Dear Fellow Floridian,

Today, I continued my ‘Make Washington Work Tour,’ stopping in Miami to discuss the impact skyrocketing inflation continues to have on Florida families.

For too long, Washington has rubber-stamped one spending bill after another with no concern about how recklessly spending your tax dollars hurt families and crushes opportunity and weakens the American dream.

Stopping reckless spending and getting our fiscal house in order is the ONLY way we will fix our economy and lower costs, and I am doing everything in my power to do just that. The answer is simple, really, just like you and your family do each month, Congress needs to make a budget and stick to it.

I have to warn you, over the next few months, you will hear the media, far left and Wall Street, sounding the alarm and demanding Congress borrow more money to spend without any accountability in an effort to avoid a doomsday scenario. They will say that anyone who is demanding accountability for your tax money is pushing America to default. Don’t believe these lies. The truth is, they want to raise the debt ceiling because it benefits THEM, ignoring that doing so without reining in spending HURTS YOU.

The status quo is sending us down a path of higher inflation, more debt and a rapid decay of opportunity for families hoping to live their American Dream. Now is the time to stop this from happening.

I am standing with Republicans in the House who are demanding changes now and this week urged my colleagues in the Senate do the same. America cannot afford to kick this can down the road a moment longer.

We must get something done that puts America on a fiscally sustainable path toward less debt, lower costs and more opportunity. Anyone who says otherwise is lying to the American people and neglecting the seriousness of the issues before us.

Read more HERE. For a full update on the state of our economy as of Tuesday, January 24, 2023, click HERE.

Sincerely,

 

Rick Scott

United States Senator

To be the first to find out about Senator Scott’s actions and statements, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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See more of what Senator Scott has been up to this week below.

Sen. Rick Scott to Colleagues: Exactly Two Years Later, I Again Urge You to Reject Raising the Debt Ceiling Without Spending Reforms

Two years to the day since his first letter to them on the debt ceiling, Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to all of his Senate colleagues reiterating his years-long call for Congress to take significant action to address our nation’s $31 trillion debt crisis, stop the reckless spending that’s fueling inflation and hurting families, and take the opportunity to get America’s fiscal house in order as debt ceiling negotiations are underway. Since his initial letter, the federal debt has grown from $27 trillion to more than $31 trillion under total Democrat control – that’s more than $239,000 for every American household, up from $227,000 per household in January 2021.

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Joins Sen. Mike Lee in Leading Letter to President Biden on Debt Ceiling Reform

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and 22 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden expressing opposition to a debt ceiling hike without real structural spending reform that reduces deficit spending. The signatories expressed their intention to abide by the Senate Republican Conference policy that Senator Rick Scott proposed and was unanimously adopted in April 2021 which states that “any increase in the debt ceiling must be accompanied by cuts in federal spending of an equal or greater amount as the debt ceiling increase, or meaningful structural reform in spending, such as the Prevent Government Shutdown Act or the Full Faith and Credit Act.”

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE.

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Amid Democrat Debt Crisis, Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bills for Constitutional Amendments to Make Washington Work for American Families

Senator Rick Scott introduced proposed constitutional amendments as part of his Make Washington Work plan, which would impose term limits on members of Congress, create presidential line-item veto authority for appropriations bills, and require a super-majority vote of two-thirds of each House of Congress to approve any legislation creating new taxes or fees.

Senator Rick Scott said, “I’ve spent the past few weeks traveling the state to talk to Floridians and hear firsthand how they want THEIR government to work better for THEM. It’s clear that the dysfunctional status quo in Washington isn’t working for the American people. Our economy is in shambles under Joe Biden’s failed presidency, with a $31 TRILLION federal debt crisis that Biden and Democrats are determined to ignore, sticking their heads in the sand while families bear the consequences. We’ve all had ENOUGH. If we don’t change how Washington works, we’ll never get our fiscal house in order. It’s time for bold change to reinvent government and put American interests first, and I’m proud to again propose several Constitutional amendments to help make that happen. It is far past time for commonsense policies like term limits for members of Congress, a line-item veto for federal appropriations bills and requiring a 2/3 majority to approve any legislation creating new taxes or fees. It’s time to reimagine government, and these proposals are a great place to start.”

Read more HERE.

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Senator Rick Scott Leads Colleagues in Reintroducing Full Faith and Credit Act to Address Federal Debt Crisis

Senator Rick Scott was joined by Senators Mike Braun, Cynthia Lummis, Katie Britt, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Kevin Cramer, Jim Risch, Marsha Blackburn and Ted Budd in reintroducing the Full Faith and Credit Act to ensure the federal government prioritizes funding for our military, veterans and seniors should the Biden Administration refuse to exercise its existing authority to prioritize these expenses and prevent default. Senator Scott has been demanding that Congress take action to address America’s $31 trillion federal debt and get the reckless spending that fuels it under control. Senator Scott continues to urge his colleagues to refuse to increase the debt ceiling without also enacting true spending reform.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The last two years have made crystal clear that the left, the big government crowd and even Wall Street have found a very clever way to keep America forever stuck in a vicious tax-and-spend cycle where spending always goes up, debt always goes up – and if you dare to disagree – they say you want a default. For them it is a false choice: embrace overspending and massive debt, or be the one who destroys the American economy. That is nonsense and a lie. While Democrats want to maintain the status quo where a default threat looms over Americans every time their reckless spending hits our debt ceiling, I’m fighting to eliminate the threat of default and protect the federal government’s core responsibilities to the American people even while the Biden administration refuses to acknowledge we are in a time of fiscal crisis.

“Since the Treasury refuses to do what it can and must, it is time to pass the Full Faith and Credit Act. This bill would require the government to fulfill critical payments to the debt to avoid default and full fiscal calamity while Democrats refuse to take accountability for their wasteful spending. It would require Congress to ACTUALLY address the debt ceiling crisis. It also ensures Americans depending on important programs like Social Security, Medicare, veteran benefits, as well as our service members, are not punished for Washington’s dysfunction. If Democrats reject this proposal, they are rejecting the protection of the full faith and credit of the United States and REJECTING a solution to the possibility of a default. It’s time for Washington to start living within its means, just like every family and business across the nation does, and preserve the American dream—this bill is a great start.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Hosts Roundtable with Local Business Leaders in Miami on Reining in Reckless Federal Spending, Ending Raging Inflation

Senator Rick Scott hosted a roundtable with the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders about the issues impacting them and discuss his actions to address the dangers of Washington’s out-of-control spending and the growing federal deficit, which are fueling a raging inflation crisis and hurting small businesses. As Congress debates the debt ceiling once again, and families in Florida and across America struggle to make ends meet with ever-rising prices, Senator Scott detailed his plans to rein in reckless spending, unleash American energy, boost the U.S. economy and drive down costs for the American people after two years of President Biden’s raging inflation crisis.

Senator Rick Scott said, “America is on a dangerous path of spending beyond our means and ignoring the consequences. For the last two years, we’ve seen the devastating impact of total Democrat control in Washington and I’ve heard from countless families in our state about the pain it’s causing them at home and in their businesses. Meanwhile, failed politicians in Congress and incompetent bureaucrats in the Biden administration are ignoring this suffering and doubled down on more dangerous policies, burdensome regulations and reckless spending. Today, business and community leaders in Miami made our message clear: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Washington MUST do what every family and business does – live within our means – and start balancing the budget and paying down our unsustainable $31 TRILLION in debt. Reducing the debt, cutting taxes and helping businesses thrive is how we turn this economy around. That’s how we did it during my eight years as Governor of Florida, and I won’t stop fighting until we get it done in Washington.”

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott and Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to End Automatic Raises for Members of Congress

Senators Rick Scott, Mike Braun and Josh Hawley introduced their bill to repeal automatic annual pay raises for members of Congress.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Our country is facing a serious debt crisis that must be addressed—we have hit our limit. America’s credit card is maxed out with $31 trillion worth of debt thanks to Washington’s obsession with spending. Each day that Congress fails to do its basic duties, like pass a budget, or allow the border crisis to go unchecked, Congress has FAILED the American people. In the real world, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid and you definitely don’t get a raise. Congress should be no different, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, Tim Scott & Colleagues Introduce National School Choice Week Resolution

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Representative John Moolenaar (MI-04) in introducing a resolution designating January 22 through January 28, 2023, as National School Choice Week.

In case you missed it, earlier this month, as part of his ‘Make Washington Work Tour,’ Senator Rick Scott hosted a roundtable discussion with higher education and school choice leaders, as well as parent advocates, to hear directly from them and discuss his actions to make higher education affordable for every family and ensure access to educational opportunities that fit students best by maximizing school choice for all K-12 students. Senator Scott discussed several of his proposals to bring Florida’s educational success nationwide, keep tuition affordable, and ensure parents, not the government, have a say in their child’s education.

Learn more about Senator Rick Scott’s fight for school choice HERE. Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott and Cruz Introduce Updated Legislation Building on Vaccine Mandate Ban to Reinstate Service Members Fired Over COVID Vaccine

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Ted Cruz and 11 of their colleagues in introducing the Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots (AMERICANS) Act. The legislation builds off of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes language to repeal the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the Department of Defense and required a report on how DOD adjudicated service member’s requests for an exemption from the mandate on religious and other grounds.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate was disastrous for military readiness and needlessly destroyed the lives and careers of thousands of brave service members. Our brave men and women in uniform put their lives on the line to protect this great country, and the fact that their sincere religious concerns were not handled with fairness and impartiality is unacceptable. We must right these wrongs. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in introducing the AMERICANS Act to ensure this complete government overreach will never happen again.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Reintroduces Bill to Get Americans Back to Work

To kick off the start of the 118th Congress, Senator Rick Scott reintroduced his Let’s Get to Work Act. This legislation encourages Americans who are able to work to return to the workforce by ending the current suspension of work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was put in place during the pandemic, and expands these requirements to apply to all able-bodied adults receiving benefits who are under 60-years-old and do not have children under the age of six or care for incapacitated individuals. This legislation also establishes similar work requirements for individuals receiving federal benefits through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Public Housing and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance programs. Read more about Senator Scott’s proposal in his Wall Street Journal op-ed HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “For too long, the Left has waged a war on work. That needs to end today. Policies put in place during the pandemic to pay people more to sit at home than go back to work are the radical Left’s latest and boldest move to boost government dependency. If we let it go on, it will ruin our country. That’s why, today, I am reintroducing my Let’s Get to Work Act. Americans know that a job is the very best thing for a family. A job creates income, independence and security – it’s the foundation of the American Dream. But living your dreams in this country takes work and I know that firsthand. I grew up poor, lived in public housing and watched my mom work hard every day just to put food on the table. I thank God that she never told me or my siblings to expect a handout and instilled in us the value of hard work. For our country to thrive, we need every American who can work to do so. I believe that any able-bodied, working-age adult who receives government benefits ought to work. This requirement means that those who receive benefits paid for with taxpayer dollars contribute to our economy.

“The American people want to work. People want to support themselves and their families, and be independent, not reliant on government programs. It’s time to get America back on track and leave the disastrous social and economic policies of Joe Biden and the radical leftists in power in the past where they belong. If we’re going to rescue America, it’s time to get back to work and I’ll be continuing my fight every day to get the Let’s Get to Work Act passed and signed into law.”

Read more HERE.

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Senators Rick Scott and Kyrsten Sinema Reintroduce Legislation to Crack Down on Drug and Human Trafficking

Senators Rick Scott, Kyrsten Sinema and James Lankford reintroduced the bipartisan Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act to extend the customs waters territory of the United States from 12 to 24 nautical miles from the baselines of the United States. The Extending Limits of U.S. Customs Waters Act will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) the jurisdiction necessary to keep American families safe from drug and human traffickers. Currently, the USCG has this authority under a Presidential Proclamation, this would codify it into law. With modern technology constantly changing, the 12 nautical mile baseline is no longer sufficient for USCG and CBP AMO to successfully interdict vessels attempting to enter the United States. In the last year alone, Customs and Border Protection reported a record 2.7 million encounters and hundreds of thousands of tons of seized narcotics. These drugs, like fentanyl, still flood into U.S. communities and have taken more than 100,000 American lives in this same timeframe. By doubling their area of operation, AMO, USCG and other federal authorities will be able to better meet this challenge and further prevent these traffickers from reaching our shores. Representative Michael Waltz introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last week, Senator Scott received a briefing from the U.S. Coast Guard, Monroe County Sheriff, and Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations on the local response to the ongoing migrant crisis in the Florida Keys.

Senator Rick Scott said, “What I saw last week in the Florida Keys is unacceptable, our country is experiencing record-high levels of illegal immigration and this needs to stop. Regrettably, we now see Biden’s disastrous policies of our Southwest border spill over to Florida’s shores. The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations keep families in Florida and around our nation safe by patrolling the beaches, shore waters and maritime territory, conducting search and rescue operations and intercepting vessels transporting illegal drugs and the victims of human trafficking. Our bill, the Extending U.S. Customs Waters Act, will extend the United States’ customs waters territory to help ensure our Coast Guard and CBP AMO has the jurisdiction and authority needed to cut down on drug and human trafficking so that families everywhere remain safe. I am thankful for the bipartisan support and I urge all my colleagues to support this important bill.”

Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Sen. Rick Scott Leads Legislation to Stop Biden’s Mass Debt Cancellation at Expense of Taxpayers

Senator Rick Scott, joined by Senators Cynthia Lummis, Mike Braun, John Barrasso and Marsha Blackburn reintroduced legislation to prevent the Biden administration from enacting an overreaching, fiscally irresponsible blanket cancellation of student loans. The Debt Cancellation Accountability Act will require the U.S. Department of Education to obtain an express appropriation from Congress to pay for any federal student loan debts the Department proposes to waive, discharge, or otherwise reduce whenever granted to two or more borrowers in an amount greater than $1,000,000, rather than on a case-by-case basis.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Our nation is facing a staggering $31 trillion worth of debt and we have closed in on the debt ceiling, yet the Biden administration is still attempting to cancel millions of dollars in student loans. This is just another example of how far he will go to appease the radical left. The reality is, a blanket forgiveness of student loans only benefits a small percentage of the population at the expense of millions of other hardworking Americans. Those who have saved to pay for the education they chose to get, or have no debt at all because they chose a valuable career that doesn’t require a college degree, shouldn’t be on the hook to bail out folks that voluntarily took on debt and now want someone else to pay for it. That’s not how the real world works. Our legislation, the Debt Cancellation Accountability Act, will hold this administration accountable to American taxpayers by requiring Congressional approval for any mass cancellation of student debt. When I was governor of Florida, we focused on solving the real problem behind massive student loan debt: the rising cost of higher education. Biden should do the same.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Leads “Read the Bill” Legislation Requiring Congress to Read Bills Before Voting on Them

Senators Rick Scott, Roger Marshall, Joni Ernst and Josh Hawley reintroduced their Read the Bill legislation. This common sense legislation requires members of Congress to have enough time to read bills before voting on them and certify that they have read every bill they cast a vote on. This legislation will also require that a CBO score be made available for the text at least 24 hours before a vote can occur.

Senator Rick Scott said, “One of the prime examples of Washington’s dysfunction is the blatant acceptance that members of Congress are handed a several thousand page bill that spends billions or trillions of taxpayer dollars that’s been negotiated in secret, then expected to vote on it hours later. This is exactly the kind of recklessness that led to Biden’s raging inflation, a sluggish economy and a $31 trillion federal debt crisis. IN ANY OTHER JOB, if you asked someone to approve a document without reading it, you’d never hire them again, but in Washington? It’s the standard. It’s a total failure to the American people – they expect and deserve more than that. This common sense bill simply requires that members of Congress have enough time to read the bills they’re voting on, so they know what’s in them and what it means for the families they represent. I applaud House Republicans’ efforts to pass a rule giving their members more time to review bills. This isn’t controversial, it’s common sense and far past time to put this into practice. I look forward to passing this bill with overwhelming and bipartisan support.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, Mike Braun & Colleagues Reintroduce No Budget No Pay Act

Senators Rick Scott, Mike Braun, Joe Manchin, Rick Scott, Maggie Hassan, Shelley Moore Capito and Katie Britt reintroduced the bipartisan No Budget, No Pay Act. This bill simply states that Members of Congress must fulfill their basic job requirements and pass the annual budget resolutions and appropriations bills on time, or forgo their taxpayer-funded salaries.

Senator Rick Scott said, ““Our nation is over $31 trillion in debt after years of Washington failing the American people and shirking its responsibility of passing a real, balanced budget that prioritizes the needs of American families. Now more than ever, we need to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington, and that starts with holding Congress accountable to do one of its most basic duties: passing a budget. There is no reason members of Congress should be held to a different standard than any other American family or business. In the real world, if you don’t do your job, you don’t get paid. Our No Budget, No Pay bill simply requires Congress to pass an annual budget and meet appropriations bill deadlines, or forgo their taxpayer-funded salaries until the job is done.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Leads Legislation to Stop Biden’s IRS Army, Block Democrat Tax Hikes on Small Businesses and Gig Workers

Senator Rick Scott, joined by Senators Ted Budd and Mike Braun, introduced the Blocking the Adverse and Dramatic Increased Reliance on Surveillance (BAD IRS) Activities Act, which would rescind the roughly $70 billion in IRS funding appropriated by the so-called Inflation Reduction Act for hiring 87,000 new IRS agents, and repeal the invasive and unnecessary reporting requirements on gig workers and small businesses put in place by the Democrats in their reckless American Rescue Plan.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Across America, families are struggling to keep up with Joe Biden’s raging inflation crisis, while skyrocketing interest rates are holding them back from everything from home ownership to starting a business. This is what happens when Washington spends decades recklessly spending taxpayer money and racking up $31 trillion of debt. In the face of these hardships for hardworking families, instead of cutting taxes and regulations to grow our economy and encourage job creation, Joe Biden and Democrats in Washington are hell bent on growing government and hiking your taxes to pay for it. There’s no denying their intentions and they even approved $70 BILLION for 87,000 new IRS agents to make sure they squeeze every penny possible out of American families to fund their radical agenda. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. The last thing folks need is more government in their lives and my BAD IRS Activities Act will stop Biden and the Democrats for using the IRS to terrorize the American people and raise your taxes. Increasing costs and regulations on already-struggling Americans is wrong and I won’t stop fighting to put an end to it.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott and Tommy Tuberville Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Protect Ag Industry from Foreign Interference

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tommy Tuberville in leading a bicameral, bipartisan effort to protect America’s agricultural industry from improper foreign investment. The Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act will bolster the U.S. agriculture industry’s role on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), the governmental body that oversees the vetting process of foreign investment and acquisition of American companies.

Senator Rick Scott said, “If COVID taught us one thing, it is that we must protect and prioritize American supply chains. Bad actors, like the Chinese Communist Party, pose serious threats to our national security and cannot be allowed to interfere with critical assets like food security. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in supporting this bill which will bring more oversight and scrutiny to foreign investment—a big win for the agricultural supply chain and food security.”

Read more HERE.

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Sens. Rick Scott, Tom Cotton & Colleagues Introduce Bill to End China’s Permanent Normal Trade Status

Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Tom Cotton and their colleagues in introducing the China Trade Relations Act to strip China of its Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.

This legislation would require China to obtain Most Favored Nation (MFN) status through annual presidential approval, per the requirements of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. The bill would also expand the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to include human rights and trade abuses as disqualifying factors for MFN status.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The CCP cares about one thing: undermining America. There is no reason why the United States should be helping a communist government’s trade operation through preferential treatment and ‘most-favored-nation’ status. That is absolutely absurd when they are working against us. It is time to put American interests first, not the CCP, and reverse this antiquated law.”

Read more HERE.

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Sen. Rick Scott Issues Weekly Update on Biden’s Inflation Crisis

Following reporting of a 5% year-over-year increase in Personal Consumption Expenditures, Senator Rick Scott released a weekly update on his actions to address America’s debt crisis and rising inflation.

Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Scott has urged government accountability to the American taxpayer. Yesterday, two years to the day since his first letter to them on the debt ceiling, Senator Rick Scott wrote a letter to all of his Senate colleagues reiterating his years-long call for Congress to take significant action to address our nation’s $31 trillion debt crisis, stop the reckless spending that’s fueling inflation and hurting families, and take the opportunity to get America’s fiscal house in order as debt ceiling negotiations are underway. Since his initial letter, the federal debt has grown from $27 trillion to more than $31 trillion under total Democrat control – that’s more than $239,000 for every American household, up from $227,000 per household in January 2021.

In his letter, Senator Scott writes:

We must choose to be innovative and stop passing the failures of past politicians along to the American people through tax increases or cuts in critical services. We can and must simultaneously protect Social Security and Medicare benefits while also making thoughtful choices that reduce unnecessary spending which provides inadequate returns to American taxpayers and increase revenues through job creation and the rebuilding of American manufacturing.

Solving America’s debt crisis and mitigating the devastating impacts of inflation require us to reimagine how the federal government operates. Rising to accept this challenge may be the most important work any of us do in our service to the American people.

Read the full letter HERE. Read more HERE. Lea más en español AQUÍ.

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Fox News: Sen. Rick Scott reacts to Biden accusing GOP of trying to cut Social Security

The Hill: Scott pushes plan to prioritize certain payments if debt limit bill stalls

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott to Newsmax: ‘They’re Trying to Shut Down Our Voices’

Newsmax: Sen. Rick Scott Calls on Governors to Return Federal Funds

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Wants to Extend Customs Waters to Help With Migrant Crisis

Florida Daily: Rick Scott Introduces Bill to End Automatic Annual Pay Raises for Congress

FGA: FGA Applauds Sen. Rick Scott for Introducing the “Let’s Get to Work Act” Requiring Work in Food Stamp and Housing Programs

Senator Scott in Miami

This week, Senator Rick Scott visited Marathon to receive a briefing from U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations on the local response to the migrant crisis in the Florida Keys.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Pensacola

This week, Senator Scott’s team attended a Naturalization Ceremony where 47 immigrants were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

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Senator Scott’s Team at Herbert Hoover Dike

Senator Scott’s team also attended the Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Senator Scott was the first Governor in Florida history to secure state funds to help complete repairs for the federally-operated Herbert Hoover Dike. Under his leadership, the state of Florida committed $100 million to complete this critical project.

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Senator Scott’s Team in St. Cloud

Another stop on Senator Scott’s team made was the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new St. Cloud Hospital Cancer Care Institute.

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Senator Scott’s Team in Tallahassee

Additionally, Senator Scott’s team attended a Naturalization ceremony in Tallahassee.

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TALLAHASSEE
111 N. Adams Street, Suite 208
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 942-8415
WEST PALM BEACH
415 Clematis Street, Suite 201
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: (561) 514-0189
TAMPA
801 North Florida Avenue, Suite 421
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 225-7040
KISSIMMEE
1 Courthouse Square, Suite 300
Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: (407) 586-7879
PENSACOLA
221 Palafox Place, Suite 420
Pensacola, FL 32502
Phone: (850) 760-5151
MIAMI
901 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 505
Miami, FL 33134
Phone: (786) 501-7141
NAPLES
3299 Tamiami Trail East, #106
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 231-7890
JACKSONVILLE
400 West Bay Street, Suite 289
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Phone: (904) 479-7227
ORLANDO
225 East Robinson Street, Suite 410
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 872-7161

WASHINGTON, D.C.
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5274

Fax: (202) 228-4535

 

The holidays are over. The decorations and ornaments have been packed and put away until next year. It’s now time to get busy and work on legislation to benefit you, my constituents, and the citizens of the great state of Florida!

We started Interim Committee Week #4 yesterday and we are now getting a picture of what will transpire during the Legislative Session, which begins on March 7, 2023 in Tallahassee. Members have been assigned to specific committees and are working on bills that they wish to file.

As Chair of the Commerce Committee, I will be overseeing three subcommittees, including Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity; Insurance & Banking; and Regulatory Reform & Economic Development. In addition, I’m a member of the Appropriations Committee. I’m very excited about these two positions as I believe my limited government and limited spending platforms will contribute significantly to keep Florida free from government overreach and wasteful spending of taxpayers dollars.

Education is a top priority for Governor DeSantis and the Florida House. Last week, Speaker of the House, Paul Renner, filed HB1, which will ensure that Florida has the friendliest school choice available. Specifically, HB1 will completely reshape Florida’s education choice landscape and provide families with greater flexibility in determining how to educate their children. Read below for further information on HB1.

This week, Governor DeSantis announced an unprecedented legislative proposal to create a Teacher’s Bill of Rights to include paycheck protection, teacher empowerment and raising teachers’ pay. Read below for further information.

Representative Bob Rommel
District 81

HB 1 – Universal School Choice

Education is a top priority for Florida’s Governor DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner.

 

 

Teachers’ Bill of Rights

On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an unprecedented legislative proposal to create a Teacher’s Bill of Rights that empowers educators to be leaders in their classrooms, enact paycheck protection, reduce terms for school board members from twelve to eight years, and invest another $1 billion in teacher pay.

“This is a huge package to increase teacher pay, support teacher empowerment and protect teachers’ paychecks by ensuring they have control over their hard-earned salary,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We want more transparency into how school unions operate, and we are going to fight against school union haggling that holds teachers and their salary increases hostage. Partisan groups should not be given special privileges.”

“From day one, Governor Ron DeSantis has made it his mission to raise teacher pay and elevate educators in the classroom — and he has succeeded,” said Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. “Today’s announcement goes another step further to provide historic funding for teachers’ salaries and ensure they have control over their classrooms and paychecks.”

Paycheck Protection

The Governor’s proposal will create more accountability and transparency for public sector unions, including K-12 teacher unions and higher education unions. This proposal will require school unions to represent at least 60% of employees eligible for representation, an increase over the current 50% threshold, and allow state investigations into unions suspected of fraud, waste and abuse. Additionally, the proposal will require annual audits and financial disclosures for unions.

To further ensure that school boards are acting in the best interests of Florida’s teachers and students, this proposal reduces term limits for school board members from 12 years to 8 years and seeks to make school board elections a partisan election. A joint resolution for the 2023 Legislative Session has already been filed by Senator Gruters and Representative Roach to begin this process.

Other paycheck protections that would be enacted under this proposal include:

Prohibit any union representing public employees from having its dues and assessments deducted by the public employee’s employer.
Require employees to submit a form acknowledging that Florida is a right to work state and union participation is optional.
Require school unions to annually notify members of the cost of membership.
Prohibit the distribution of union materials at the workplace.
Union officials cannot be paid more than the highest paid union member.
Prohibit union work while on the clock for their taxpayer funded job.
Prohibit school board members and superintendents from accepting a personal or work-related benefit such as a secret “office account” from a school union.
Teacher Empowerment

Since the Governor took office, education has been at the forefront of policy making decisions. Florida law currently contains comprehensive legislation related to students’ rights and parents’ rights in education but does not have a clear compilation of teachers’ rights and authorities. This proposal will establish teacher empowerment provisions in law and will include these main provisions:

Establish a new process for individuals to notify the state of a violation of teachers’ rights and ensure that the Department of Education can investigate those claims.
Empower teachers to maintain safe classroom environments by creating a “stand your ground” classroom safety policy to protect teachers who are often judged unfairly for maintaining order and safety in their classrooms.
Clarify that teachers have the choice to join their local teachers union and will not face any repercussions if they opt not to join.
Providing civil remedies for teachers who are asked to violate Florida law and punished by their employers for standing up for what is right.
Raising Teacher Pay

Since 2020, the Governor has secured more than $2 billion in funding for teacher pay, the largest pay increase for teachers in Florida history. This funding has allowed Florida to achieve an average starting teacher salary of $48,000 for the 2022-2023 school year, meeting and exceeding Florida’s goal of an average starting teacher salary of $47,500. The Governor is proposing an additional $200 million to continue raising teacher pay, bringing the total to $1 billion for teacher pay in his recommended budget for the next year.

This $200 million increase over the current year’s budget will be provided to school districts with maximum flexibility to best fit the school district’s needs. School districts will be able to apply the funding to continue raising starting teacher salaries or to provide salary increases for veteran teachers and other eligible instructional personnel.

No eligible full-time classroom teacher will receive a base salary less than the minimum base salary established during the 2022-2023 school year.

Florida has no income tax and a balanced budget.
Let’s keep it that way!

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Governor Ron DeSantis Vows to Make Protections from COVID Mandates Permanent
Legislation will Enact New Protections for Free Speech for Medical Practitioners

On Tuesday, January 17, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a common-sense legislative proposal to make permanent COVID-19 freedoms in Florida. This strong pro-freedom, anti-mandate action will permanently protect Floridians from losing their jobs due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, protects parents’ rights, and institutes additional protections that prevent discrimination based on COVID-19 vaccine status.

The proposal includes the permanent prohibition of mandates that are continuously proven ineffective, including:

Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine passports in Florida;
Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements in all Florida schools;
Permanently prohibiting COVID-19 masking requirements at businesses; and
Permanently prohibiting employers from hiring or firing based on mRNA jabs.
Included in Governor DeSantis’ proposal are first amendment rights guarantees for medical professionals, ensuring no one loses their job or medical license for voicing their professional opinions in Florida. The legislation will safeguard medical professionals from discrimination based on their personal religious views.

Governor DeSantis remains committed to ensuring COVID freedoms are upheld in Florida and will fight against local governments, businesses, and corporations that attempt to impose authoritarian policies surrounding COVID.

To read the full proposal, click here.

Governor Ron DeSantis Further Prohibits Woke ESG Considerations from State Investments

At the Florida Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis and Trustees of the State Board of Administration (SBA) formally approved measures to protect Florida’s investments from woke environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), ensuring that all investment decisions focus solely on maximizing the highest rate of return. This build on actions taken last year to clearly define the factors fiduciaries are to consider in investment decisions.

“Corporations across America continue to inject an ideological agenda through our economy rather than through the ballot box. Today’s actions reinforce that ESG considerations will not be tolerated here in Florida, and I look forward to extending these protections during this legislative session.”

– Governor Ron DeSantis, January 17, 2023

In addition, Governor DeSantis proposed legislation during the upcoming legislative session to codify the actions taken and rein in the use of discriminatory ESG practices throughout the financial sector by:

Prohibiting big banks, credit card companies and money transmitters from discriminating against consumers for their religious, political, or social beliefs.
Barring financial institutions from considering so called “ESG Credit Scores” in banking and lending practices to prevent Floridians from obtaining financial services like loans, lines of credit, and bank accounts.
Permanently prohibiting SBA fund managers from considering ESG factors when investing the state’s money.
Requiring SBA fund managers to only consider maximizing the return on investment on behalf of Florida’s retirees.
Read more here.

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet Invest Over $17.7 Million to Conserve 3,500 Acres in Florida

On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the investment of more than $17.7 million to conserve more than 3,500 acres across the state. The five properties stretch from Nassau County south to Charlotte County and protect or buffer lands within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a recently designated network of connected lands that is crucial for wildlife habitat. They also complete two Florida Forever projects.

“We will continue to prioritize protecting and restoring Florida’s natural resources for current and future generations.”

–Governor Ron DeSantis, January 18, 2023

Read the complete list of land investments here

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Award of $100 Million for Beach Recovery Following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole

Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of $100 million to support beach nourishment projects within 16 coastal counties impacted by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. This award is in addition to the $20 million awarded in November to help several local governments immediately address erosion concerns while other assessments were ongoing to help inform long-term opportunities for assistance.

“I am pleased to announce another step to expedite recovery of our communities impacted by these historic storm events. This funding will support beach restoration needs, allowing us to rebuild and further enhance resilience.”

–Governor Ron DeSantis, January 18, 2023

The list of awards can be found here

RPOF’s Ben Gibson Named Managing Partner

Ben Gibson, Chief Legal Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida, has been named Managing Partner of the Tallahassee office of the Shutts & Bowen law firm. Gibson’s statewide practice focuses on representing corporate, political, and government clients in appellate, litigation and administrative matters as well as government affairs. He most recently served as general counsel to Governor Ron DeSantis’ successful re-election campaign for Governor and as general counsel to Governor DeSantis’ Transition Team. Gibson has also represented numerous state agencies, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Congratulations Ben!

Read more here.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

“Florida has led the way in protecting its people from medical authoritarianism and these initiatives will make these protections a permanent feature in our laws”
“In Florida, we support medical professionals and their right to free speech and we reject policies that seek to manufacture “consensus” through coercion.”
“I announced an initiative to make protections against coercive biomedical policies permanent”
“When the world lost its mind, Florida was a refuge of sanity, serving strongly as freedom’s linchpin.”
@GovRonDeSantisFL and @FLSurgeonGen have consistently given Florida’s parents the power to decide what is best for their family.
Ron DeSantis is THE Everglades Governor
DeSantis responds to Q about Biden’s classified docs
REMEMBER: Like @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

NEWS ALERT!

Sen. Rick Scott Warns Floridians About IRS Overreach, New $600 Transaction Reporting Requirement

Senate Democrats Block Sen. Rick Scott’s Amendment to Stop IRS Spying, Expansion

Senator Rick Scott secured a full vote of the United States Senate on his amendment to the week-long continuing resolution to stop the IRS from adding 87,000 new agents to audit families and small businesses. Senator Scott’s amendment would also repeal a provision that allows the IRS to spy on every financial transaction of more than $600 made with Americans’ bank accounts through vendors like CashApp, Venmo and PayPal. Although a bipartisan group, including all Senate Republicans, supported the amendment, Senate Democrats ultimately blocked its approval.

Watch Senator Scott’s speech in support of his amendment HERE or below.

Sen. Rick Scott on Senate Floor: Americans Have Had Enough of Washington’s Dysfunctional Spending

Senator Rick Scott spoke on the Senate floor in support of Senator Ron Johnson’s request to unanimously pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded through February 4th, 2023, after Republicans have taken the majority in the House of Representatives. This is the latest action taken over the past several months to support the passage of a CR until after the start of the 118th Congress.

Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee wrote an op-ed for Fox News demanding the passage of a clean CR that extends government funding until after the new Congress begins in 2023. Last month, Senator Scott joined Senators Lee, Ted Cruz and Mike Braun in writing a letter to leadership expressing the need to pass a short-term CR that funds the federal government only until shortly after the 118th Congress is sworn in. Additionally, in September, Senator Scott, along with Senators Cruz and Lee, demanded the passage of a clean CR that simply maintains current federal functions and programs until a new Congress begins in 2023.

Watch Senator Scott’s speech HERE or below.

Sen. Rick Scott Pens Open Letter to Job Seekers: Don’t Work for Biden’s IRS Army

Senator Rick Scott released the below open letter to America’s job seekers outlining several factors they should consider before applying for a job with Biden’s soon-to-be supersized Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This month, Congressional Democrats passed a massive, partisan and reckless tax-and-spend bill which gives the IRS an additional $80 billion in taxpayer dollars and the authority to hire 87,000 new – mostly armed – IRS agents. Senator Scott first released this open letter to job seekers on his new LinkedIn account.

Read the full letter HERE.

How Will This Impact You?

Previously, the IRS required companies like Cash App, Venmo, PayPal to issue Form 1099-K to individuals to report certain payment transactions that had:

Payments that exceeded $20,000, AND
More than 200 transactions within the current year
To comply with a new law passed by Democrats in Congress and signed by President Biden, Floridians must now receive the Form1099-K for payments of all goods and services in excess of $600.

In short, this new law 1) brings down the transaction payment threshold from $20,000 to $600 and 2) removes the minimum threshold of 200 transaction per year.

Questions and Answers

How will this work?

You will receive a Form 1099-K from a Venmo or PayPal (third party network) for income received through electronic forms of payments by Jan. 31 of the following year.

In the near future, your third-party provider may request additional information from you to properly report your transactions on the Form 1099-K. You may be asked to provide your Employer Identification Number (EIN), Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) if this information is not on file.

Your Form 1099-K will report the total gross income in Box 1a received during the year without considering any adjustments, discounts, or refunds.

Your Form 1099-K will include payments from credit cards and online payments. You are required to report any income listed on your Form 1099-K from your business on your income tax return.

Does Venmo, Cash-App and Other Third-Party Network Users Have to Pay a New Tax?

No.

While this new law requires new tax reporting requirements, it does not change the existing tax law, meaning taxable or nontaxable for tax reporting.

Form 1099-K is an informational tax form and may include amounts considered excluded from gross income for tax purposes.

If you receive money considered a nontaxable source, you will not need to report on your tax return.

Some examples of money received that may be excluded from your income are:

Money received from a friend as a reimbursement
Money received from a roommate to pay their share of the rent
Money received from a loved one as a gift
Also, if you receive money from selling a personal item at a loss, you are not required to report the amount on your tax return. For example, if you purchased a dress for $100 and sold it for $50, the amount is not taxable.

But while it does not create a new tax, you must keep good records of any taxable income received.

How to Keep Good Records for Cash App Reporting

Since your Form 1099-K may include both taxable and nontaxable income, keeping good records is essential.

While you may choose any recordkeeping system for your business, you want to select a system that reflects your income and expenses. Your system should include:

Accounting and payroll records.
Bank statements.
Receipts.
Tax forms and returns.
Other business financial records.
You can consider saving your records either in electronic form or manually.

If you are a business owner, it is a good idea to set up separate third-party payment accounts for your business and personal transactions. This way, you can easily track business transactions.

Also, setting up a separate business platform and keeping good records can be beneficial to prove both taxable and nontaxable income sources if the IRS audits your tax return.

Governor DeSantis Signs Legislation Providing Hurricane Relief and Stabilizing Florida’s Property Insurance Market

On Friday, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill (SB) 4-A which provides $750 million for additional disaster relief to Floridians following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. The Governor also signed SB 2-A, the most significant property insurance reform bill in recent history which helps to stabilize our property insurance market, increase competition and strengthen consumer protections.

SB 4-A, Disaster Relief, provides property tax relief for homes rendered uninhabitable due to the storm. Additionally, the bill provides $750 million for the communities impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole.
SB 2-A, Property Insurance, is the most significant property insurance reform bill in recent history, strengthening Florida’s property insurance market.
These bills built upon previous actions taken by the Governor on property insurance including signing House Bill 7065 in 2019 to curtail Assignment of Benefit abuse and SB 76 in 2021 which restructured litigation rules for insurance claims to reduce the burden of excessive litigation.

More information of the provisions of each bill and actions taken during the recent special session can be found here.

Governor Desantis Cuts Tolls in Half

On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that will cut tolls in half for an estimated 1.2 million Florida commuters.

The program will give Floridians with 35 or more toll transactions per month a 50% credit to their account. The Toll Relief Program begins on January 1, 2023, and runs through December 31, 2023.

 

Governor DeSantis Launches Covid Vaccine Investigations

Governor DeSantis held a roundtable discussion Tuesday with Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo and world-renowned physicians, researchers and public health experts to discuss adverse events of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

At the end of the roundtable, Governor DeSantis announced three aggressive actions to hold the federal government and Big Pharma accountable:

Establishing the Public Health Integrity Committee overseen by the Florida Surgeon General to assess federal public health recommendations to ensure that the state’s public health policies fit Florida’s communities and priorities.
Filing a petition with the Florida Supreme Court for a Statewide Grand Jury to investigate crimes and wrongdoing committed against Floridians related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Creating a monitoring system for autopsies of individuals that received the COVID-19 vaccine in Florida and died within 20 days.
The Biden Administration and pharmaceutical corporations continue to push widespread distribution of mRNA vaccines on the public, including children as young as six months old, through relentless propaganda while ignoring real-life adverse events.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/12/13/governor-ron-desantis-petitions-florida-supreme-court-for-statewide-grand-jury-on-covid-19-vaccines-and-announces-creation-of-the-public-health-integrity-committee/

Florida Ranked #1 in Nation for Parent Involvement in Education

Governor DeSantis announced this week that Florida is the number one state in the country for parent empowerment, according to the Center for Education Reform’s Parent Power! Index. The annual Parent Power! Index measures policies that put students first, value the unique needs of every family, and empower parents to oversee their child’s education.

“Parental involvement is important to a child’s success both in school and in life, and in Florida we are proud to protect parents’ right to be involved in a child’s education,” Governor DeSantis said.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/12/12/florida-ranked-1-in-nation-for-parent-involvement-in-education/

AG Moody Calls on Apple and Google to Change TikTok Age Rating

Attorney General Moody called on Apple and Google Wednesday to take immediate action and correct the app store age ratings of TikTok by the end of the year. Attorney General Moody and 14 other state attorneys general said that the change will help parents protect their children from being exposed to harmful content online.

“While our investigation into TikTok continues, it is important that action is taken now to better protect children from harmful content they might encounter on this China-owned social media platform,” Attorney General Moody said. “If TikTok isn’t banned outright, app stores should at the very least increase the age rating on the TikTok app to ensure parents know that this social media platform is not appropriate for users under the age of 17.”

Read more: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/F9481632488D14028525891800701C6D

First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces Over $60 Million in Donations for the Florida Disaster Fund

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced Wednesday that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised more than $60 million in donations to help communities recover from Hurricane Ian.

“It has been heartwarming to witness individuals and organizations come together from all over the country to generously help Floridians rebuild and recover,” First Lady Casey DeSantis said.

The Florida Disaster Fund is the state’s private fund overseen by Volunteer Florida. Last week, Governor DeSantis announced about $35 million in donations to the fund will be used to help in critical home repairs, transportation, food assistance, housing aid, clothing and household goods for those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/12/14/first-lady-casey-desantis-announces-over-60-million-in-donations-for-the-florida-disaster-fund/’

SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Florida will hold the medical establishment accountable by:
• Creating a grand jury to investigate mRNA shots & Big Pharma
• Investigating cardiac-related deaths tied to the mRNA vaccine
• Forming a Public Health Integrity Committee to oversee the medical establishment

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) December 13, 2022

While our investigation into TikTok continues, action must be taken to protect children from harmful content they might encounter on this China-owned platform. If TikTok isn’t banned outright, stores should at least increase the age rating on the app. https://t.co/w3gXFpqh43 pic.twitter.com/TKCgFzYqQ3

— AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) December 14, 2022

This Special Session will put policyholders first. Insurance is supposed to help people get back on their feet after disasters; not shakedown policyholders. Unscrupulous attorneys and other corrupt parties need to go somewhere else. In Florida, we’re done with it.#Time4TortReform

— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) December 12, 2022

The public deserves to know the truth about the mRNA vaccines, which is why @GovRonDeSantis is holding Biden, Fauci, and the medical establishment accountable. https://t.co/ME7r6VKuTu

— Jeanette Nuñez (@LtGovNunez) December 14, 2022

"In Florida, it is illegal to mislead and misrepresent, especially when you are talking about the efficacy of a drug." —@GovRonDeSantis https://t.co/hEowo2qzi6

— Florida GOP (@FloridaGOP) December 13, 2022

REMEMBER: Like @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