Policy

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) sent out a flurry of posts on social media condemning the recently released bipartisan Senate border deal. The deal would still allow an influx of illegal immigrants into the country through the southern border but provide $20.23 billion for “operational needs and capabilities” as well as resources for the new border […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Mere days after Gov. DeSantis announced that the state's version of the national guard will be sent to the Texas border to fight illegal immigration, U.S. Marine veteran Mark Thieme was unanimously confirmed Monday as the new director for the state guard. This makes Thieme the third director in less than two years. "I […]

The bipartisan border deal has been made public, and many Republicans are already rejecting it. Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) discussed the bill during a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, saying the blame for the border crisis lies solely with President Biden and he can undo it himself. Host Maria Bartiromo asked why the Senate did […]

Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) told The Floridian that a solution to the ongoing border crisis is possible. However, Democrats took too long to acknowledge it, and Republicans now want to keep it an election issue rather than fix it. "It is why people hate Washington. It is why people hate D.C.," he said while condemning […]

Florida Lawmakers Dead-Focused on Social Media, Term Limits for Congress, And AI The fourth week of the 2024 Legislative session has been a whirlwind of news, sweeping up issues such as AI deep fakes, antisemitism, and rising taxpayer dollars. The biggest headline, however, has been Gov. Ron DeSantis, returning to Florida following the suspension of […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Top Republican Lawmaker Sen. Jay Collins has proposed a slew of hard-hitting bills this session, covering issues ranging from foster homes to communism to veterans. In an exclusive interview with the Floridian, he outlined his wide-ranging agenda for 2024's legislative season. "I am unequivocally pro-life," Collins, who is adopted, said of his child permanency […]

By Rep. Gus Bilirakis When I was in my district last week, I met with hundreds of constituents who made it quite clear that the number one issue they are concerned with is securing our border.  Last week, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced 302,034 illegal immigrant encounters at our Southern Border in December - the highest month in […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—A bill banning corporal punishment for students with disabilities passed the House Education Quality Subcommittee unanimously, surprising residents and representatives alike in that corporal punishment still exists within some public schools. "While most counties have banned the practice, corporal punishment is still allowed in 19 counties in Florida," HB 439's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Katherine […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Keiser University kicked off its "Keiser Days at the Capitol" with a Wednesday morning press conference. Joined by Republican Rep. Randy Fine, the college's leaders discussed higher education, nursing shortages, and athletic success. "My message is simply that we live in a great state," Belinda Keiser, the Vice Chancellor of the University, said, "If […]

House Republicans are prepared to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the border crisis, although many contend he is acting on orders from President Biden. As a result, Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) told The Floridian in a recent interview that the grounds for impeaching Mayorkas are equally applicable to Biden. […]

Just how bad is the crisis at the southern border? Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) provided some insight in a recent interview with The Floridian, describing a bill for law enforcement she introduced that would help officers recognize human trafficking,  and provided firsthand testimony to the utterly horrific nature of the enterprise at the border. Rep. […]

With the rapid advent of AI technology, malicious usage of the internet has never been so accessible.  State Senator Lauren Book (D-FL) is responding to new AI images generated of Taylor Swift. Artificial Intelligence has been able to create images, likenesses and audio of people with unprecedented accuracy.  The internet's newest problem has been being […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Artificial Intelligence use in political advertisements faces new regulations with a Florida bill requiring disclaimers of AI use in ads. Violators would be subject to civil penalties imposed by the Federal Elections Commission or an administrative law judge. "The increasing access of sophisticated AI generated content threatens the integrity of elections by facilitating the […]

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has been negotiating a border deal that has earned ire from other Republicans. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), who called for the bill to be "shut down," offered further explanation for his stance in a recent appearance on Fox News Sunday, saying Sen. Lankford is "on a suicide mission" and that President Biden could […]

Florida is one of twenty-five states that have shown support for Texas and its defense of the border, contrary to the Biden Administration. As part of this support, Florida Attorney General (AG) Ashley Moody is fighting in court against an appeal by the White House to overturn a ruling made last year in favor of […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Gov. DeSantis has weighed in on potential legal concerns for the social media ban for minors bill that passed the House Floor Thursday. Gov. DeSantis explained that while he agreed with the bill, it was likely to evolve to expand parental rights. "I think social media has been a net negative for our youth […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida takes a step toward further intervening in the Texas border crisis with a new bill expanding Governor DeSantis' control of the State Guard. The State Guard is under the Governor's final and ultimate authority, and HB 1551 would allow him to deploy his guard nationwide. “We've got FHP Fish and Wildlife, we've had […]

TALLAHASSEE, FL—Florida's State Board of Education announced last week their imposition of "strict regulations" on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives on college campuses, leading the James Madison Institute, a libertarian non-profit think tank, to laud the state's efforts. The board's ruling will prohibit taxpayer funds going toward DEI programs and replaces the "Principles of Sociology" […]