Chairman’s Message

Planning for red tide is paying off

Governor DeSantis’ environmental foresight and commitment is paying off for Floridians as the state is prepared for the red tide growing off the Gulf Coast. The Governor, working with the Republican Legislature, allocated millions for red tide and blue-green algae in this year’s budget because they understand that these are long-term issues that also require rapid responses at times.

And because of that foresight, any state of emergency, as is being urged by some Democrats, would actually hurt Gulf Coast business and affected communities — and perhaps businesses statewide — by scaring away tourists and vacationers. We’ve seen it happen before in crises as the entire state gets painted as having a problem.

“Literally the only thing that would do is hurt some of these people,” the Governor said of declaring a state of emergency. Watch the clip here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dldr14qler1fdbq/RD%20Red%20Tide%20Response%20to%20Kriseman.mp4?dl=0

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/07/21/governor-ron-desantis-surveys-impacts-and-provides-updates-on-states-response-to-red-tide-bloom-in-tampa-bay-area/

Cuba Libra

Governor DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio, along with Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar and other Florida Republicans, showed dynamic and passionate leadership during a town hall Wednesday night hosted by Sean Hannity in Miami’s Little Havana.

The focus of the town hall was Cuba Libra, highlighting the peaceful but giant uprising by the Cuban people determined to create a new government, a new Cuba, that has as its foundation freedom. The coast of Florida is just a few miles from Cuba and America can and should play a key role in helping the Cuban people in their quest to be free. So far, the rudderless Biden White House has been largely missing at this crucial moment.

But Florida leadership, exemplified last night, has been electric in backing the Cuban people and the Cuban Americans in Florida who have poured into the streets in support of a new Cuba.

Governor DeSantis has said Florida companies stand ready to get full internet into Cuba, past the communist government’s efforts to block it, and called on the Biden administration to rapidly approve the action. But President Biden is radio silent on it, reflecting the general confusion in the Democrat Party over how to view this freedom movement in a communist country.

Senator Rubio has been blistering Democrats online and in the well of the Senate, passionately making the case for helping the Cuban people. He is the most important, informed and persuasive voice in Washington on Cuba, and he is moving the listless apparatus of D.C.

Florida

Florida continues to advance childhood education as Governor DeSantis announced that Florida is investing $270 million in literacy initiatives throughout the state during the celebration of the signing of House Bill 3. This means that K-5 students who are reading below grade level can receive quality books at their homes.

The new law creates the New Worlds Reading Initiative, Florida’s first statewide book distribution program. In addition to the New Worlds Reading Initiative for distributing books, the state is also funding other literacy initiatives.

“As a father of three young children, I want every child to have the opportunity to achieve their full potential,” said Governor DeSantis. “The biggest difference we can make in setting Florida children up for success is making sure they know how to read.”

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/07/22/governor-desantis-celebrates-the-signing-of-house-bill-3-and-announces-270-million-in-investments-to-improve-student-literacy/

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Governor DeSantis celebrated the signing of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Act this week. The legislation directs the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to encourage and promote investments in areas that protect and enhance Florida Wildlife Corridors.

To support these efforts, the Florida budget dedicates $300 million specifically to protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor. This funding is in addition to the $100 million that is allocated to the Florida Forever program.

“Today we celebrate another milestone of this year’s legislative session, which was a resounding success for Florida’s environment,” Governor DeSantis said.

The legislation has been roundly applauded by conservation and environmental groups around Florida.

Read more here:

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Governor DeSantis said this week he will continue the fight to free the cruise lines from onerous CDC restrictions by asking a federal appeals court to reimpose an injunction that would block restrictions on the cruise-ship industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor made the comments after a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld CDC restrictions and issued a stay of the injunction. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed a lawsuit in April arguing that the CDC had overstepped, and did not have the legal authority to impose these regulations. In June, a Tampa-based district judge agreed and issued the injunction.

“We are absolutely going to pursue getting the stay removed, either at the full 11th Circuit or at the U.S. Supreme Court,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Central Florida. “I think most courts at this point have had their limit of the CDC issuing these dictates without a firm statutory basis. I am confident we’d win on the merits at the full 11th Circuit, and obviously I am confident we would win at the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Read more here: https://www.wlrn.org/news/2021-07-19/gov-desantis-says-florida-will-fight-ruling-in-cruise-ship-case

Governor DeSantis visited the Southern Border over the weekend to meet with Florida law enforcement officers who have been deployed to Texas to help with the border crisis.

The Governor also met with Texas Governor Abbott for a tour and to receive a briefing on the rise in crime and drug trafficking that Texas is experiencing because of the Biden Administration’s failed border policies. At the briefing, Governor DeSantis announced that the Florida National Guard will remain in Texas to provide additional border support until October 2022.

Florida law enforcement have assisted with the apprehension of more than 2,800 illegal immigrants in 23 days and aided in more than 100 criminal arrests for felonies, including human trafficking, drug smuggling and stolen vehicles.

“We appreciate Texas stepping up where the federal government won’t,” Governor DeSantis said. “When Governor Abbott put out the call for help at the border, we immediately answered because we know that the success in Texas is America’s success.”

He added: “Of the individuals our law enforcement have apprehended at the border, more than 70% said they ultimately wanted to go to Florida.”

Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/07/17/governor-desantis-visits-southern-border-to-meet-with-deployed-florida-law-enforcement/

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It’s been a rough week for Val Demings. She has refused to criticize groups like Black Lives Matter and radical leftists such as AOC, who defend the Cuban communist regime and blame the United States for the plight of the people of Cuba.

And then she failed a basic test on an issue that’s hugely important to Florida: whether she supports the Cuba embargo at the very moment the people of Cuba are rising up against the communist regime. After dodging questions and refusing to take a position on the Cuba embargo, she had to send a spokesperson out to clean up her mess.

You would think Val Demings, who wants to move up to the Senate, would be more versed on a topic this important to Floridians. It’s clear that Demings is not ready for primetime.

Even the media sees it: “…it still would seem like someone taking on a Cuban American incumbent should expect questions about the embargo and what she wants the Biden administration to do about the ongoing situation.” – Florida Playbook

That’s the opposite of Senator Marco Rubio, who has shown himself time and again to be a leader in the fight for freedom for the Cuban people. He knows what he believes and is bold in proclaiming it. Just the sort of Senate leader Florida needs.

REMEMBER: @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state and you are integral to making that happen.

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At 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, the Surfside community and first responders marked the transition from rescue to recovery with a moment of silence. Please keep the Surfside community in your prayers. Please join Floridians and those around the country in continuing to pray for the victims, families, friends and first responders.

Governor DeSantis has been in Surfside almost every day since the tragedy happened, working with state and federal emergency personnel. There is so much work to be done to get closure for families. And then there will be a deep look at what went wrong to ensure it never happens again.

Florida Update

We were fortunate that Tropical Storm Elsa was not a worse storm. Early reports suggest damage was minimal, but the state was prepared because we Floridiana know better than anyone to take these storms seriously.

Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 21-150 declaring a state of emergency for 15 counties that were in the path of Tropical Storm Elsa. Read his order here: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Executive-Order-21-150.pdf

For more information on the storm and help, visit https://www.floridadisaster.org/info/

Updates on the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s resources for Elsa recovery can be found here: https://www.floridadisaster.org/news-media/news/20210706-the-state-of-florida-issues-tropical-storm-elsa-updates/

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Republicans from around Florida were at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds in record numbers for President Trump’s Save America rally on July 3, to celebrate the birth of our nation.

The President delivered on the themes of patriotism and freedom.

Attending leaders included Congressmen Greg Steube, Vern Buchanan, Byron Donalds, Mike Waltz and other elected officials including RPOF Chairman Joe Gruters and Vice Chairman Christian Ziegler. While originally scheduled to speak, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called President Trump to let him know that he regretted not being able to attend due to the Surfside tragedy and what was at the time Hurricane Elsa which was threatening Florida. President Trump agreed with Governor DeSantis’ decision and asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silence to remember the victims of the Surfside tragedy.

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Florida’s monthly revenues continue to soar past expectations, driven by a strong state economy and an increase in tourism-industry tax collections, according to a new report from the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research.

The May general-revenue collections were $3.6 billion, just roaring past expectations for the month by $573.8 million, or 18.9 percent.

“Most remarkable, almost 72 percent of the total gain for May came from sales tax GR (general revenue),” the report said. “For context, May 2020 was the lowest sales tax collection month during the entire pandemic.”

The May numbers marked the 10th consecutive month of exceeding revenue expectations as Florida recovers rapidly from the economic fallout of the response to COVID-19.

Read more here: https://thecapitolist.com/state-revenues-beat-expectations-in-may/

Florida Politics’ Joe Henderson: Gov. DeSantis gets an ‘A’ for leadership in a crisis

The political news site Florida Politics is no right-wing outfit by any stretch. But even they see the strength in Governor DeSantis’ leadership in multiple crisis:

“I think most people would agree the last couple of weeks in Florida scored high on the stress meter, what with the Surfside calamity and Tropical Storm Elsa. In times like this, politics should go out the window while leaders step up and, well, lead. That’s how we judge them.

“We don’t grade these things on the curve, though. The difference between success and failure can hinge on the choice of a word, good or bad. With that in mind, whatever your political leaning, if you’re scoring fairly, then Gov. Ron DeSantis gets an “A” for his handling of this twin crisis.

“He thankfully kept politics out of the mix at the condo collapse and struck a welcomed bipartisan tone with President Joe Biden. He worked well with federal relief efforts and was the compassionate, focused Governor all Floridians needed him to be.

“DeSantis quickly responded when Elsa started heading for Florida.”

Read the rest here: https://floridapolitics.com/archives/439635-joe-henderson-gov-desantis-gets-an-a-for-leadership-in-a-crisis/

Social Media Highlights

REMEMBER: @FloridaGOP and retweet and share. The Republican message must be spread around the state and you are integral to making that happen.

PAID FOR BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. WWW.FLORIDA.GOP