Florida State Wide
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis delivered the State of the State address to a joint session of the Florida Legislature and Floridians everywhere, highlighting Florida’s strengths while reporting on the promising prospects for the future with the support of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Governor DeSantis said, “In 2019, we took bold steps to expand educational opportunities, protect our environment and natural resources, reform health care, invest in infrastructure and bolster public safety – all while reducing taxes and adding to our budget reserves. While we should look with favor on these bold beginnings, we have much more to do.
“For everything there is a season, and this is Florida’s season of opportunity – we have the chance to build on a strong foundation, the chance to face the challenges before us and the chance to leave a legacy of success that will benefit our people now and in the future. There is no reason why we can’t seize this moment and deliver for the people of Florida.”
Friends,
Legislative discussion in Tallahassee continues, and I have been encouraged by a lot of what our leadership has accomplished so far. Vigilance from you, the voter, is still very important at this stage as we are beginning to see which bills are running out of time, and those (which we may or may not like) that are still pressing forward through the committee process.
Quick update on the SB 404, the Parental Consent for Abortion Act that I have written about previously. The bill has just made it through its second committee of referral and only faces one more hurdle before being sent to the Senate floor for a vote. Thank you to all of you who traveled to Tallahassee to advocate and support this good legislation, and for those you back home who supported us through word-of-mouth and more importantly, prayer. I am very optimistic that we will get this passed, and parents’ rights will be restored. Continue reading
This purchase would be the largest wetland acquisition in a decade and will permanently save the land from oil drilling.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reached an agreement with Kanter Real Estate LLC., that will allow for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA 3) within the Everglades Protection Area located in Broward County. This acquisition would represent the largest wetland acquisition in a decade.
“One of my administration’s top environmental priorities has been expediting Everglades restoration,” said Governor DeSantis. “Today we take another step in the right direction by reaching this agreement between DEP and Kanter Real Estate that will allow for the purchase of 20,000 acres of critical wetlands. This significant purchase will permanently save these lands from oil drilling. I’m proud of our progress but also recognize this is just the beginning. I will continue to fight every day for the Everglades and Florida’s environment.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chair of the Statewide Task Force on Opioid Abuse, today in Miami convened the group’s third meeting. The meeting, held at Miami Dade College, focused on the recovery process and innovative programs to promote and sustain long term recovery for Floridians struggling with Opioid Use Disorder.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Today we heard from medical professionals, recovery specialists and a woman who struggled for years to overcome a powerful drug addiction, about how we can better serve those struggling with Opioid Use Disorder. By focusing on recovery and innovating the ways we help those struggling with addiction, we can change lives, heal families and reduce the death and destruction caused by the national opioid crisis in Florida.”
The recovery-themed meeting highlighted barriers to recovery, support systems for patients, Medication Assisted Treatment and effective peer recovery strategies. Task Force members heard from Jacksonville Fire Chief Mark Rowely about an innovative program reducing repeat opioid overdoses in Duval County. Project Save Lives, a partnership between Jacksonville Fire and Rescue and local hospitals, has proven successful in reducing successive trips to the emergency room for survivors of opioid overdoses. More than 70 percent of patients treated at a partnering hospital have enrolled in the program that provides additional engagement and follow-up treatment. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today filed a petition regarding the Adult Use of Marijuana initiative. The initiative’s ballot summary claims it will permit adults to possess, use and buy marijuana. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Using and possessing the drug is and will still be a crime under federal law. Federal penalties for possessing the Schedule 1 Controlled Substance are and will remain significant.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Facts matter. Before Florida voters are asked to make critical changes to our state constitution, those facts should be made clear. That’s why, by law, any citizen initiative seeking to amend the state constitution must offer voters a summary explaining the legal effect of that amendment—painting a full picture of the important choice voters are asked to make. This initiative suggests to voters that their vote will allow for conduct that will remain illegal with significant penalties.” Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody thanks Congress for passing the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act. The TRACED Act, passed by the U.S. Senate Thursday, is designed to reduce the number of illegal robocalls and stop spoofing—the practice of using technology to disguise a caller’s phone number. The Act will now go to President Donald J. Trump for his signature.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Passing this Act is vital step in our fight to stop illegal robocalls and the scams that often accompany them nationwide. We must stop the inundation of robocalls that has been the norm for far too long. This legislation will also give us better tools for going against the practice of spoofing so we can better protect consumers.” Continue reading
On December 20, 2019, in News Releases, by Staff
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the Florida Talent Development Council has submitted their strategic plan to improve education and training attainment by Floridians and to align the programs and credentials offered in Florida with the needs of employers.
“I would like to thank Mr. Schleicher and the members of the Florida Talent Development Council for their service and commitment to the development of Florida’s workforce,” said Governor DeSantis. “Ensuring that Floridians are prepared for the jobs in the 21st century is critical to the future success of our great state.”
The 16-member council, composed of legislative, business, workforce development and postsecondary education leaders, was tasked to develop a coordinated, data-driven, statewide approach to meeting Florida’s needs for a 21st century workforce that employers and educators use as part of Florida’s talent supply system. Continue reading
Dear President Trump,
On behalf of all Floridians, thank you for working with the U.S. Congress to develop the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and for signing it into law.
While not the first appropriation successfully secured by your Administration to rebuild this critical base, the decision to spend over $2 billion for reconstruction efforts for Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) sends a strong message to the personnel assigned to the base and to residents of Bay County that they are not alone in their efforts to rebuild from Hurricane Michael. Additionally, we appreciate your Administration’s recent decision to base a wing of F-35 Lightning II fighters at the redesigned Tyndall AFB, which will be the most modern, most completely networked and interconnected fighter in the military’s inventory.
Secondly, thank you on behalf of our military communities for supporting the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP). Florida’s military families benefit from the off-base community infrastructure projects that support mission readiness and resilience, including utilities, transportation, emergency response, schools, hospitals, and other off-base infrastructure. Continue reading
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis applauded President Donald Trump for securing $200 million for Everglades restoration in the federal budget that the President signed into law yesterday. Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has championed historic investments in Everglades restoration and water quality to protect Florida’s precious natural resources. Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis joined Senator Marco Rubio and Senator Rick Scott in asking President Trump to include $200 million for Everglades restoration in his federal budget.
The $200 million federal appropriation secured by President Trump for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration is a $130 million increase in Everglades restoration funding from last year. This important funding advances critical Everglades restoration projects including the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project, which will help reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries and send more water south.
“President Trump has followed through on his promise to deliver for Florida and America’s Everglades,” said Governor DeSantis. “This investment in Everglades restoration will build on our efforts at the state level for critical projects like the EAA Reservoir, the Caloosahatchee Reservoir and the C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area. I look forward to continuing to work with the President and our local, state and federal partners on preserving and restoring Florida’s environment.” Continue reading
Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope that all of you had a safe and wonderful holiday season. My family enjoyed all the time we shared together and I was especially grateful for the opportunity to spend some time in our mountain home in North Carolina that we don’t get to visit nearly enough. 2020 is already shaping up to be an exciting year in the world of government and politics and the Presidential Election is sure to capture the majority of the news over the next year. More on that later.
As we say hello to 2020 and goodbye to 2019, let us take a look at a couple of highlights from this last year and for all that we have to be thankful.
During 2019, crime rates in Florida continue to decrease. We just had a chance to look at FDLE’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which showed crime dropped 6.1 percent compared to the first half of 2018 with almost 17,100 fewer reported incidents. This can be attributed, firstly, to those men and women in law enforcement who are doing an excellent job holding the blue line. Secondly, we can thank some fantastic leadership, chosen by you, in our county sheriff’s departments across the state. In addition, our city police chiefs and state law enforcement directors are among the very best, anywhere in the world and we should be very proud of the work they do. Thirdly, because the people of this state have chosen solid, conservative leaders to send to Tallahassee that will protect the rights of individuals to take responsibility for themselves and others. Continue reading
