The push for a Florida DOGE could lead to the removal of the office of lieutenant governor in Florida, and lawmakers seek to lower the minimum purchase age for long guns.
Stories in this Episode of Political Connections
Florida efficiency push could remove the office of lieutenant governor
Efficiency and cutting unnecessary spending have become focuses of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
To that end, he’s backed a plan to implement what he calls a “Florida DOGE,” to mirror some of the actions taken by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
This week, though, lawmakers questioned the DeSantis administration’s spending, finding several state employees who live outside of Florida.
“One, why couldn’t we get them to move to Florida, since we’re paying them very nice salaries, and then we are actually paying for their travel costs?" Deputy Secretary of the Department of Management Services Tom Berger said. "And if we couldn’t get them to move to Florida, then you’re saying that they’re the only talent? We could not find anyone with this same qualifications and background that would be willing to come to Florida? Everyone I know loves Florida. They want to be here."
There were also questions about department heads who spent large sums on travel.
“I think all agencies should have their travel visible to the public. I’ll be working on coming up with ways to ensure all agencies are treated equally when it comes to travel data reporting," State Rep. Vicki Lopez said. "For now, let’s start with the Department of Lottery. In a previous meeting, we requested the lottery to tell us about the secretary travel to France. I understand there was a discussion about how that trip was funded, but I have not seen anything yet from the department."
The lottery commissioner was not present for the hearing.
Additionally, multiple lawmakers have filed legislation in the name of efficiency this session. One such joint resolution in the House would eliminate the position of lieutenant governor and replace that position with a commissioner of government efficiency.
That person would have the power to audit, investigate and report on waste, fraud and abuse within state and local governments.
That bill, HJR 1325, would be a joint resolution of both chambers that, if passed, that would seek to overturn portions of the state constitution that mandate the office of lieutenant governor. It would also change how the state government is audited if passed.
It should be noted that the measure, if it passes both the House and Senate in Tallahassee, would still need to be approved by at least 60% of the electorate on the next ballot in order to become an official amendment to the constitution.
The proposal passed through the Government Operations Subcommittee Tuesday, and is now in the State Affairs Committee.
Florida lawmakers seek to lower the minimum age requirement for long gun purchases
Florida Republicans are trying to repeal a gun safety law that lawmakers passed after the high school massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The proposal on Wednesday advanced through its first committee in the Florida House.
Florida Republicans are seeking to roll back the gun buying age from 21 to 18 years old.
“Why would we hold that population defenseless?" State Rep. Taylor Yarkowsky asked. "That’s exactly why they go and attack them, because they know they don’t have guns. We say in the firearm training world, you of the two most dangerous places are your own safety zone and a gun free zone."
The bill applies to long guns like rifles or shotguns. Meanwhile, restrictions on purchasing handguns in Florida would remain at 21 years old.
“I want my daughter to be armed when she’s under the age of 21 and she’s living outside of my house, and she’s able to protect herself. Because right now, this bill disarms women, disarms our college students, disarms our children,” said Florida Director of Gun Owners of America Luis Valdes.
After the Parkland massacre in 2018 — where a 19-year-old gunman killed 14 people and injured 17 others — 21 became the minimum gun buying age under then-Gov. Rick Scott.
Some lawmakers say they don’t support the idea of lowering the age to purchase long guns.
“You all put this in a place because of what happened at that school," State. Rep. Deanne Hart said. "This is a slap in the face of all those families and all the people around this state."
Florida is just one of eight states that restricts long gun purchases to adults 21 and older.
In the last two years, however, Florida Republicans have failed twice to repeal it.
“We’re focused on making sure nobody gets a gun. Then we’re focused on everybody getting a gun," State Rep. Kelly Skidmore said. "It doesn’t make sense to me. I’d love to understand it better. I just don’t get it."
This will be the third attempt by Republicans in the Florida Legislature to repeal the restriction.
Trump, Irish leader kick off annual St. Patrick's Day visit under shadow of growing trade tensions between U.S., Europe
President Donald Trump and Taoiseach Micheál Martin touted the ties between the U.S. and Ireland on Wednesday, carrying on an annual tradition meant to mark the friendship between the two countries around St. Patrick's Day that, this year, comes under the shadow of bubbling trade tensions between America and Europe.
Sitting down in the Oval Office, Trump lauded the “tremendous business relationships” with Ireland. The taoiseach, the Irish term for leader, called the trip and meeting a “great honor.”
But hanging over the Oval Office meeting was Trump’s latest round of tariffs — this time 25% on all steel and aluminum imports — that took effect just hours before the leaders sat down. The move prompted the European Union — to which Ireland belongs — to hit back with its own fees on U.S. goods.
The U.S. president has been particularly critical of the EU, recently claiming it was only created to “screw” America. He reiterated the sentiment Wednesday, this time using the word “advantage” instead of “screw.” Asked if that included Ireland, Trump said it does, before noting that he has “great respect” for the country.
“Of course I will respond,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if he will hit back against the EU’s new reciprocal tariffs announced on Wednesday.
Trump has made balancing U.S. trade deficits with other countries a top goal of his wide-scale tariff agenda and often points out such deficits with other countries when their leaders come to visit. Ireland ranked fifth among countries the U.S. recorded the largest trade deficits with last year, amounting to more than $85 billion, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
