House Bill 999, or the Public Postsecondary
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—“DeSantis impresses in Iowa, showing up an absent Trump” via Nicholas Nehamas and Maggie Haberman of The New York Times
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“Ron — not Don — and an act of God descend on Iowa” via Natalie Allison and Sally Goldenberg of POLITICO — The anticipated Hawkeye State split screen between two candidates leading Republican polls failed to materialize as Trump canceled his rally amid severe weather warnings, giving DeSantis all the attention as he traversed the state. “If we focus the election on the past or on other side issues, then I think the Democrats are going to beat us again,” DeSantis told a Sioux Center crowd, one of several veiled jabs at Trump. “And I think it’ll be very difficult to recover from that defeat.” DeSantis’ attempts to connect with voters in Iowa — including making an unannounced stop at a Pizza Ranch restaurant — show he is at least attempting to up his game ahead of his anticipated launch.
“In Iowa, DeSantis embraces campaign rituals — but keeps some distance” via Hannah Knowles and Dylan Wells of The Washington Post — Rep. Randy Feenstra turned around to brandish his pork chop to the mob of reporters watching him grill with DeSantis. “That’s a good Iowa chop there people — look at that, huh?” the Republican congressman from Iowa said with a grin. DeSantis, as he often does, steered the conversation toward policy. “I can’t believe … that Supreme Court, court ruling with the California stuff,” the Florida Governor said, turning to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on his right. He was apparently referring to a recent decision that upheld a ban on certain pork sales.
“DeSantis in Iowa calls for ‘positive alternative’ to Joe Biden. Though absent, Trump’s presence was felt” via Brianne Pfannenstiel, Katie Akin, Stephen Gruber-Miller of the Des Moines Register — Later, (DeSantis) stopped to join a smaller group of supporters and interested Republicans at the Sioux Center Pizza Ranch, where plates of fried chicken and pizza sat mostly untouched as the crowd mingled with the Governor, clamoring for selfies and autographs.
Appearing with his wife, DeSantis spoke briefly to the crowd, saying their family is looking forward to the Iowa State Fair. He also praised another Iowa culinary favorite, Casey’s breakfast pizza.
“These gas stations, that’s a huge deal for us, because we’re stopping, we’re on the road,” DeSantis said. “ … I’ll tell you, and I’m a very tough critic on the gas station. Casey’s is legit. That breakfast pizza is legit.”
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—”DeSantis in Iowa warns of GOP ‘culture of losing’ as weather sidelines Trump’s event in the state” via The Associated Press
“DeSantis rolls out a major slate of Iowa endorsements” via Alex Isenstadt of POLITICO — DeSantis is set to unveil the endorsements of more than three dozen Iowa state legislators ahead of his trip to the state Saturday, giving him a boost in a state that traditionally hosts the Republican Party’s first presidential nominating contest. DeSantis has spent the last few weeks reaching out to Iowa Republicans, according to a person familiar with the calls. DeSantis did not explicitly ask for their support during those conversations, which were instead focused on legislative matters taking place in Florida and Iowa.
“Signs of a DeSantis presidential bid grow. When will he throw his hat in the ring?” via Howard Cohen and Devoun Cetoute of the Miami Herald — Back in Iowa, Never Back Down, a Super PAC supporting DeSantis’ would-be presidential campaign, was active. Erin Perrine, a Never Back Down spokeswoman, posted photos and videos to Twitter of DeSantis chatting with Iowans and delivering his speech at Feenstra’s annual family picnic in Sioux Center. She also confirmed with the Miami Herald that the Super PAC’s bus promoting DeSantis was in Iowa Saturday.
— DESANTISY LAND —
“Party man: DeSantis helps haul in $4.3 million this year for Republicans from coast to coast” via Paul Steinhauser of Fox News — As he’s racked up a slew of conservative legislative victories this year in his home state of Florida, DeSantis has also been making friends with plenty of Republican Party officials across the country through his efforts to boost their fundraising. DeSantis has helped haul in over $4.3 million in fundraising since the beginning of March for state and local GOP organizations from coast to coast, according to Fox News figures confirmed by the Governor’s political team.
—“The ‘brain’ behind DeSantis’ likely presidential campaign was involved in a major ‘ghost candidate’ scandal in Florida: ‘If it’s not illegal, it should be’” via Katherine Long of Business Insider
“DeSantis is about to make a mockery of campaign finance law” via Judd Legum of Popular Information — DeSantis is preparing to run for President. And that’s a problem because DeSantis can’t spend the $86 million in this state political committee on his imminent presidential campaign. Federal candidates cannot raise money directly from corporations, and they cannot accept individual contributions in excess of $6600 — $3,300 for the Primary Election and $3,300 for the General Election. Under federal law “any entity ‘directly or indirectly established, financed, maintained, or controlled … by or acting on behalf of’ a federal candidate, officeholder — may not solicit, receive, direct, transfer, or spend funds raised outside the federal limits and source prohibitions in connection with a federal election.” If DeSantis transfers the $86 million from Friends of Ron DeSantis to Never Back Down, he would be “financing” Never Back Down. That would mean Never Back Down would have to comply with federal campaign finance limits. That would defeat the entire point of a Super PAC.
“DeSantis is a hot ticket at GOP events” via Natasha Korecki of NBC News — DeSantis lags in early national polling, he’s under constant attack by Trump and donors keep getting cold feet over a potential 2024 run by DeSantis. Yet on the ground, there is an encouraging metric for DeSantis after he toured the country the past several months: the size of his crowds. And that could serve as evidence of rank-and-file enthusiasm for his candidacy as he prepares to launch a presidential campaign soon.
“DeSantis takes anti-woke show to Illinois” via Shia Kapos of POLITICO — DeSantis doubled down on his attacks against “woke” policies in big business, saying he will soon sign legislation to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion language “from all our public institutions.” The 1,200 Republicans at the Peoria and Tazewell County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner at the Peoria Civic Center ate it up. “We can never ever surrender to the woke mob,” DeSantis continued, using blustery conservative rhetoric to attack Democratic policies on public safety, border issues, trans issues and Covid pandemic rules. “We chose freedom over Fauci-ism and we are better off.”
“Trump claims DeSantis needs a ‘personality transplant’” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — In a series of Truth Social posts, the former President panned DeSantis, saying: “The problem with Ron DeSanctimonious is that he needs a personality transplant, and those are not yet available. Almost all Congressmen and women that served with him and knew him well supported me, some of them surprisingly so because of their relationship with Ron.” “I would say that when it comes to lack of personality, Ron would be in a class with Asa Hutchinson, and that’s not good,” Trump added. Trump also mocked DeSantis’ recent travels to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom as a “total bomb.” “They didn’t even know what he was doing there. ‘What are you doing here, Ron? Why are you here?’ It was a mess,” Trump said.
“Trump interview hits DeSantis, abortion, new media blitz” via Marc Caputo of The Messenger — Trump’s CNN town hall appearance marked a turning point in his media management strategy, as his campaign plans to do more outreach beyond conservative media. In his first mainstream media remarks since the New Hampshire event last week, Trump said the network should have boasted about the eyeballs he brought it. “I was amazed to see that they were traumatized by what took place. They were actually traumatized,” Trump said in a wide-ranging 30-minute interview concerning his campaign. “They should have said, ‘we had a tremendous ratings night, one of the best in years, many years,’ and spiked the football.”
“All signs point to another budget bloodbath from Ron “Veto Corleone” DeSantis” via Brian Burgess of The Capitolist — Now that the sun has set on the 2023 Session, many watchful eyes have turned to the desk of DeSantis, where his ominous veto pen is on a direct collision course with a record-setting state budget bloated with special projects that are ripe for the plucking. Many lobbyists across the Sunshine State are nervously waiting and watching to see if the cash they managed to wrangle through the legislative process and tuck in there will survive the Governor’s annual purge. Over his first four years in office, DeSantis slung more red veto ink than any Governor in Florida history, easily qualifying himself as the new “Veto Corleone” in Tallahassee, whether that’s measured as the total amount of vetoes or a percentage of the budget.
“U.S. metals magnate Andy Sabin sours on DeSantis, backs Tim Scott in 2024 race” via Alexandra Ulmer of Reuters — Metals magnate and Republican donor Sabin said he has soured on DeSantis over his stance on abortion and Ukraine and is now planning to back Sen. Scott instead in the 2024 Republican White House race. Sabin had been considering donating to DeSantis, who is expected to officially announce a White House run in June, but changed his mind after the Governor signed a new law banning abortions after six weeks and called the war in Ukraine a “territorial dispute.”
“‘Good Samaritan’? DeSantis’ defense of subway vigilante stokes controversy” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis was traveling in the Midwest when he leapt into a controversy involving a killing on a New York subway, using a religious parable to make his point. “We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left’s pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law-abiding citizens. We stand with good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine … America’s got his back,” DeSantis tweeted Friday. Penny choked out a man on a New York City subway May 1. He faces a manslaughter charge after killing the man in the wake of threats to passengers.
“DeSantis can’t quit COVID-19” via Arek Sarkissian of POLITICO — America is moving on from COVID-19. DeSantis can’t stop talking about it. With the COVID-19-triggered national health emergency expiring, DeSantis has been crisscrossing the country touting his handling of the virus. DeSantis criticized “lockdown politicians” during a visit to California and called Florida a “refuge of sanity” amid pandemic closures when he was in South Carolina last month. At Liberty University in Virginia two weeks ago, the Governor said he bucked the political and medical establishment to keep Florida open. DeSantis, who is expected to announce a presidential bid in the coming weeks, has gone even further in his home state.
New Florida bill would ban diversity, inclusion programs on university campuses
House Bill 999, or the Public Postsecondary Educational Institutions, bans colleges from financially supporting “any programs or campus activities that espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion or Critical Race Theory rhetoric.”
The language has led to concerns that Black fraternities and sororities will be barred from Florida campuses under the proposed legislation.
State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) told Jasmine Burney-Clark, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha and founder of Equal Ground Florida, said in an Instagram live ahead of Monday’s debate in the House that the bill is “so vague that HBCUs or other institutions period who have a Black fraternities and sororities on their campuses can practically say we will no longer be supporting you on our campuses based off of this law.”
Florida’s House passed the bill on Monday, and the state Senate will debate the proposed legislation on Wednesday.
The bill bans courses “based on unproven, theoretical, or exploratory content” and majors in women’s studies or gender studies.
It forbids state schools from using diversity, equity and inclusion statements, critical race theory rhetoric “or other forms of political identity filters as part of the hiring process,” including as part of applications for promotion and tenure.
The bill does not define critical race theory rhetoric, however.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Alex Andrade (R), follows a GOP-agenda in the state led by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to limit discussions on race, gender identity and sexuality in schools.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)
Though the bill follows DeSantis’ agenda to combat the spread of “woke” education agendas, however, he has not yet said if he will sign the bill in its current form.
During Monday’s House debate, Andrade was confronted by Gainesville Democrat Rep. Yvonne Hinson on how Black student unions and even LGBT+ organizations would be affected by the law.
“Those student groups can continue to operate how they see fit currently, subject only to the policies and procedures that are content neutral that apply to all organizations, student organizations on campus,” Andrade replied.
But on the Instagram live event with Jones, State Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby (D) said that being permitted does not guarantee protection for Black fraternities and sororities.
“There are also other ways to preclude us,” said Rayner-Goolsby. “With our Black fraternities and sororities, unlike the ones that are predominantly white that are privately paid, our monies come through student activities and [student government associations].”
This means Black sororities and fraternities could be barred from meeting in the student union or even in classrooms on campus under the law, she said.
Florida is currently home to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including Florida A&M University. Members of the “Divine Nine” – a set of Black fraternities and sororities established a hundred years ago – spoke out against the proposed law at FAMU on Monday.
Rayner-Goolsby said she presented an amendment to specifically say organizations like the Divine Nine and other multicultural organizations would not be subject to the law but the Republican sponsor was not amenable to it.
On Monday, two amendments officially filed by Democrats to remove bans on curriculum and give student groups the uninhibited right to reserve spaces on campus were both rejected by Republicans.
Under Florida law, public grade schools and high schools are already prohibited from instructing on topics that could make someone feel “personal responsibility” for historic wrongdoings because of their race, sex or national origin.
The state has also banned the teaching of “critical race theory,” a legal framework that aims to understand systemic racism in the United States, though many experts have argued it is not taught in elementary or high schools.
Most recently, DeSantis announced the state would prohibit a new advanced placement African American studies course from running in schools because it “lacked educational value.”
HB 999 is one of the first pieces of legislation to target higher education institutions. In a scathing criticism, Genesis Robinson, political director of Equal Ground, accused state Republicans on Monday of trying to censor what adults can learn.
“Last year during the battle to defeat HB 7 and HB 1557, it was said the students were too young to learn about such topics,” Robinson said, referring to two pieces of legislation that proponents argued granted more parental rights in education and stopped the spread of discrimination but opponents said limited academic freedom.
“Yet today you have before you a bill that seeks to dictate what is learned at institutions of higher learning by adults,” Robinson added. “It just goes to show you that this fight was never about what is appropriate for children. It is about control, it is about censorship, it is about big government dictating who we love, what we learn, what pronouns we use, and what books our children can read.”
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