From the Desk of Chairman Joe Gruters

Chairman’s Message

Critical Race Theory banned in Florida

At the urging of Governor DeSantis, the State Board of Education today voted to maintain the integrity of Florida’s academic standards by keeping Critical Race Theory out of the classroom.

“The woke class wants to teach kids to hate each other, rather than teaching them how to read, but we will not let them bring nonsense ideology into Florida’s schools,” Governor DeSantis said.

Florida’s public education system exists to create opportunity for our children by teaching them how to think, not what to think. Critical Race Theory teaches kids what to think, and that is to hate our country and to hate each other. It is state-sanctioned racism and has no place in Florida schools.

“I love this state, and I love my country. I find it unthinkable that there are other people in positions of leadership in the federal government who believe that we should teach kids to hate our country,” Governor DeSantis said. “We will not stand for it here in Florida. I’m proud that we are taking action today to ensure our state continues to have the greatest educational system in the nation.”

During his remarks, Governor DeSantis cited several recent examples of Critical Race Theory nationally, and in Florida.

Read them here: https://www.flgov.com/2021/06/10/governor-desantis-emphasizes-importance-of-keeping-critical-race-theory-out-of-schools-at-state-board-of-education-meeting/

The Race for 2022 has shaken out and we’re ready

With the announcements of the final major Democrats to challenge for Florida Governor and Florida’s U.S. Senate seat in 2022, the biggest statewide races are crystalizing. And the Republican Party of Florida is ready for the fight.

Val Demings announced that she will be challenging U.S. Senator Marco Rubio for his Senate seat. Senator Rubio’s solid conservative record, including being one of the toughest opponents of China in all of Congress. He gets America and freedom. Demings? Well, she’s a radical aligned with the Squad and Nancy Pelosi, pursuing the most destructive agenda out there.

And we know all too well what Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried bring to the table for governor. A hard left turn in leadership that would remake Florida in Nancy Pelosi’s image. Crystal clear choice.

So your RPOF will be concentrating over the next year and a half on building on our highly successful voter registration efforts from 2020 and turning out a wave of Republicans in November 2022.

The next RPOF quarterly meeting in September will have School Board training sessions, aimed at how to win School Board seats, geared toward non-partisan races, such as endorsing early on the right candidates.

This is important in light of the rise of Critical Race Theory in public schools. The media says it is not being taught, but efforts have been underway in Palm Beach County, Jacksonville and even Sarasota County. While the Board of Education voted to ban it, we cannot have any Republican School Board members who will not openly oppose the Marxist, race-based teaching of our children. Proponents will keep trying to slip it in.

Legislation

Governor DeSantis this week signed groundbreaking legislation to combat the theft of Florida’s intellectual property by foreign players.

The Governor signed HB 7017 and HB 1523 — two bills that will protect Florida’s higher education institutions and government from foreign influence and combat corporate espionage, keeping Florida’s intellectual property safe within the state’s boundaries.

“Make no mistake — China is a hostile foreign power, and every Governor has the responsibility to protect their education system, and every other entity within their purview, from the espionage and commercial theft undertaken by the Chinese Communist Party,” Governor DeSantis said.

The Governor said that while China remains the biggest threat, numerous other countries are attempting to infiltrate our state and nation. “By signing these bills today, we are taking action to ensure foreign adversaries will not have unfettered access to our schools, government, and companies,” he said.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/06/07/governor-ron-desantis-signs-groundbreaking-legislation-to-combat-theft-of-floridas-intellectual-property-by-foreign-countries/

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Florida continues to be the most military and veteran friendly state as Governor DeSantis signed three bills to establish a “Purple Star Campus Program,” help transitioning service members gain workforce training, and enhance veterans’ preference in hiring.

“In my time as Governor, we have worked hard to serve those who have served our country by making investments in military bases, schools around those bases, and programs that serve veterans and their families,” Governor DeSantis said. “Today, I’m proud to build on that legacy by signing three bills that continue to provide resources for military service members, veterans, and their families.”

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/06/04/governor-desantis-signs-three-bills-to-strengthen-commitment-to-supporting-florida-military-families-veterans/

Florida Update

Franklin County has flipped from Democrat to Republican in voter registration! Thank you to the Franklin County GOP and our strong grassroots for their dedication to spreading the Republican message of liberty and freedom.

On June 2, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis reinforced their unwavering commitment to strengthen Florida families through significant funding in the 2021-2022 budget to support the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) as they continue bolstering access to life-changing behavioral health services. These include:

$158.4 million for the State Opioid Response Grant
$1.4 million in continued funding for residents affected by Hurricane Michael
$3 million to allow 211 to expand mental health supports
“The Florida Behavioral Health Association and our statewide members are thankful for Governor and First Lady DeSantis who continue to prioritize the healthcare needs of all,” said Melanie Brown-Woofer, President and CEO of the Florida Behavioral Health Association.

“Florida’s Managing Entities applaud Governor DeSantis for prioritizing behavioral health services in his budget, especially at a time when Floridians are experiencing increased mental health and substance use issues due to the pandemic,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.

“Opioid overdoses have skyrocketed in Central Florida, and I applaud Governor DeSantis for taking this issue head-on by prioritizing mental health services and combating the opioid epidemic, which has plagued Florida and claimed lives for far too long,” said Maria Bledsoe, CEO of Central Florida Cares Health System.

Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2021/06/09/governor-and-first-lady-desantis-continue-to-strengthen-florida-through-vital-funding-for-mental-wellbeing-and-substance-abuse-services/

Pelosi Puppet Val Demings’ damages Florida families with her dangerous record of supporting radical policies that would make us less safe, and would push us in a perilous direction. Florida voters deserve the truth about the Real Val Demings’ record.

RPOF’s executive director Helen Aguirre Ferre issued the following statement:

“Val Demings is a political opportunist who went to Washington, became a puppet of Nancy Pelosi, and consistently places Pelosi’s socialist agenda ahead of the best interests of Florida families. Just look at her voting record. The Real Val Demings has voted with Pelosi 100% of the time, and like Pelosi would defund our police, lockdown our economy, close our schools, raise taxes on working families, gut the Second Amendment, and let the crisis at our border get worse. Demings is clearly delusional about what is good for the Sunshine State. She thinks Pelosi knows what is best for Florida families. While Senator Rubio consistently delivers results for Florida, Val Demings will always prioritize her political ambitions and liberal socialist agenda over the needs of Florida families.”

Visit FloridaDems.com to learn more.

Social Media Highlights

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