A new tense period of GOP-led politics in a state that has been trending red over the past several cycles is now reportedly being hinted at by the open tensions between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and members of his own party in the Sunshine State.
This week’s rare intraparty strife reached a height when state Senate President Ben Albritton (R) and state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) ended DeSantis’s proposed special session to carry out President Trump’s immigration agenda.
The Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act, which was presented by Republicans in the state legislature, notably asked for Wilton Simpson, the state’s agriculture commissioner, to be appointed chief immigration officer.
State Senator Joe Gruters (R), a Trump supporter who reportedly has a chilly relationship with the governor, wrote the Senate bill.
In the state that has become as the focal point of the GOP universe, the events signal the beginning of a new era for DeSantis as he tries to win over Trump on his primary campaign issue.
Trump is utilizing a flurry of executive orders and acts, with a focus on immigration, to push his agenda through Washington at unprecedented pace, which coincides with the infighting in Tallahassee.
DeSantis contended that by calling Florida’s special session, the state could serve as a template for other states looking to collaborate with the administration on carrying out the president’s immigration agenda.
Although Republican leaders in the state legislature claim they agree with Trump on immigration, they claim DeSantis’ decision to call a special session caught them off guard.
After making changes to the bill in an effort to reach an agreement with DeSantis and his supporters, state lawmakers passed the TRUMP Act on Tuesday.
Republican lawmakers in Florida claim that the White House helped broker the compromise.
The final result includes, among other things, a requirement that immigrants who are in the country illegally and have been convicted of a capital offense be executed.
Furthermore, it stipulates a maximum penalty for undocumented immigrants who are convicted of a crime and belong to a gang.
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