Photo Credit: Governor’s Press Office 

Tampa, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed CS/CS/HB 501: Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans and CS/CS/HB 427: Honor and Remember Flag, at the University of South Florida’s Office of Veteran Success.

“Here in Florida, we take great pride in being the most veteran-friendly state in the nation and I am proud to sign these two bills today to support our veterans,” said Governor DeSantis. “With more than 1.5 million veterans living in Florida, this community makes up an important part of our state’s identity. While we may never be able to fully repay these men and women for their sacrifices, we will continue to do everything we can to support them and their families.”

“I’m proud of Governor DeSantis, our Cabinet and legislature for supporting FDVA and the 1.5 million veterans of our state,” said Danny Burgess, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “Together, we will work to ensure Florida continues to lead the charge as the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.”  Continue reading →

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Boeing announced that it is moving its Space and Launch Headquarters from Arlington, Va. to Titusville on Florida’s Space Coast. Below is what Governor DeSantis, state leaders and elected officials are saying about this important announcement:

“Florida is the world’s premiere gateway to space and our commercial space industry continues to flourish,” said Governor DeSantis. “Boeing’s decision to move its Space and Launch headquarters from Arlington, Virginia to Titusville affirms our state’s position as a national leader in innovation and job growth and will bring increased investment to the Space Coast.”

“We are thrilled Boeing has made the decision to relocate to Titusville, Florida,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “It is further evidence that Florida is the ideal environment for the space industry to continue thriving. We welcome Boeing and encourage others to enjoy the benefits out great state has to offer.”  Continue reading →

Dear Friends,

Let me begin by telling you that it is truly an honor and privilege to be serving you in the Florida Senate. The people in my district, in hometown America, are salt-of-the-earth, hardworking people who love liberty and freedom. It is such a pleasure to sit in your Senate seat and advocate for those principles you hold dear.

Despite you may (or may not) hear from the liberal media about our work in Tallahassee, your Senator, along with great leadership in the Florida Senate, accomplished much for the citizens of the State of Florida. Even though many major news outlets wish to paint a bleaker picture, there have been many advocacy groups and organizations from across the State of Florida that have chosen to celebrate our success from the past few months and offer recognition on our behalf.

This past year, your Senator was recognized by the Space Coast Public Service Awards & Hall of Fame with the Distinguished Merit Award. The purpose of this is to celebrate the value and virtue of the highest standards of public service and commends those professionals who have performed with exceptional skill, technical expertise, commitment, and innovation while demonstrating sustainable results. A special thank you to Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County for this recognition.

We just received word a few days ago that your Senator has received another “A” grade from the Florida Chamber of Commerce. It was pleasure to partner with the Florida Chamber on number of different policy areas that would help to lower the cost of living and cost of doing business on families and job creators, while also preparing for future growth and protecting Florida’s constitution.

Also, the Foundation for Florida’s Future selected your Senator to the 2019 Report Card Honor Roll, and was given the highest grade possible. The Foundation advances policies that challenge the status quo – policies and tirelessly advocates for every Florida child to have access to a quality education that prepares them for lifelong success. The Foundations Honor Roll recognizes those policymakers who took bold action to pass student-centered legislation during the 2019 legislative session.

Finally, your Senator received the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Association of Florida Community Developers (AFCD) for our commitment to providing an effective, efficient, and responsible planning and policy framework that will support economic development while protecting Florida’s many natural assets. The AFCD exists to provide a leadership role in the creation of quality community development and the formulation of a responsible approach to the planning and development of Florida’s future.

Thank you for partnering with me in this fight to preserve faith, family, freedom, opportunity, and life itself. As always, if this office can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dennis Baxley

By TomL

Famous people I have met. A Veteran came to a meeting I was attending some years ago.  I listened to this veteran’s story. He was being escorted around by other veterans helping him tell his story. According to his report, he was the last person alive that raised the flag on Iwo Jima and he felt obligated to tell the true story. He started: It was a day of a lot of dying. His fellow soldiers were falling all around him. After and during the battle a small group of solders put up the flag to show the ships and other solders that they had taken that part of the island. A high ranking military officer was watching with a pair of binoculars from a ship that was just off shore. He was struck by the sight of the flag raising. So after the battle he decided it would make a great photo op to send back home to USA. So he contacted his photographer to meet him on shore. Continue reading →

Friends,

It feels great to be home! The past few months in our State Capitol has again reminded me of the blessing and honor it is to be able to represent hardworking, salt of the earth people in Senate District 12. I thank you for the privilege of letting me work alongside of you to protect freedom and liberty. With the 2019 legislative session officially ending on May 4^th, I felt that it might be good to share with you a few of the big highlights from our work in Tallahassee.

The first big accomplishment was that we killed a lot of bad bills! Out of the 2500+ bills that were filed, less than 200 actually made it all the way through the House and Senate, and Governor DeSantis has already vetoed a few of those. Did some good pieces of legislation die with those? Sure. We didn’t get everything that we wanted but it has been my experience that the more bills that pass, and the more government messes in our lives, the less freedom we have. So, I am very pleased to see that this process is working, and that every decision we make is met with careful inspection and reflection. This process isn’t always pretty, but our country’s great experiment is still the best in the world. Continue reading →

Florida’s largest road project in half a century was given a green light Wednesday, after the House voted to send a bill creating three new toll roads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval. Overcoming opposition from environmental groups and questions about whether the roads were needed, the House voted 76-36 to start the ball rolling on creating one new toll road and extending one new one. The bill would extend the Suncoast Parkway to Georgia, extend Florida’s Turnpike to the Suncoast, and build a new toll road from the Naples area toward Interstate 4 near Orlando. Construction would begin in 2022 and be finished by 2030.

After about seven hours of angry, sometimes deeply painful debate about race and gun violence that spanned two days, the Florida House passed a bill Wednesday that would allow classroom teachers to be armed an expansion of the program it created last year after the Parkland shooting. The debate at times reached emotional heights that had Democrats shouting or tearing up as black members delved into details about their personal experiences with racism and their deep-seated fears about minority children being targeted by teachers who have guns. The bill is now on its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. For teachers and other staff to be armed, school districts must opt-in to the so-called “Guardian program,” which allows teachers and other staff to volunteer to carry a gun on campus after undergoing screening and training by a local sheriff’s office.

May 24^th

Our Back the Blue Campaign continues to highlight individuals that take extraordinary steps to further build positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

This week, I traveled to Fort Myers to present a Back the Blue Award to School Resource Officer Donna Aiossa-McNally who serves at Buckingham Exceptional Student Center. Deputy Aiossa-McNally gave up her office and turned it into a food pantry so that special needs students could learn the shopping experience. By creating the food pantry, students are able to develop important vocational skills, build confidence when making decisions, and bring food home so they do not go hungry at night. This is especially significant at Buckingham because 78 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches.

Deputy Aiossa-McNally is also working towards making the school’s home economics kitchen ADA and wheelchair accessible. This would give students the opportunity to learn how to cook and make meals themselves from the items they picked at the food pantry. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today announced the first arrest in connection with the newly-formed Senior Protection Team. Acting on a complaint sent to the Team, investigators began looking into allegations that a Florida senior fell victim to contractor fraud following Hurricane Michael. The victim’s home suffered damage during the storm. The victim paid a contractor $5,000 for repairs that the contractor never completed.

Working with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, the Team helped build a case that led to the arrest of contractor Mark Kelsoe. The investigation revealed Kelsoe as an unlicensed contractor. Kelsoe is charged with one count of working as an unlicensed contractor during a state of emergency, a third-degree felony.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Anyone trying to take advantage of Florida seniors should think twice before committing fraud. Our Senior Protection Team is working diligently to investigate complaints of senior fraud and abuse. The Team has only been active for a matter of weeks and already their hard work is producing results. Continue reading →

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today visited the Orlando Police Department and presented a Back the Blue Award to the department for providing relief to Puerto Rico law enforcement agencies post Hurricane Maria. Over the past two years, the department gathered gear to help law enforcement maintain order on the storm-ravaged island. The materials consist of radio equipment, ballistic shields, tactical vests, tasers, flashlights, helmets and more. The department delivered the materials, valued at more than $500,000, to Puerto Rico last week.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “The Orlando Police Department and Chief Orlando Rolón went above and beyond to support law enforcement in Puerto Rico. Not only do they dedicate their lives to serving Floridians, they are committed to helping those in need outside of Florida as well. The brotherhood within law enforcement is strong, no matter where you are located, and the care and consideration of this mission is outstanding. Thank you, Orlando Police Department for your tenacity, for representing our State so well and helping our fellow Americans.” Continue reading →