for the fourth consecutive year. Florida’s expansion of school choice and support of parental rights directly led to this top ranking.

“In Florida, we are committed to ensuring parents have the power to make the education decisions that are best for their child,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida offers a robust array of educational choices, which has solidified our state as a national leader in education freedom, parental power, and overall K-12 education.”

“Earning the #1 ranking for Education Freedom for the fourth consecutive year affirms a simple principle: education decisions belong to families,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida will continue honoring parents’ right to choose the best educational option for their child’s individualized needs. I am proud that Florida offers so many educational options that parents can have confidence in.”

The Education Freedom Report Card began in 2022, and Florida has earned the top ranking every year since its inception. The report card uses five categories: school choice, transparency, regulatory freedom, civic education and spending to rank states. Continue reading →

This project is the first to break ground under Florida’s new Everglades restoration acceleration agreement with the

U.S. Department of the Army

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla.–Governor Ron DeSantis marked the official groundbreaking of the Blue Shanty Flow Way project, an important milestone in Everglades restoration which will ensure that more water flows from the to-be-completed EAA Reservoir south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.

“We are acting on our historic agreement with the Trump Administration to expedite Everglades restoration using federal funds and state expertise,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s groundbreaking on the Blue Shanty Flow Way project in Miami-Dade County is a milestone in our Everglades restoration efforts, building on our many previous conservation actions.”

This marks the first event since the State of Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a new landmark agreement on July 18, 2025, to accelerate the restoration of America’s Everglades. Under the new agreement, the State of Florida assumed responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way and anticipates that it will be done about two years faster than planned. Continue reading →

Florida is also home to seven of ten top scoring Large Metropolitan 

Statistical Areas in the nation

  TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Lightcast released the 2024 Talent Attraction Scorecard, ranking Florida as the number one state for attracting and developing a skilled workforce for the third consecutive year. Florida is also home to seven of the ten top scoring Large Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and four of the top ten scoring Mid-Sized MSAs in the nation. The Talent Attraction Scorecard evaluates states based on job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data.

“Florida set an ambitious goal to be number one in workforce education by 2030—and we continue to march towards this achievement,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We’re not just preparing for the future—we’re ahead of schedule, building a workforce ready for high-demand, high-wage careers today.”

In the Lightcast Talent Attraction Scorecard, Florida also earned high rankings in multiple categories including:

• #1 for overall job growth;
• #1 for competitive effect;
• #2 for skilled job growth; and
• #3 for high-earning job growth.

Continue reading →

APALACHICOLA, Fla.— Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the 238^th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by unveiling a new statue of Benjamin Franklin in Franklin County, Florida—honoring one of America’s most influential founding fathers. This statue is the latest feature in Florida’s America250 commemorations.

“Benjamin Franklin was an American original,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We as Americans are fortunate to have had a man like Franklin playing such a big role in the founding of our nation. As we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250^th anniversary next July, we must remember the vision, courage, and unyielding quest for liberty that inspired our founders. Statues like this symbolize our firm resolve to uphold the Constitution, to honor the legacy of our founders, and to embody the values of our nation’s founding.”

“It is a privilege to stand in Franklin County on Constitution Day as we honor Benjamin Franklin—a man whose wisdom, courage, and vision still shape America nearly 250 years after our founding,” said Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins. “Here in Florida, we take pride in our constitutional legacy, rooted in independence and self-determination. Franklin’s life reminds us that freedom is not inherited by chance but secured through civic responsibility and service. While some may seek to erase history, Florida chooses to honor it, ensuring future generations know both their rights and their duty to preserve our republic.”  Continue reading →