Governor Ron DeSantis is gearing up to lead the Florida legislature this week in an ambitious effort to pass a slate of conservative policies.[0] This includes a proposal to ban abortions after six weeks, as well as further restrictions on the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 classrooms and the allowance of firearms without state license. Meanwhile, the Republican-backed legislature is also looking to revamp Medicaid and health coverage, as well as introduce measures to prevent affirmative action and critical race theory in public school curricula.
The 2023 session marks a critical point for DeSantis, who is widely expected to launch a presidential bid in 2024. In preparation for his bid, the Governor has embarked on a book tour and made trips to other states, where he is seen as a formidable alternative to former President Donald Trump.
The Governor has also been involved in highly-contested issues such as the potential elimination of Medicaid coverage for 1.75 million Floridians, the introduction of in-state tuition for undocumented residents, and the proposed amendment of a “resign to run” law that would allow DeSantis to run for president while serving as Governor.
With the Republican-controlled House and Senate, DeSantis is expected to enact the conservative policies he ran on in 2018. However, the Democratic minority and other pro-choice advocates are voicing their opposition, and many of the proposed bills have already sparked controversy. As the Republican supermajorities move forward with their agenda, the coming weeks are sure to prove a critical point for the Florida legislature and DeSantis’s 2024 presidential bid.
0. “Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers State of the State address” WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm, 7 Mar. 2023, https://www.wptv.com/news/political/gov-ron-desantis-state-of-the-state-2023
