Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, an independently-elected member of the Florida Cabinet, held a press conference to discuss the outcome of the state’s 2021 annual legislative session, notable for prioritizing politically-charged legislation that faced fierce opposition. Commissioner Fried highlighted a list of bills that she recommended Governor Ron DeSantis veto as being among the worst for Floridians, consumers, local communities, and civil rights.
“In the middle of the worst pandemic in a hundred years and the worst economy since the Great Depression, this Governor raised taxes on Floridians by $1 billion, while giving his top political appointees $1 million in raises, and while refusing to increase the nation’s worst unemployment benefits by $100 a week. This legislative session was a year of big government overreach into Floridians’ private lives and constitutional rights as Americans. Our state government believes if you don’t like how they’re running this state, it’s too bad – because they don’t care, don’t want to hear from you in the streets, and don’t want to hear from you at the ballot box,” said Commissioner Fried. “This Governor’s priorities are banning your right to protest, banning your right to vote, and banning transgender children from sports. That’s what dictators do, and that’s un-American. While the Governor might punish me for speaking up and veto our agency’s budget, hurting our $147 billion agriculture industry and the 2 million Floridians who work our farms and ranches, someone has to step up and tell the truth.”
The bills recommended for veto included HB 919, SB 896, SB 1194, SB 430, SB 1028, and SB 90, along with SB 50 and HB 1, which the Governor has signed into law but should have been vetoed.
SB 50: Requires sales tax to be collected on all in-person and online sales, raising taxes by $1 billion
HB 919: Preempts local communities from restricting fossil fuels, “pulling the plug on local progress on clean energy”
SB 896: Preempts local communities from local permitting decisions on constructing energy facilities by utilities
SB 426: Overturns three local referenda by Key West residents to restrict large cruise ships
SB 430: Weakens consumer protections against gas pump skimmers
SB 1028: Bans transgender children from participating in sports
SB 90: Limits mail ballots and voting drop boxes, part of a national effort by state legislatures to restrict voting rights
HB 1: Limits free speech and stifles protest and First Amendment rights
