In this post, I’ll share highlights of coronavirus-related news as it relates to the government actions you should be aware of as a Florida voter. Then I’ll review other government news, most notably about the start of the felon voting rights case in federal court, and close with highlights of news about Florida’s U.S. Senators Rubio and Scott.
COVID-19
It’s been eight weeks since Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 9. For highlights of government actions in the first month of the pandemic, see my Florida, Collier County Governments Respond to COVID-19 (3/25/20) and Florida Government News for March 2020 (3/31/20).
On April 1, after being widely criticized for not acting sooner, the Governor issued his ”Safer at Home” executive order. Four weeks later, on April 29, he announced Phase I of his ”Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan to Re-Open Florida”, which takes effect Monday, May 4.
Answers to frequently asked questions relating to the reopening plan are here.
Florida’s COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard
These stories highlight some of Gov. DeSantis’s decisions as the shutdown evolved:
- Florida governor, at long last, orders residents to stay home to avoid coronavirus. NYTimes, 4/1/20
- Amid confusion, DeSantis says local governments can ‘go beyond’ his COVID-19 order. Miami Herald, 4/2/20
- Amid coronavirus crisis, Ron DeSantis suspends foreclosures and evictions for 45 days. Florida Politics, 4/2/20
- Florida’s stay-at-home order has expansive, evolving interpretation of ‘essential’. The Center Square | Florida, 4/2/20
- Florida governor extends suspension of vacation rentals by another month over coronavirus. Miami Herald, 4/11/20
- Pro-Trump PAC run by McMahon pledged $18.5 million the same day DeSantis deemed WWE an ‘essential business’ in Orlando. Orlando Weekly, 4/15/20
- Florida schools to stay closed through semester, Gov. Ron DeSantis says.Tampa Bay Times, 4/18/20
- Florida Department of Education increases access to child care services during pandemic. Florida Daily, 4/21/20
- ‘We are ready to open’: Health experts join Ron DeSantis as reopening nears. Florida Politics, 4/28/20
- Governor announces reopening plan for state, but South Florida isn’t included yet. Miami Herald, 4/30/20
In other COVID-19 news:
Failure in the Unemployment System
An unprecedented number of unemployment claims was filed as a result of the pandemic, and the state’s unemployment system failed miserably. As of May 1, less than half (43.8 percent) of the 993,138 confirmed unique claims submitted have been paid, according to the state’s Claims Dashboard.
As the month progressed, the newspapers told the story:
- DeSantis takes steps to fix overwhelmed unemployment compensation system. Tallahassee Democrat, 4/3/20
- With its online jobless application process in shambles, Florida releases paper form. Miami Herald, 4/4/20
- Florida is spending up to $100 million to back up its failed unemployment website. Miami Herald, 4/9/20
- Ron DeSantis, ‘disappointed’ in unemployment process, side-lines DEO head Ken Lawson. Florida Politics, 4/15/20
- Gov. DeSantis: Need to reapply for unemployment every two weeks eliminated. Florida Politics, 4/17/20
- State agrees to some ‘retroactive eligibility’ for unemployment benefits. Florida Politics, 4/24/20
- Gov. DeSantis says unemployment system was ‘designed to fail’. Florida Politics, 4/25/20
- Class-action suit filed over Florida’s unemployment system. Miami Herald, 4/30/20
Financial Effects of the Virus
- Florida, Nevada may be hit hardest by coronavirus economic shock: study. Reuters, 4/6/20
- FL fund for small-business bridge loans is gone. 1,000 got $50K. 37,000 got nothing. Miami Herald, 4/14/20
- Moody’s: Florida may fall $10B short in funding $92.3B budget. The Center Square | Florida, 4/15/20
- Ron DeSantis threatens budget cuts amid coronavirus economy. Florida Politics, 4/17/20
- Coronavirus could cost Florida millions in federal funding, and maybe a seat in Congress, if U.S. Census suffers undercount. Orlando Sentinel, 4/17/20
- State’s bond chief gives assurances, but points to unknowns in Florida’s economic future. News Service of Florida via Florida Politics, 4/25/20
Health, Safety & Welfare
- Florida’s Medicaid debate recharged amid coronavirus pandemic. Tampa Bay Times, 4/8/20
- DeSantis deploys National Guard as Florida’s elder-care centers face COVID-19 ‘nightmare’. Tampa Bay Times, 4/13/20
- When inmates started dying of COVID-19, Florida kept it quiet — until it leaked out. Miami Herald, 4/16/20
- Under pressure, DeSantis releases names of elder care homes with COVID-19 cases. Miami Herald, 4/18/20
- If hospitals get overwhelmed, Florida is silent on who survives. Tampa Bay Times, 4/19/20
- Florida voters think social distancing should continue, trust public health officials on coronavirus, poll shows. Florida Daily, 4/22/20
- DeSantis announces plan to increase rapid testing in Florida. Tampa Bay Times, 4/23/20
- COVID-19 could affect hurricane response, officials fear. Panama City News Herald, 4/25/20
- Florida pharmacists to be allowed to issue COVID-19 tests, DeSantis says. Tampa Bay Times, 4/25/20
- Anyone who wants a coronavirus test can get one, says DeSantis. WUSF News, 4/27/20
- During Trump visit, DeSantis says Florida has ‘thousands’ of unused ventilators. WUSF News, 4/28/20
- DeSantis says Florida has enough testing. Healthcare experts disagree.Tampa Bay Times, 4/29/20
- News media including Gannett sue to make public deaths at elder-care centers. Palm Beach Post, 4/29/20
- DeSantis, DCF announce extended support to Floridians participating in SNAP and TANF. Florida Daily, 5/1/20
Other Florida COVID News
- FDOT will accelerate the start of several infrastructure projects across Florida. Florida Daily, 4/2/20
- Nursing home industry, already granted favors by DeSantis, wants another — this one big. Miami Herald, 4/15/20
- Business, medical groups ask Ron DeSantis for Executive Order protecting healthcare providers from frivolous lawsuits. 4/22/20
Legislative Session
As you read in last month’s post, the 2020 Legislative Session ended on March 19, having passed 210 bills. Once the Governor receives a bill, he has the option of signing it, vetoing it or letting it become law without his signature by not acting on it within 15 days.
The $93.2 billion budget is among the 190 bills that as of May 1 had not been formally sent to the Governor. A Senate spokeswoman said lawmakers are working with the Governor’s Office to time the delivery of bills as he leads the state’s response to COVID-19.
Of the 20 bills he did receive, he has signed 16, including in April:
- DeSantis signs bill eliminating the Kidcare Program’s $1M lifetime cap. Florida KidCare via Twitter, 4/8/20; SB 348
- DeSantis signs compromise measure extending authorization of Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-marketing agency, to Oct. 1, 2023. News Service of Florida via Tallahassee Democrat, 4/9/20; SB 362
- Gov. DeSantis signs bill making it harder to place constitutional amendments on ballot. Florida Politics, 4/9/20; SB 1794
- Gov. DeSantis signs Legislature’s tax cut package. Florida Politics, 4/9/20; HB 7097
- New Florida law makes fireworks legal on the 4th of July, New Year’s. Ocala Star Banner, 4/10/20; SB 140
Voting & Elections
- With face-to-face campaigning on hold, state says candidates can gather petitions online. Florida Politics, 4/4/420
- Coronavirus backburners Florida Elections Commission. Florida Politics, 4/21/20
- Mail voting expected to ‘explode’ in Florida as coronavirus reshapes 2020 elections. Miami Herald, 4/22/20
- State elections office in Tallahassee closes after worker tests positive for coronavirus. Tallahassee Democrat, 4/29/20
Environment & Growth
- Virtual panel participants laud progress, acknowledge challenges ahead for Everglades restoration. The News-Press, 4/18/20
- Army Corps issues permit for Lake Okeechobee reservoir. Florida Politics, 4/20/20
Law & Justice
- Immigration crackdown expands following ‘sanctuary cities’ ban. Gainesville Sun, 4/14/20
- Florida Bar investigating after Jacksonville attorney becomes judge without an election. News4jax.com, 4/27/20
Health, Safety & Welfare
- HUD approves Ron DeSantis’ $633 million disaster mitigation plan. Florida Daily, 4/10/20
In the Courts
In the continuing saga of 2018’s Amendment 4 restoring voting rights to former felons:
- DeSantis loses felon voting appeal, applying pressure for state to develop screening system. Orlando Sentinel, 3/31/20
- Federal judge expands Florida legal fight over right to vote to include 430,000 felons. Miami Herald, 4/8/20
- Florida felons’ voting rights case to begin on Monday. Reuters via NYTimes, 4/26/20
- South Florida public defenders testify in felon voting case that most can’t pay costs. Miami Herald, 4/28/20
In other lawsuits challenging state actions:
- Florida charter schools score court win as district boards’ appeal rejected. The Center Square | Florida
- Florida sued again over COVID-19 voting protocols. Tampa Bay Times, 4/21/20
- Settlement reached in Florida dispute over college voting. APnews.com, 4/3/20
- Court rules against charter schools in funding fight. News Service of Florida via WLRN.org, 4/22/20
- Recreational pot supporters in Florida fire back on new law. News Service of Florida via Naples Daily News, 4/28/20
- Judge tosses challenge to Florida’s greyhound racing ban. Orlando Sentinel, 4/28/20
In an important court decision although not a challenge to a state law:
- GOP candidates will stay first on Florida ballots, U.S. appeals court rules.Orlando Sentinel, 4/29/20
The federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was the result of a bipartisan effort by Senators Marco Rubio, R-FL, Susan Collins, R-ME, Lamar Alexander, R-TN, Ben Cardin, D-MD and Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH. Because of Rubio’s leadership of the Senate Small Business Committee, which proposed the PPP, he was frequently in the news this month. For example:
- Rubio: The small business rescue is running out. We need to save it. Barrons.com, 4/14/20
- Opinion: We need a more resilient American economy. By Sen. Marco Rubio, NYTimes, 4/20/20
- Rubio raises profile in pandemic, challenges GOP economics. Roll Call,4/23/20
- Rubio asks bank CEOs if they favored certain customers for SBA loans. Wall Street Journal, 4/26/20
Here is some of what Florida’s junior senator Rick Scott had to say in April:
- Sen. Rick Scott: Coronavirus — WHO failed the world with COVID-19 pandemic. Fox News, 4/10/20
- Sen. Rick Scott: Coronavirus stimulus – get help where it’s needed but don’t believe this government lie. Fox News, 4/22/20
- Rick Scott says Americans would rather collect unemployment than go to work. Tampa Bay Times, 4/24/20
- Opinion: Don’t reward states’ bad decisions. By Sen. Rick Scott, Wall Street Journal, 4/27/20
And in response to criticism over Florida’s now-failing unemployment system, implemented during his time as governor:
- Rick Scott: Editorial on unemployment website is ‘off the mark’. Letter to the Editor, Miami Herald, 4/7/20
That’s it for my recap of Florida government news for April. Next up: my review of government news specifically for Collier County voters.