Chairman's
Message
There is no “don’t say gay”
bill
Elementary school children should not
have teacher-led discussions about sexual orientation or gender
identity in the classroom
Per their
usual arrangement, the media is parroting Democrat talking points. The
latest example of this are the endless biased headlines and inaccurate
stories about the so-called “don’t say gay” bill being routed in the
Legislature.
Let’s be
immediately clear: There is no such bill. It is called the
Parental Rights in Education bill (Senate Bill 1834 and House Bill
1557). The bill is aimed at ensuring that parents have a seat at the
table in determining their children’s education, and a controlling
seat when it comes to the most sensitive and personal topics that most
parents want to teach themselves, including sexual orientation and
gender identity.
In a
broad-ranging bill on Parental Rights in Education, there is this
provision: “A school district may not encourage classroom discussion
about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or
in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate
for students.”
This is the
language that LGBTQ+ activists, Democrats and the media are all worked
up over. But most parents would read that and find it completely
reasonable. It is referring to young elementary school children from
kindergarten through third grade not being subjected to inappropriate
gender identity and sexual orientation discussions and teachings.
These students are way too young for these discussions and it is not
the role of the schools to encourage them.
“The school
district isn’t in charge of introducing complicated topics to the
kids. The parents are in charge,” House Speaker Chris Sprowls said.
Don’t be
fooled. This is another instance of Democrats and the left smearing
Republicans to undermine parental rights and side with LGBTQ+
activists. But parents in Florida and across the country are fed up
with some school boards and teachers pushing their personal agendas on
children. Florida Republicans recognize things have gone too far and
it is time to re-enshrine parental rights in Florida law.
That’s what
this is all about. Period.
–––--––
Operation Pedro Pan was nothing like the
Biden border chaos
Governor
DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Attorney General
Ashley Moody met this week with Cuban Americans who as children were
brought to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan. The meeting, which
also included faith leaders who help human trafficking victims, shined
a light on the Biden administration’s failed border policies which are
endangering migrant children and our nation as a whole. By its own
admission, the Biden Administration has stated that they lose contact
with roughly one out of every three unaccompanied alien children
crossing the Southwest border.
“Operation
Pedro Pan was an organized, pre-planned program administered with
visas and flight manifests to specifically rescue children from an
oppressive Communist regime,” Governor DeSantis said. “While the
flights of Operation Pedro Pan were designed to be hidden from the
Cuban regime, the Biden administration operates its clandestine human
smuggling flights in the dark of night to be hidden from the American
people.”
“Operation
Pedro Pan was authorized and approved by the U.S. Government to bring
refugee children from Cuba to the U.S. in a lawful, controlled, vetted
and organized manner — breaking no immigration laws at the time,” said
Lieutenant Governor Nuñez.
“Florida
stands united against crime, lawlessness, and a federal government
that is using taxpayer funds and clandestine means to flood our state
with unvetted, illegal immigrants — all while keeping our leaders in
the dark about who is being relocated to our state,” Attorney General
Moody said.
Read more, including comments from Pedro Pan
refugees here: https://www.flgov.com/2022/02/07/governor-ron-desantis-faith-leaders-and-pedro-pans-biden-border-crisis-is-harming-children/
FLORIDA
$64 million to protect against flooding
in 8 communities
Governor
DeSantis announced more than $64 million for eight communities,
including the City of Fort Meade in Polk County, through the Rebuild
Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program. Projects include
improving drainage and roadways in neighborhoods, hardening water
systems and stabilizing current water reservoirs to lower future risks
of flooding.
“By
supporting the infrastructure of Florida’s communities, we are
supporting their economic resiliency,” Governor DeSantis said. “Today,
we are helping another eight communities reinforce important
infrastructure that will mitigate the impacts of future disasters,
while building a foundation that will support their future economic
growth.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/02/08/governor-ron-desantis-announces-over-64-million-in-storm-mitigation-funding-to-improve-infrastructure-across-eight-communities/
–––--––
$17.5 million to rebuild infrastructure
for communities hit by Hurricane Michael
Governor
DeSantis announced nearly $17.5 million to strengthen and create
disaster prevention for communities hit by Hurricane Michael, using
funds from the Rebuild Florida Hazard Mitigation Grant Match
Program.
“Repairing
and strengthening infrastructure in the communities impacted by
Hurricane Michael will help minimize the impacts of future disasters,”
Governor DeSantis said. “I am proud to announce these awards to
Florida communities who have been impacted by past storms and my
administration remains dedicated to disaster prevention and recovery
throughout the state to fight against future disasters.”
Read more here: https://www.flgov.com/2022/02/08/governor-ron-desantis-announces-nearly-17-5-million-to-strengthen-and-establish-disaster-prevention-resources-for-communities-impacted-by-hurricane-michael/
–––--––
Governor requests disaster declaration
from freezing temperatures
Governor
DeSantis requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture issue a
Disaster Declaration for counties impacted by freezing temperatures.
Governor DeSantis also requested any assistance available under the
Farm Service and other programs to assist recovery efforts for
agricultural producers.
“Florida’s
farmers play a key role in our state’s economy and my administration
is committed to their recovery from the recent freezing temperatures,”
Governor DeSantis said. “I’ve requested that the USDA approve all
assistance available so that Florida’s agriculture community can
protect remaining crops and prevent any further losses.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/02/08/governor-ron-desantis-requests-usda-disaster-declaration-for-agricultural-producers-impacted-by-freezing-temperatures/
The
Governor’s letter is here: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SGS-BIZHUB22020811050.pdf
The
Disaster Declaration process is here: https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/emergency_disaster_designation_declaration_process-factsheet.pdf
–––--––
Lt. Gov. Nuñez tells Fox viewers Florida
is booming because of freedom
Lieutenant
Governor Jeanette Nuñez appeared on Fox Business this week to talk
about why Florida’s economy is so strong compared to most of the rest
of the nation.
She told
viewers that Governor DeSantis recognized early on that the draconian,
Fauci-led lockdowns negatively impacted people’s overall health and
well-being, along with their economic opportunities. “Now we are
seeing, we have the actual data, that lockdowns don’t work, mandates
don’t work. So here in Florida there is tremendous growth in our
economy and people are flocking to Florida for obvious
reasons.”
She also
pointed out that the data continues to show that Florida’s
freedom-first economic policies create jobs, keep Florida’s economy
moving, and give Floridians the opportunity to thrive.
“Our
economy is booming. What we’ve seen here in Florida is 20 straight
months of private sector job growth, our labor force is growing at 6
times the national average, we’re the number one state in terms of net
migration. We allowed businesses to thrive, we allowed people to work,
and we allowed our children in the classroom.”
Watch her entire interview here: https://video.foxbusiness.com/v/6295250514001#sp=show-clips
–––--––
“Florida will always be a beacon of
freedom”
Attorney
General Moody was on Fox News’ Fox & Friends Weekend talking about
Florida’s response to GoFundMe’s attempt to take donations meant for
Canadian truckers and send them to other charities.
She said
Governor DeSantis was completely right in calling out GoFundMe's
nonsense and that Florida will always fight to protect
freedom.
Watch a clip of her comments here: https://twitter.com/AGAshleyMoody/status/1490346754138591240
–––--––
Val Demings flip-flop
opportunism
In 2020,
Val Demings called the Defund the Police movement “very thoughtful”
and lectured cops rather than the violent rioters in the Washington
Post. In 2021, Demings was silent on the mass lootings and uptick in
violence, even after she voted to release violent criminals from
prison and to allow a pathway to citizenship for gang members and sex
offenders.
But now in
2022, the year Demings is asking Floridians for a promotion, she has
finally decided to recognize the spike in violent crime enabled by
policies she supported, failing to acknowledge that Republicans like
Senator Marco Rubio have been talking about it for months.
Senator
Rubio responded to her rank opportunism:
“Ever since
arriving in Washington, Val Demings has made it harder for police to
do their jobs while enabling violent criminals. Today’s demonstration
is solely motivated by her run for Senate, and is too little, too late
for the many Americans affected by the uptick in violent crime. This
is political opportunism at its worst.”
In
other Val Demings’ news, one of her top fundraisers,
Democratic strategist James Carville, viciously cursed out
unvaccinated Americans on his podcast last week.
“If you ask
me what’s my first reaction to you if you’re not vaccinated, you don’t
have any medical reason not to be, you’re a piece of s---, okay? I
just want to punch you in the god----ed face. That’s the way I look at
these people,” Carville said.
"Val
Demings has aligned herself with a divisive Democrat who is advocating
violence against fellow Americans, and it is completely unacceptable.
Demings should condemn these remarks and stop using Carville to raise
money for her hyper partisan campaign," said Elizabeth Gregory,
communications director for Marco Rubio for Senate.
Social
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