DeSantis fields calls for vetoes: Which ones are loudest?
Last year, DeSantis vetoed five bills and slashed $1 billion from the budget as he braced against economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Florida awaits his first veto this year.
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Ron DeSantis holds a news conference at the Polk County Sheriff s Office, on Monday, April 19, 2021.
By Jim Turner
Updated Earlier today
TALLAHASSEE â Veto season, or at least the annual rite of asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to reject bills, has arrived after the 2021 legislative session.
Groups and individuals are sending emails to the governorâs office urging DeSantis to veto or sign bills, regardless of whether the measures were overwhelmingly backed by the Legislature or eked through.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signs a law that immediately enhances criminal penalties for crimes committed during protests that turn violent.
TALLAHASSEE - Veto season, or at least the annual rite of asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to reject bills, has arrived after the 2021 legislative session.
Groups and individuals are sending emails to the governor’s office urging DeSantis to veto or sign bills, regardless of whether the measures were overwhelmingly backed by the Legislature or eked through.
Some of the loudest calls have come against measures that would impose new election rules (SB 90); impose a ban on transgender females playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams (SB 1028); overturn a referendum in Key West that restricted cruise ships (SB 1194); limit impact fees that developers pay to local governments (HB 337); and block local governments from banning gas stations or mandating that the retailers offer such things as electric-vehicle charging stations (HB 839).
Florida Legislators pass more restrictions on local regulations
Supporters of the measures say they are needed to stop the encroachment of local regulations, smooth out the uneven application of rules and increase business options.
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Florida Sen. Travis Hutson speaks during a legislative session, Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. The natural gas industry was behind SB 1128 that will prevent local governments from banning natural gas as an energy source in new construction and restricts the ability of local governments to decrease the use of natural gas obtained by fracking, which releases methane that is rapidly worsening the climate crisis. Hutson, R-St. Augustine, said the bill was needed as a precaution. [ WILFREDO LEE | AP ]
Florida Lawmakers Pre-empt Localities on Clean Energy Regulation
The Legislature has approved bills to regulate utilities and set clean energy guidelines at the state level. Local governments, along with environmental groups, are strongly opposed.
April 30, 2021 • (TNS) Despite warnings from opponents that the state is asking for more than it can handle, Florida legislators sent bills to the governor this week that preempted local government regulation of utilities and clean energy regulation.
Each of the efforts was opposed by local governments and environmental organizations, especially those in major urban areas which have been more aggressive than the Florida Legislature in advancing policies with sustainable energy practices. They say that local communities are better suited to make those decisions.
Sunburn â The morning read of whatâs hot in Florida politics â 4.21.21
Guilty.
Guilty.
Derrick Chauvin murdered
George Floyd, the hammer of justice sounded loudly on all three counts he faced.
The video of Chauvin’s neck on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes was damning enough. There was more, though. Throughout the ordeal, the smug, superior expression on Chauvin’s face told volumes about the disregard he had for Floyd’s life.
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Image via AP.
This wasn’t a routine arrest over Floyd’s passing of a counterfeit $20 bill. Chauvin’s action that day was racism at its diabolical worst.