The gloves have come off in the brewing political cage match between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Senate President Ben Albritton. The feud has gotten downright nasty, as Speaker Perez and Sen. Albritton
call Gov. DeSantis a liar over one of several statements he made in a video rebutting Republican leaders for pushing their Trump Act immigration reform initiative.
“He states in part, ‘Florida localities will provide no meaningful assistance to federal efforts," read the joint press release between Speaker Perez and President Albritton.
“This is a blatant lie about the Florida law enforcement officers who are on the front lines protecting our communities from criminal illegal immigrants each and every day. The fact is that the TRUMP Act is an expansion of existing requirements that a sheriff operating a county jail must enter into a written agreement with ICE to help identify and detain criminal illegal immigrants, including county jails not operated by sheriffs. Law enforcement is our partner, not our enemy. It’s no wonder the Governor’s proposal included criminal penalties for law enforcement. His statement clearly suggests he doesn’t trust the boots on the ground, but we do," added Speaker Perez and President Albritton.
There's more. You can read more for yourself. These are fighting words. The rhetoric used to blunt Gov. DeSantis's video rebuttal to Republican leadership is personal. The bad blood between DeSantis and Perez is personal.
“He also states in part, ‘It unconstitutionally removes authority to enforce the law from the governor to a lower-level cabinet agency, the department of agriculture, that does not oversee state law enforcement.’
“It’s easier to fool someone then to convince them they were fooled. We aren’t trying to fool anybody. We stand on the Constitution, and the truth.”
We saw this coming a mile away. Actually, this bad blood has been flowing for several legislative sessions as Republican lawmakers quietly took issue with DeSantis' alleged strong-armed tactics on legislators.
Back in April 2023, The Floridian reported that Republican lawmakers and lobbyists were growing tired of DeSantis.
“It’s all about DeSantis. This place is run by his iron fist,” said Lobbyist X. " And didn't we just elect him to govern for four more years?"
But personal feuds aside, President Donald Trump won his presidential election because he vowed to end illegal immigration and the criminality it brings with it across the U.S. southern border.
With that said, President Trump's presidential mandate is unmistakable. The President's recent executive orders on illegal immigration, and the ongoing raids to detain criminal illegal aliens across the country speak for themselves.
So who has a stronger immigration proposal in Florida? DeSantis or Albritton and Perez?
Regardless of what eventually transpires during this special legislative session, the upcoming 2025 legislative session could leave Floridians nursing a black eye.
