Lawmakers in Tallahassee await DeSantis' decision on an immigration package passed by the Florida Legislature Tuesday, and a new proposal could help small businesses around Central Florida and Tampa Bay.
DeSantis says he will primary lawmakers who oppose him on immigration
Lawmakers in Tallahassee are still waiting to see when Gov. Ron DeSantis will veto an immigration bill passed during this week's special session.
The legislature has not sent the bill to the governor for consideration, but he is doubling down on his immigration stance.
Today while in Palm Beach, DeSantis said that he will primary Republican lawmakers up for re-election in 2026 if they don’t back him on what he wants in the state’s immigration bill.
“Now is the time to speak up. Now is the time to be strong," DeSantis said. "But I can tell you, and you follow these primaries, if you are running in the primary with this thing around your neck, you are dead on arrival."
The governor has vowed to veto the bill, saying he does not believe that the bill is strong enough, and he doesn’t like that it takes away his authority on immigration enforcement and gives it to the agriculture commissioner.
The Legislature could overrule DeSantis’ veto, but that would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
Proposed Florida legislation would aid businesses affected by construction projects
With another major road project underway in the heart of Orlando, some lawmakers want to make sure small businesses are protected while facing construction challenges.
House Bill 215 and Senate Bill 324 would provide financial assistance to business owners directly affected in construction zones.
A road project along Summerlin Avenue is now underway and will take three years to complete.
Clean & Classy Barbershop owner Angel Ortiz opened his shop up two years ago near the corner of Washington Street and Summerlin Avenue and is hopeful the project won’t hurt his business.
“It has not been too bad, but we're hoping it does not get any worse," he said. "We have had some clients complaining about the parking and driving in the area."
The Summerlin Avenue Improvement Project is a collaborative effort between the city of Orlando and the Orlando Utilities Commission and will replace outdated utilities and enhance the city sanitary sewer and stormwater systems.
It is a three-year project from South Street to Marks Street.
Ortiz hopes it get done on time, but said clients don’t have the patience for the construction.
“Some of our clients have been complaining about moving out of the area," he said. "Because I live here downtown, because I can’t commute downtown."
Lawmakers are working to create the Construction Disruption Assistance Program to hopefully provide money for small business owners dealing with financial challenges caused by construction zones.
State Rep. Anna Eskamani said she believes the program is essential to help keep businesses alive during these types of public works projects.
“We have so many vacant store fronts across Central Florida. And we have these amazing small business struggling under public works projects," she said. "And it’s important that we take responsibility as government officials, that we don’t unintentionally damage a small business while we are working on a road or utilities."
If passed, applicants will have to submit an application to receive funds that shows documentation of demonstrable loss, and a plan for the use of the money.
Ortiz said it’s good to know there is the potential for a financial safety net during the three-year Summerlin Avenue construction project.
“For us to be able to get help and for me to get help as a business owner, because of construction is definitely a blessing," he said.
If the legislation passes, it would take effect on July 1.
Gabbard defends past controversial views in hearing to oversee U.S. spy agencies
Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, defended her past controversial views and told lawmakers during Thursday's confirmation hearing that big changes are needed to address years of failures of America's intelligence service.
Gabbard lashed out at former intelligence leaders and said that too often intelligence provided to policy makers has been false or politicized, leading to wars, foreign policy failures and the weaponization of espionage. She listed the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a key example of how America's spy services have failed, but she said those failures have continued as the U.S. faces renewed threats from Russia and China.
"The bottom line is this must end. President Trump's reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure and the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community," Gabbard said at the start of her hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Gabbard promised to be objective and "leave her personal views at the door." She noted her military service and said she would bring the same sense of duty and responsibility to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees and coordinates the work of 18 intelligence agencies.
Lawmakers from both parties questioned Gabbard over her past comments about Russia and a 2017 visit with Syria's now-deposed leader. They also raised concerns over her past statements in support of Edward Snowden, who fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about surveillance programs.
Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. She has no formal intelligence experience, however, and has never run a government agency or department.
It's Gabbard's comments, though, that have posed the biggest challenge to her confirmation. Gabbard has repeatedly echoed Russian propaganda used to justify the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine and criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a corrupt autocrat.
She's been accused of spreading Russian disinformation by Republican lawmakers and has even won praise in Russian state-controlled media.