DeSantis Signs 94 Laws, Vetoes 4 Others

[jaxlongtimer]

Give DeSantis and inch and he takes a mile... now without even going through the legislature:

DeSantis to expand so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law to Florida high schools
The proposal would not require approval by Florida lawmakers

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/education/2023/03/22/desantis-ban-teaching-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-all-grades-florida-dont-say-gay/70038685007/

This creeping grab at autocratic decision making along with fanning culture wars, looking for imaginary scapegoats and clamping down on dissenting speech in the name of "wokeness" echoes moves by dictators.  See Putin, Xi, Hitler, etc.  You were warned...

[Todd_Parker]

Give DeSantis and inch and he takes a mile... now without even going through the legislature:

DeSantis to expand so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law to Florida high schools
The proposal would not require approval by Florida lawmakers

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/education/2023/03/22/desantis-ban-teaching-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-all-grades-florida-dont-say-gay/70038685007/

This creeping grab at autocratic decision making along with fanning culture wars, looking for imaginary scapegoats and clamping down on dissenting speech in the name of "wokeness" echoes moves by dictators.  See Putin, Xi, Hitler, etc.  You were warned...

Have to blame the Florida Democratic Party for putting up an uninspiring, retread of a candidate.

[vicupstate]

Give DeSantis and inch and he takes a mile... now without even going through the legislature:

DeSantis to expand so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law to Florida high schools
The proposal would not require approval by Florida lawmakers

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/education/2023/03/22/desantis-ban-teaching-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-all-grades-florida-dont-say-gay/70038685007/

This creeping grab at autocratic decision making along with fanning culture wars, looking for imaginary scapegoats and clamping down on dissenting speech in the name of "wokeness" echoes moves by dictators.  See Putin, Xi, Hitler, etc.  You were warned...

Have to blame the Florida Democratic Party for putting up an uninspiring, retread of a candidate.

How about blaming the voters who had a better option and didn't take it.

[jaxlongtimer]

Hypocrisy on steroids from DeSantis regarding the Trump indictment... incredulous!  From one who literally just wrote a book on this.

....Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's best-polling Republican opening, is backing him on the New York indictment.                 

"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," DeSantis said in a statement. "It is un-American."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct," DeSantis said. "Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent."...

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/30/donald-trump-indicted-new-york-grand-jury/11445455002/

[tufsu1]

Hypocrisy on steroids from DeSantis regarding the Trump indictment... incredulous!  From one who literally just wrote a book on this.

....Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's best-polling Republican opening, is backing him on the New York indictment.                 

"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," DeSantis said in a statement. "It is un-American."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct," DeSantis said. "Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent."...

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/30/donald-trump-indicted-new-york-grand-jury/11445455002/

Yep - the dismissal of State Attorney Andrew Warren comes to mind

[jaxlongtimer]

Hypocrisy on steroids from DeSantis regarding the Trump indictment... incredulous!  From one who literally just wrote a book on this.

....Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump's best-polling Republican opening, is backing him on the New York indictment.                 

"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head," DeSantis said in a statement. "It is un-American."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg "has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct," DeSantis said. "Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent."...

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/30/donald-trump-indicted-new-york-grand-jury/11445455002/

Yep - the dismissal of State Attorney Andrew Warren comes to mind

That's only the tip of the iceberg in my book.  I consider it abuse of the legal system when laws are passed to penalize anyone who disagrees with him (minorities, women, LGBTQ, protesters, trial attorneys, school teachers, unions, Democrats, gun control advocates, doctors, scientists, universities and their faculties, immigrants, etc.) .  Then there is the lash out at Disney, the lady that was fired for questioning the vaccine information issued by the State, the replacement of New College trustees and firing its president and the removal of four Broward county school board members.  The list goes on.... and on.

[Todd_Parker]

Looks like the State legislature is changing up the rules again to allow republican governors to run for federal office without having to resign their State office. Of course, this will be changed back immediately after the 2024 election cycle in case a democrat was to be elected governor.

[jaxlongtimer]

DeSantis loses another court battle.  I have lost track at how many of his initiatives have been struck down but it is a lot.  Wasting millions in Florida taxpayer dollars on legal fees defending laws that offend the majority of Floridians just so he can appeal to a base to launch a presidential bid.  If he gets that far, from what I have read, even many Republicans can't stand the guy.

Between term limits and, hopefully, not getting elected president, I hope the countdown has begun on the sunset of his political career.  The damage he has done to Florida will take a generation to undo.

Federal judge knocks down Florida's Medicaid ban on gender-affirming treatment
"Gender identity is real. The record makes this clear," U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/21/florida-gender-affirming-ban-00103067

[jaxlongtimer]

DeSantis loses two days in a row!  It is just ridiculous how much he has offended constituents, caused fear and anguish among the populace, wasted taxpayer dollars and more over getting unconstitutional and outrageous laws passed by his lap dog legislature so he can appeal to his base to run for president.

The legislature should be embarrassed wasting their resources and time on bills for his base vs. taking care of business that really matters to the great majority of Floridians and makes our lives better.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/23/federal-judge-blocks-florida-from-enforcing-ban-on-minors-attending-drag-shows-00103461

[valhalla]

DeSantis looses two days in a row!  It is just ridiculous how much he has offended constituents, caused fear and anguish among the populace, wasted taxpayer dollars and more over getting unconstitutional and outrageous laws passed by his lap dog legislature so he can appeal to his base to run for president.

The legislature should be embarrassed wasting their resources and time on bills for his base vs. taking care of business that really matters to the great majority of Floridians and makes our lives better.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/23/federal-judge-blocks-florida-from-enforcing-ban-on-minors-attending-drag-shows-00103461

This one is confusing me. The law in question is SB 1438, which "prohibits a person from knowingly admitting a child to an adult live performance." The law goes on to define an adult live performance as "a presentation that depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, or specific sexual activities"

From the article: "Hamburger Mary's frequently hosts "family-friendly" drag performances where children are invited to perform.

The company argues that the family-friendly drag shows, while not obscene, could be banned under the new law and has canceled some events."

The law is very specific. As long as Hamburger Mary's doesn't admit children to live shows that simulate nudity, sexual conduct, or specific sexual activities, they will be in the clear. The only reason I can come up with that they are suing the state is because they want to be able to admit children to shows that depict or simulate nudity, sexual conduct, or specific sexual activities.

So my question is why do they want so badly to admit children to shows that depict or simulate nudity, sexual conduct, or specific sexual activities?


Link to the law: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1438/Analyses/2023s01438.rc.PDF

[Charles Hunter]

valhalla, your link goes to the staff analysis of the bill. Here is a link to the actual bill, which includes more reasons the state can fine or close a business than you list.  https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1438/BillText/er/PDF

(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Adult live performance" means any show, exhibition, or other presentation in front of a live audience which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities as those terms are defined in s. 847.001, lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts when it:
1. Predominantly appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest;
2. Is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community of this state as a whole with respect to what is suitable material or conduct for the age of the child present; and
3. Taken as a whole, is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present.

The portions I have italicized, and that you omitted, are subjective, and could be used by overzealous prosecutors, police, or agents of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, as given here in the new law

509.261 Revocation or suspension of licenses; fines;
procedure.
(10)(a) The division may fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public lodging establishment or public food service establishment if the establishment admits a child to an adult live performance, in violation of s. 827.11.
(b) A violation of this subsection constitutes an immediate serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare for the purposes of s. 120.60(6).
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the division may issue a $5,000 fine for an establishment's first violation of this subsection.
(...)
Section 3. Paragraph (l) is added to subsection (1) of section 561.29, Florida Statutes, to read:
561.29 Revocation and suspension of license; power to subpoena.—
(1) The division is given full power and authority to revoke or suspend the license of any person holding a license under the Beverage Law, when it is determined or found by the division upon sufficient cause appearing of:
(l) Maintaining a licensed premises that admits a child to an adult live performance in violation of s. 827.11.86
1.   A violation of this paragraph constitutes an immediate, serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare for the purposes of s. 120.60(6).

With the "immediate, serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare" language it sure sounds like the beverage agents could immediately close an establishment if there is a minor (<21?) where there is a performance meeting any of those subjective criteria in the first quote from the bill. How long will it take a Hamburger Mary's or other business to get their license back after such an immediate closure? How much money will they lose while waiting?

With the history of this governor staging enforcement stunts (arresting people for "illegally voting" when their local Supervisor of Elections issued them registration papers), it is not out of the realm of possibility for DBPR (an agency under the governor) to recruit some mature-looking 16-year-olds to stage sting operations. Even if the underage agents have fake IDs, that is not a defense for the business.

2. The age of the child.
(2) A person's ignorance of a child's age, a child's misrepresentation of his or her age, or a bona fide belief of a child's consent may not be raised as a defense in a prosecution for a violation of this section.

[jaxlongtimer]

Another dangerous creation of Ron DeSantis, an armed militia (budding army?) accountable only to him and empowered to not only "serve" Florida but any state in the country that DeSantis deems harboring "threats" to Florida citizens. 

Already ballooning from a civilian based 200 who were to supplement the National Guard in disasters and emergencies to a fully armed military unit of 1,500 with boats and planes to "enforce the law" anywhere, anytime.

Shades of the Wagner group in Russia.  Tell me DeSantis isn't an authoritarian planning, potentially, to be much more dangerous if elected to a higher office, giving him the full resources of the Federal government.

Hard to believe there could be someone scarier than Trump but I believe DeSantis has answered that call.  Clearly not liking Trump but, at this point, I hope Trump thumps DeSantis out of the running.  Scary times in the USA.

Veterans quit as training, mission for DeSantis' State Guard turn militaristic

.....When DeSantis announced in 2021 he wanted to revive the long-dormant State Guard, he vowed it would help Floridians during emergencies. But in the year since its launch, key personnel and a defined mission remain elusive. The state is looking for the program's third leader in eight months. According to records reviewed by the Herald/Times and interviews with program volunteers, a number of recruits quit after the first training class last month because they feared it was becoming too militaristic...

....DeSantis' office referred questions to Major General John D. Haas, Florida's adjutant general overseeing the Florida National Guard.

In a statement, Haas said the State Guard was a "military organization" that will be used not just for emergencies but for "aiding law enforcement with riots and illegal immigration."...

....Three former members told the Herald/Times the program veered from its original mission.

"The program got hijacked and turned into something that we were trying to stay away from: a militia," said Brian Newhouse, a retired 20-year Navy veteran who was chosen to lead one of the State Guard's three divisions.

The original leadership team envisioned a disaster response team of veterans and civilians with a variety of practical skills, according to Newhouse. Two other former military veterans, who asked not to be named for fear of potential consequences and later quit, expressed similar concerns over a change in the State Guard's mission....

....Unlike the National Guard, State Guard members can't be deployed by the federal government. They answer only to the governor.

Lawmakers in 2022 added stipulations saying that members could only be called up in an emergency and couldn't operate outside the state. Those requirements were dropped a year later....

....By March, however, the state's vision began to change.

That month, state lawmakers and the governor revealed that they wanted to assign the State Guard $89 million to buy boats, planes and helicopters. They wanted a specialized unit within the guard to have police powers and the ability to carry weapons.

And they wanted to boost the State Guard to 1,500 members. Instead of being activated only during emergencies within Florida, they could be sent to any state to "protect and defend the people of Florida from threats to public safety."...

....While nearly half of states have volunteer state guards, usually with military structures, few, if any, appear to have equivalent powers. Texas, for example, has deployed its State Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, but members can't carry guns or make arrests and don't have aircraft....

....The program now finds itself leaderless for the second time in less than a year. Most of the original leadership Soler appointed have quit....

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/veterans-quit-training-mission-desantis-184158359.html

[BridgeTroll]

I wonder if they have upgraded their equipment... 

The organization was provided with 1,948 .30 caliber M1917 rifles, 140 .45 caliber (Thompson) submachine guns, and 14 .30 caliber (Browning) machine guns. It also maintained 20 1 ½ ton Chevrolet trucks, 8 reconnaissance command trucks, 1 Ford V-8 pickup truck, 3 armored 4x4 scout cars, 3 ½ ton 4x4 Dodge ambulances, and 1 Terraplane Coupe M1935 automobile.

https://floridastateguard.my.site.com/s/history

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Waiting for the order for tanks, armored vehicles, cruise and intercontinental ballistic missiles, fighter jets, bombers, battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, nuclear weapons... after all, we are surrounded by immigrants, commies, Chinese, Russians, Koreans, Iranians, Venezuelans, Cubans, LGBTQ's, minorities, women wanting abortions, divorcees demanding alimony and child support, sex crazed pornographers, cross-dressers, librarians promoting corrupting books, atheists, agnostics, blue staters, gun control advocates, Democrats, college professors and students, scientists, doctors, public health experts, Disney-philes, former criminals, rioters, protestors, environmentalists, liberals, moderates, insurance companies leaving the state, financial companies promoting ESG investing, fake voters, voter registration groups, the press and media folks, scoundrels promoting DEI, COVID worriers, vaccine endorsers, welfare recipients, Medicaid beneficiaries, public school advocates, teachers, locals demanding local governance, rogue school superintendents, school boards and state attorneys, unfair election officials ....... Just woke everywhere!

Florida is truly a swamp and DeSantis is out to clean it up, forcefully, if necessary.

[jaxlongtimer]

DeSantis continues his dictatorial ways as he removes yet another democratically elected official, now the State Attorney for Orange County.  This follows his removal of the State Attorney for Hillsborough County and removal of school board members in Broward that refused to bow to his commands. 

These people were fairly elected so why does DeSantis think he should override the will of the voters?  Because he is a wanna-be dictator.  His fans on the Jaxson can say otherwise but actions speak louder than words.  Disagree with DeSantis and he will viciously come after you.  That is not democracy in action.

DeSantis suspends elected Florida state attorney Monique Worrell, accusing her of being soft on crime

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended Monique Worrell, the state attorney for Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit, accusing her of under-prosecuting criminals in her jurisdiction.

An executive order signed by DeSantis and Secretary of State Cord Byrd accused Worrell of "systematically" allowing criminals to evade incarceration, either by dropping charges or declining to allege provable facts.

Worrell, a Democratic elected official who took office in 2021, accused DeSantis of peddling a "false narrative" and engaging in "political gamesmanship."

"We all know that this is not about policy or anything that I've actually done," she said.

Worrell alleged that the Republican governor "and his cronies have been searching for a reason for my suspension for well over a year now."

The suspension was announced at a surprise press conference Wednesday, at which DeSantis claimed Worrell had been "clearly and fundamentally derelict" in her duties.

Her actions constitute "both neglect of duty and incompetence," according to the executive order the governor signed.

While DeSantis acknowledged that prosecutors like Worrell "have a certain amount of discretion about which cases to bring and which not," he accused Worrell of having "abused that discretion."

Worrell's suspension is effective immediately. DeSantis appointed Orlando Judge Andrew Bain, reportedly a member of the conservative Federalist Society, to fill her post.

It's the second time as governor that DeSantis has taken executive action against an elected state attorney over accusations of being soft on crime.

DeSantis last year suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren after Warren said he would not enforce state restrictions on abortion or gender-related surgery. A federal judge affirmed the suspension but said DeSantis had violated the attorney's free speech rights.

DeSantis on Wednesday expressed confidence that his latest action was legal.

But Worrell vowed to fight her suspension and continue her reelection campaign.

"This should not happen in a democracy," she said, noting that she is losing her salary and her benefits.

She also defended herself against accusations about her track record as a state attorney, citing police statistics that show "crime is down" in Orange County and in her judicial district.

The surprise move to dismiss an elected state official came as DeSantis struggles to gain ground in the Republican presidential primary.

Once seen as a major contender to former President Donald Trump, DeSantis has appeared to slide in national polls of the race.

His campaign, which is still less than three months old, has fired dozens of staffers in recent weeks. On Tuesday, he replaced his campaign manager with his gubernatorial chief of staff.

"He replaced his campaign manager yesterday, and I guess today it's my turn," Worrell said Wednesday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/desantis-suspends-elected-florida-state-attorney-monique-worrell.html