Legislators in Tallahassee expect Desantis’s decision on an immigration package approved by the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, and a new proposal could help small businesses around the center of Florida and Tampa Bay.
Stories in this episode of political connections
Desantis says that primary legislators oppose it in immigration
Legislators in Tallahassee are still waiting to see when Governor Ron Desantis will veto an immigration bill approved during this week’s special session.
The legislature has not sent the bill to the governor for consideration, but is doubling its immigration position.
Today, while in Palm Beach, Desantis said that primary republican legislators will prepare for re -election in 2026 if they do not support it in what they want in the State Immigration Law.
“Now is the time to speak. Now is the time to be strong, “said Desantis.” But I can tell you and you follow these primaries, if you are running in primary school with this thing around your neck, you are dead upon arrival. “
The governor has promised to veto the bill, saying that he does not believe that the bill is strong enough, and that he does not like to take away his authority to the application of immigration and give it to the Agriculture Commissioner.
The legislature could cancel Desantis’s veto, but that would require a two -thirds majority in both cameras.
Florida’s proposed legislation would help companies affected by construction projects
With another important road project in progress in the heart of Orlando, some legislators want to make sure that small businesses are protected while facing construction challenges.
Chamber’s Bill 215 and Senate Bill 324 It would provide financial assistance to business owners directly affected in construction areas.
A road project along Summerlin Avenue is already underway and will take three years to complete.
The owner of Clean & Classy Barbershop, Angel Ortiz, opened his store two years ago near the corner of Washington Street and Summerlin Avenue and has the hope that the project will not harm its business.
“It hasn’t been so bad, but we hope I don’t get worse,” he said. “We have had some clients complaining about parking and driving in the area.”
The Summerlin Avenue improvement project is a collaboration effort between the city of Orlando and the Orlando Services Services Commission and will replace obsolete public services and improve rainwater systems and sanitary sewers of the city.
It is a three -year project from South Street to Marks Street.
Ortiz hopes to be done on time, but said that customers have no patience for construction.
“Some of our clients have complained about moving outside the area,” he said. “Because I live here in the center, because I can’t travel in the center.”
Legislators are working to create the construction interruption assistance program to provide money to small businesses that deal with the financial challenges caused by construction areas.
State representative Anna Eskamani said she believes that the program is essential to help keep companies living during this type of public works projects.
“We have so many front store fronts in the center of Florida. And we have these incredible small businesses that fight under public works projects, “he said.” And it is important that we assume responsibility as government officials, that we do not involuntarily damage a small business while we work on a road or public services. “
If approved, applicants must submit a request to receive funds that show demonstrable loss documentation and a plan for the use of money.
Ortiz said it is good to know that there is the potential of a financial security network during the Summerlin Avenue construction project of three years.
“So that we can get help and for me to get help as a business owner, due to construction it is definitely a blessing,” he said.
If the legislation is approved, it would come into force on July 1.
Gabbard defends the controversial opinions passed to the hearing to supervise the espionage agencies
Tulsi Gabbard, the election of President Donald Trump to be director of National Intelligence, defended his past controversial views and told the legislators during the confirmation hearing on Thursday that great changes are needed to address years of failures in the service of intelligence of the United States.
Gabbard lashed out at former intelligence leaders and said that too often the intelligence provided to political leaders has been false or politicized, which leads to wars, failures in foreign policy and the weapon of espionage. She listed Iraq’s US invasion as a key example of how the United States spy services have failed, but said that these failures have continued as the United States faces renewed threats from Russia and China.
“The conclusion is that this must end. The re -election of President Trump is a clear mandate of the American people to break this cycle of failure and weapons and politicization of the intelligence community,” Gabbard said at the beginning of his audience before the committee of Senate intelligence.
Gabbard promised to be objective and “leaves his personal views at the door.” He noticed his military service and said he would contribute the same sense of duty and responsibility to the office of the director of National Intelligence, which supervises and coordinates the work of 18 intelligence agencies.
The legislators of both parties questioned Gabbard about their previous comments about Russia and a 2017 visit with the now deposed leader of Syria. They also raised concerns about their previous statements in support of Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after he was accused of revealing classified information about surveillance programs.
Gabbard, a former Hawaii Democratic congressman, is a Lieutenant Colonel of the National Guard who was deployed twice in the Middle East and run for president in 2020. However, he has no formal intelligence experience and has never directed an agency or agency or Government department.
However, it is Gabbard’s comments that have raised the greatest challenge for confirmation. Gabbard has repeatedly echo the Russian propaganda used to justify the invasion of the Kremlin to Ukraine and criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a corrupt autocrat.
She has been accused of spreading Russian misinformation by Republican legislators and has even gained praise in the media controlled by the Russian State.