TRUMP LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
45Office.com
The official website of the 45th President of the United States will allow individuals to submit correspondence, scheduling requests and press inquiries for President and Mrs. Trump
RPOF CHAIRMAN JOE GRUTER'S MESSAGE
Outstanding leadership leads to outstanding results!
Florida’s unemployment rate continues to plummet, now down to 4.7 percent, well below the national average of 6.2 percent, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Further, Florida has had 10 consecutive months of job growth, gaining more than 19,000 private sector jobs in the month of February. And from April 2020 to February 2021, Florida has gained a total of 735,500 private sector jobs.
As with our COVID-19 numbers, these employment figures don’t lie. Governor DeSantis has done an outstanding job leading the state through challenging times. Dane Eagle, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, points out that Floridians have taken full advantage of this strong leadership: “Floridians are resilient, and it is impressive to see Florida’s unemployment rate plummet as they return to work and more jobs are created.”
Here are some core data points for February 2021:
- Unemployment rate is 4.7 percent;
- Florida businesses gained 19,200 private-sector jobs over the month;
- Labor force was up 55,000 over the month, bringing the February 2021 total up to 10,124,000;
- Florida’s private sector job rate has improved dramatically from 14.3 percent in April 2020.
All of this was the direct result of Governor DeSantis hewing to the conservative American principles of personal freedom and accountability and keeping the state open since last Spring. By standing strong in the face of constant, intense criticism, the Governor has made Florida a shining spot for a rapidly recovered quality of life.
See the stats here:
No Vaccine Passports
Governor DeSantis has issued an emergency executive action to block vaccine passports to be able to travel domestically and internationally.
“We’re not supportive of that. I think it’s something that people have certain freedoms and individual liberties to make decisions for themselves,” the Governor said. “It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society.”
DeSantis said that people shouldn’t need to show proof of inoculation against the virus to go to a game, movie, theme parks, or other social events.
Read more here:
Florida Update
Governor DeSantis signed CS/SB 72 that will provide crucial liability protection to individuals, businesses, educational institutions, religious organizations and health care providers for liability claims related to COVID-19.
Governor DeSantis was joined at the bill signing by Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Senate President Wilton Simpson, Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and members of the respective chambers. Also in attendance at the event was Highway 85, a Tallahassee-based band whose presence was to highlight an industry that has been damaged due to liability concerns from COVID-19.
“Over the course of the past year, our state’s businesses, health care providers and other organizations have been forced to operate in fear of frivolous lawsuits with no merit threatening their livelihoods,” Governor DeSantis said. “Thanks to the hard work of President Simpson, Speaker Sprowls, and quick passage by the House and Senate, that fear ends today with my signing of SB 72, which provides much-needed liability protections against COVID-19 related litigation.
Business Recovery Help
Reducing Florida’s business rental tax by half is part of an update announced by House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson to the proposed e-fairness online tax collection plan.
Under HB 15/ SB 50 about $1 billion of uncollected sales tax due from out-of-state retailers will be collected and deposited into Florida’s Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund annually until the Trust Fund is replenished to pre-pandemic levels. Under the newly announced update, additional funds collected from out-of-state retailers will not go to General Revenue but instead toward reducing Florida’s business rent tax rate from the current 5.5% to 2%. Florida is the only state to charge sales tax on commercial rentals of real property.
Replenishing the unemployment trust fund will prevent an automatic increase in unemployment taxes facing businesses, while ensuring that the fund remains solvent for employees when they need to claim their benefits. Combined with the sharp cut in the business rent tax, this plan will continue to keep Florida’s economy strong.
Read more here:
Florida Joins Suit
Attorney General Ashley Moody has joined 12 other Republican Attorneys General in suing the Joe Biden administration to strike down a provision in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act that would stop states from using the funding to offset tax cuts.
The lawsuit argues federal treasury officials cannot force states to relinquish control of their taxing authority in return for much-needed economic aid related to COVID-19. The states take specific issue with a stimulus bill provision that the coalition refers to as one of the most egregious power grabs by the federal government in the nation’s history.
“The federal government is trying to tell Florida we cannot lower your taxes. This is simply outrageous and a gross power grab by our federal government,” Attorney General Moody said. “We do not need Washington, D.C. politicians further meddling in Florida’s tax policy and prohibiting our leaders from taking action in the best interest of our citizens. As Florida’s Attorney General, it is my duty to stand up for our state’s rights and the sovereignty of the Florida legislature. That is why I am joining attorneys general from across the country in taking legal action against the Biden administration to end this heavy-handed federal overreach.”
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Changes That May Permanently Alter Our Country
