'Florida is number one': Gov. DeSantis delivers State of the State address

WPBF 25 NEWS TODAY. GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS GIVING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS AS THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS. MORNING SHOW ANCHOR STEVE STEVEN GRAVES LISTEN TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY AND JOINS US NOW WITH SOME OF THE KEY TAKEAWAYS. GOVERNOR SANTOS LEADING WITH ALL OF WHAT HE CALLS HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SAYING THE STATE RANKS NUMBER ONE IN TOURISM, LAW ENFORCEMENT, RECRUITMENT. TOUTING HOW HE SAYS HE HAS PUSHED PROSECUTORS TO BE TOUGH ON CRIME AS WELL. NOW, IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO HAVE RECENTLY MOVED TO FLORIDA FOR NEW JOB, ALSO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS LIKE HURRICANE IAN. THE GOVERNOR DID TALK ABOUT THE STATE’S RESPONSE ON DISASTER RESPONSE, WHICH HAS COME UNDER SCRUTINY BEFORE. HE USED SANIBEL ISLAND AS AN EXAMPLE. AND UNDER SPECULATION HE MIGHT RUN FOR A PRESIDENTIAL BID. HE SPOKE ABOUT HOW MANY AMERICANS HAVE MOVED TO THE STATE FOR WHAT HE CALLS A BETTER LIFE WORKING TOGETHER, WE HAVE MET BIG CHALLENGES AND WE’VE LED THE NATION ON MANY BIG ISSUES. WE DON’T MAKE EXCUSES. WE DON’T COMPLAIN. WE JUST PRODUCE RESULTS. AND AS WE LOOK AHEAD, THERE ARE MANY BILLS BEING CONSIDERED DURING THIS TWO MONTH SESSION. AND THE GOP CONTROLLED HOUSE AND SENATE. SOME OF THOSE, OF COURSE, ARE CONTROVERSIAL REGARDING EDUCATION AND GUN RIGHTS. WE HAVE A FULL RUNDOWN OF EVERYTHING ON OUR WEBSITE, WPBF DOT COM AND THE STUDIO STEVEN GRAVES WPBF 25 NEWS. STATE DEMOCRATS ARE RESPONDING TO THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS. SENATORS SPECIFICALLY RESPONDING TO THE GOVERNOR’S TALK OF FREEDOM. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FREEDOM, BUT YOU’RE BANNING MATH TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER TEXTBOOK BOOKS. THAT’S NOT FREEDOM. IT’S THE THOUGHT POLICE. SO THERE WAS A LOT THAT WAS NOT SAID. STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS, MANY STATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE POINTING OUT THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY ALLOWS THEM TO PUSH THROUGH THEIR AGENDA. SENATE MINORITY LEADER LAUREN BOOK ALSO ISSUING A RESPONSE SAYING, QUOTE, WE DESERVE REAL FREEDOM TO EARN A LIVING WAGE, TO EXERCISE FREEDOM OF UNCENSORED SPEECH, WRITTEN OR SPOKEN, TO BE SAFE FROM GUN VIOLENCE, TO WORK, JOBS THAT ALLOW US TO AFFORD THE BASICS AND STILL HAVE SOME LEFT FOR SAVINGS AND TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH AND FOR OUR CHILDREN. YOU CAN WATCH THE GOVERNOR’S ENTIRE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS RIGHT NOW ON OUR WEBSITE, WPBF DOT CO

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis positioned himself as the architect of a new conservative vision for the nation during a State of the State address on Tuesday that championed his aggressive stances through the pandemic and culture wars as a blueprint for Republican leadership.The address comes at the outset of a 60-day legislative session that has added significance this year because it will likely be used to launch DeSantis into a highly anticipated presidential campaign. “We defied the experts. We bucked the elites. We ignored the chatter. We did it our way, the Florida way,” DeSantis told lawmakers in Tallahassee. “And the result is that we are the number one destination for our fellow Americans who are looking for a better life.”The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on Politics He spoke about the hardships Florida underwent over the past year, including Hurricane Ian. Multiple guests at the event were people DeSantis thanked for their service during the aftermath of the storm.The Republican-dominated legislature is expected to sign off on virtually all of the governor’s agenda, which is packed with issues ranging from race to immigration to gender that could prove popular in a GOP presidential primary.Even without an official campaign in place, DeSantis is emerging as a leading alternative to former President Donald Trump, a fellow Floridian who has already announced his third White House bid. DeSantis’ strength is fueled in part by commanding a nearly 20-point reelection victory last year in a state that’s often infamous for close elections. Later this week, he’ll travel for the first time this year to Iowa, which will host the nation’s first Republican presidential caucus in 2024. “We have the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to swing for the fences so that we can ensure Florida remains number one,” DeSantis said in his speech. “Don’t worry about the chattering class, ignore all the background noise, keep the compass set to true north. We will stand strong, we will hold the line, we won’t back down, and I can promise you this: You ain’t seen nothing yet.”Video below: Full State of the State address Florida Democrats responded to the address with their own speech, turning the tables on each point DeSantis had made."This is the true state of our state — and Floridians — you deserve better," Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, said in her speech. "We deserve real freedom to earn a living wage, to exercise freedom of uncensored speech, written or spoken, to be safe from gun violence, to work jobs that allow us to afford the basics, and still have some left for savings, and to do something special with and for our kids. That’s the Florida that Senate Democrats are fighting for."This article contains information from The Associated Press.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

The address comes at the outset of a 60-day legislative session that has added significance this year because it will likely be used to launch DeSantis into a highly anticipated presidential campaign.

“We defied the experts. We bucked the elites. We ignored the chatter. We did it our way, the Florida way,” DeSantis told lawmakers in Tallahassee. “And the result is that we are the number one destination for our fellow Americans who are looking for a better life.”

The latest: WPBF 25 News coverage on Politics

He spoke about the hardships Florida underwent over the past year, including Hurricane Ian. Multiple guests at the event were people DeSantis thanked for their service during the aftermath of the storm.

The Republican-dominated legislature is expected to sign off on virtually all of the governor’s agenda, which is packed with issues ranging from race to immigration to gender that could prove popular in a GOP presidential primary.

Even without an official campaign in place, DeSantis is emerging as a leading alternative to former President Donald Trump, a fellow Floridian who has already announced his third White House bid. DeSantis’ strength is fueled in part by commanding a nearly 20-point reelection victory last year in a state that’s often infamous for close elections.

Later this week, he’ll travel for the first time this year to Iowa, which will host the nation’s first Republican presidential caucus in 2024.

“We have the opportunity, and indeed the responsibility, to swing for the fences so that we can ensure Florida remains number one,” DeSantis said in his speech. “Don’t worry about the chattering class, ignore all the background noise, keep the compass set to true north. We will stand strong, we will hold the line, we won’t back down, and I can promise you this: You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Video below: Full State of the State address

Florida Democrats responded to the address with their own speech, turning the tables on each point DeSantis had made.

"This is the true state of our state — and Floridians — you deserve better," Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, said in her speech. "We deserve real freedom to earn a living wage, to exercise freedom of uncensored speech, written or spoken, to be safe from gun violence, to work jobs that allow us to afford the basics, and still have some left for savings, and to do something special with and for our kids. That’s the Florida that Senate Democrats are fighting for."

This article contains information from The Associated Press.

'Florida is number one': Gov. DeSantis delivers State of the State address

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