Florida Politics

After dozens of resignations and two lawsuits, a Florida House panel Wednesday supported providing reprieves from a 2023 law that requires local elected officials to disclose detailed information about their personal finances.The House State Affairs Committee approved revamping a bill to push back the effective date of the requirements to 2025 and to exempt mayors and members of local governing boards in communities with 500 people or fewer.

A proposal that would prevent public schools, colleges and universities and other governmental entities from displaying flags that represent a “political ideology viewpoint” stalled Monday in a Senate committee. Under the proposal (SB 1120), flags that represent a “politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology viewpoint” would be prohibited at government facilities.

Governor Ron DeSantis, just a week from suspending his 2024 Presidential campaign, announced an effort Monday to bring constitutional reforms to the U.S. Congress.DeSantis made the announcement in Naples along with Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.

Sanibel City Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater has resigned his Sanibel City Council seat, citing a new Florida Financial Disclosure Statement form that he said would negatively impact his business, partners and family.Crater's resignation was effective as of December 28. He was elected to serve a four-year term on the Sanibel City Council March 2, 2021.

A workshop by the board is scheduled for earlier in the day, beginning at 1 p.m. The meeting itself starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday. All meetings can be viewed here.

A Cape Coral councilmember who was arrested earlier in the week on several felony charges stemming from alleged false information and other activities related to her election was suspended by executive order of the governor.

It’s becoming increasingly common for conservative political leaders in the United States — including here in Florida — to use language and put forward policies that conflate American identity with religious identity. Many are focusing on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and trans rights — and critics say this trend represents a rise in what’s called Christian Nationalism. Christian Nationalism is best summarized as the belief that the history and character of the United States is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way. Our guest counts himself among its critics, and says that while supporters of Christian Nationalism portray it as a social movement, it’s actually a well-organized political movement that seeks to gain political power and to impose its vision on all of society. Rev. Paul Raushenbush is an ordained Baptist minister, and he is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, a national nonprofit founded in 1994 to advocate for religious freedom and pluralism in the U.S.

If it seems that political hopefuls are campaigning early for the 2024 elections, welcome to modern-day politics, even at the local level. Candidates and incumbents need to file to run so they can rally supporters and legally raise money.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday will hold a ceremony to formally designate Ben Albritton, 55, as the next Senate president. Currently the Senate majority leader, Albritton will succeed President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, in November 2024.

California officials are continuing to hold Florida responsible for flights Friday and Monday that brought South American migrants from El Paso, Texas, to Sacramento.The June flights come months after Gov. Ron DeSantis -- who recently announced his bid for president -- took credit for transporting migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.