Don't be 'passive': DeSantis prods lawmakers with tough new proposals on illegal immigration
DeSantis aims to convene a special session, creating a confrontation with the Republican leaders in the Legislature.
TroibNews 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to new laws aimed at combating illegal immigration, despite hesitance from Republican legislative leaders to act before the regular session starts in March.
During a news conference on Wednesday, DeSantis pointed to the impending Trump administration as a catalyst for urgency around immigration reform. He implored lawmakers to adopt an approach that was not “lackadaisical” but rather “bold” and “strong.”
This announcement intensified DeSantis' ongoing power struggle with lawmakers who have recently assumed leadership roles. Florida House Speaker Danny Perez and Florida Senate President Ben Albritton expressed their support for the upcoming president but labeled any special session proposed for later this month as “premature” and “irresponsible,” noting that Trump had not yet disclosed his executive orders and the Legislature would convene for its regular session on March 4.
In response to a question about the standoff, DeSantis criticized the idea of inaction after “four years of Biden’s really destructive border policies,” stating, “This is the time to act.”
The DeSantis administration is reportedly puzzled by the legislative leaders' reluctance to respond. An unnamed high-ranking official from the administration indicated that the concepts for a special session should not have surprised lawmakers, mentioning that DeSantis had raised concerns about the state’s condo crisis as far back as last fall.
While legislative leaders did not publicly address DeSantis’ comments, spokespeople for both Albritton and Perez stated that they had not been given much advance notice about the special session announcement. They did receive a detailed summary of legislative proposals last Friday.
Katie Betta, a spokesperson for Albritton, and Amelia Angleton, a spokesperson for Perez, shared in a joint email that Albritton was informed of the special session by DeSantis just 15 minutes before the official announcement. Meanwhile, Perez was in transit to Miami and received the notification via voicemail. They noted that legislative leaders had yet to see any specific bill language from the governor's office, though any member could propose legislation.
DeSantis revealed on Wednesday that he had already consulted with Trump and the president-elect’s policy team regarding their plans, with Trump commending DeSantis for his decision to call the special session.
The four-page document provided to legislative leaders covered more than just immigration, encompassing various policy areas.
Regarding immigration, the governor’s office recommended that law enforcement officers face misdemeanors and elected officials face felonies for failing to fully cooperate with immigration law enforcement. Additionally, it suggested broadening DeSantis’ migrant transport initiative to enable the relocation of migrants outside the United States.
Furthermore, the governor's office proposed significant alterations to the process by which citizen initiatives qualify for the ballot in Florida. One suggested change would allow the secretary of state, who reports to the governor, to decertify initiatives if it is determined that a petition lacks sufficient valid signatures. The state’s election crimes office had previously identified fraudulent signatures on petitions related to an abortion access amendment.
Lastly, the DeSantis administration proposed a solution to the state's condo crisis, suggesting that the State Board of Administration, which oversees the state's pension plan, manage a loan program for condo associations, where the state would guarantee up to 50 percent of the loan.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a news conference on Wednesday, DeSantis pointed to the impending Trump administration as a catalyst for urgency around immigration reform. He implored lawmakers to adopt an approach that was not “lackadaisical” but rather “bold” and “strong.”
This announcement intensified DeSantis' ongoing power struggle with lawmakers who have recently assumed leadership roles. Florida House Speaker Danny Perez and Florida Senate President Ben Albritton expressed their support for the upcoming president but labeled any special session proposed for later this month as “premature” and “irresponsible,” noting that Trump had not yet disclosed his executive orders and the Legislature would convene for its regular session on March 4.
In response to a question about the standoff, DeSantis criticized the idea of inaction after “four years of Biden’s really destructive border policies,” stating, “This is the time to act.”
The DeSantis administration is reportedly puzzled by the legislative leaders' reluctance to respond. An unnamed high-ranking official from the administration indicated that the concepts for a special session should not have surprised lawmakers, mentioning that DeSantis had raised concerns about the state’s condo crisis as far back as last fall.
While legislative leaders did not publicly address DeSantis’ comments, spokespeople for both Albritton and Perez stated that they had not been given much advance notice about the special session announcement. They did receive a detailed summary of legislative proposals last Friday.
Katie Betta, a spokesperson for Albritton, and Amelia Angleton, a spokesperson for Perez, shared in a joint email that Albritton was informed of the special session by DeSantis just 15 minutes before the official announcement. Meanwhile, Perez was in transit to Miami and received the notification via voicemail. They noted that legislative leaders had yet to see any specific bill language from the governor's office, though any member could propose legislation.
DeSantis revealed on Wednesday that he had already consulted with Trump and the president-elect’s policy team regarding their plans, with Trump commending DeSantis for his decision to call the special session.
The four-page document provided to legislative leaders covered more than just immigration, encompassing various policy areas.
Regarding immigration, the governor’s office recommended that law enforcement officers face misdemeanors and elected officials face felonies for failing to fully cooperate with immigration law enforcement. Additionally, it suggested broadening DeSantis’ migrant transport initiative to enable the relocation of migrants outside the United States.
Furthermore, the governor's office proposed significant alterations to the process by which citizen initiatives qualify for the ballot in Florida. One suggested change would allow the secretary of state, who reports to the governor, to decertify initiatives if it is determined that a petition lacks sufficient valid signatures. The state’s election crimes office had previously identified fraudulent signatures on petitions related to an abortion access amendment.
Lastly, the DeSantis administration proposed a solution to the state's condo crisis, suggesting that the State Board of Administration, which oversees the state's pension plan, manage a loan program for condo associations, where the state would guarantee up to 50 percent of the loan.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
