Grant Holcomb, Author at The Florida Capital Star

Affordable Housing Crisis Lights Up Florida’s Political Landscape

December 19, 2021December 18, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida progressives are calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to declare a state of emergency regarding housing affordability, and DeSantis is redirecting the angst toward President Joe Biden (D) and Democrats whose policies, he says, are raising rent costs.

More than approximately two dozen Florida Democrat lawmakers penned a letter saying Floridians can no longer afford to pay rent and called on Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) to “enact price gouging consumer protections for renters.”

Florida TaxWatch Report Indicates State Not Receiving Fair Share of Federal Funding

December 18, 2021December 17, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida TaxWatch, an independent think tank, released a report indicating Florida is set to receive shy of $20 billion from the President Joe Biden-signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). However, TaxWatch suggests Florida is not receiving near its fair share of funding, based on population and contribution to the national economy.

Florida Gov. DeSantis Announces New Preventative Monoclonal Treatment for Immunocompromised

December 18, 2021December 17, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a new preventative monoclonal treatment will be available for immunocompromised Floridians like cancer patients and transplant recipients. DeSantis said the new product from AstraZeneca, a pre-exposure prophylactic called Evusheld, is the newest development in Florida’s fight against COVID.

Citizens Insurance Request Maximum Increase in Property Rates

December 17, 2021December 16, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. announced they will be seeking to raise their property insurance rates by 11 percent starting next year. The rate hike will need to be approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation.

Gov. DeSantis Announces Millions for Rural North Florida Projects

December 17, 2021December 16, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made two stops in rural north Florida counties yesterday to announce the millions of dollars being granted to the respective communities.

DeSantis’ first stop was in Nassau County, north of Jacksonville where he emphasized the money being granted out of the Job Growth Grant Fund will go to workforce development.

Nikki Fried Accuses DeSantis of Pay-to-Play with University Appointments

December 16, 2021December 15, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of requiring prospective university board of trustee members to donate $100,000 to his campaign. In turn, he would grant appointments to university boards.

DeSantis Announces Anti-Woke Legislation

December 16, 2021December 15, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced at a press conference yesterday the unveiling of new anti-woke legislation referred to as the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act. After DeSantis banned Critical Race Theory (CRT) from Florida’s schools he said this is the next step in legislation to fight back against “woke indoctrination.”

State Rep. Sabatini Removed from House Committee for Unexcused Absences

December 15, 2021December 14, 2021 Grant Holcomb

State Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-FL-7) has been removed from a the Children, Families and Seniors Subcommittee in the Florida House. He received two unexcused absences from the committee, when committee members are only allowed one.

Sabatini requested an excused absence from committee chair Thad Altman the day before his absence on October 21. He did not respond to Altman’s follow-up asking for an explanation.

Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan Urges Biden to Use Florida’s Ports for Supply Chain Crisis

December 15, 2021December 14, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) has written a letter to President Joe Biden (D) urging him to utilize Florida’s ports as a way to alleviate the nation’s supply chain shortage. In the letter, Buchanan made his case for why Florida is the bets place to send cargo and shipments.

The University of Florida Launches Investigation into Possible COVID Data Destruction

December 14, 2021December 13, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The University of Florida is launching an internal investigation after a report came out showing a culture of fear, political influence, and pressure to destroy COVID-related research data. Vice President of UF Research David Norton made the announcement last week by email.

More 2024 Rumors Swirl After Trump ‘History Tour’ Event in Orlando

December 14, 2021December 13, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Former President Donald. J. Trump and conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly made a stop in Orlando for their “History Tour” where they discussed the last few years and the challenges that came with being president. While on stage, Trump said that he would have to consider running again in 2024.

“I said loud and clear,” the former president said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “We won the first time, and the second time we won by even more. And it looks like we might have to think about that very strongly a third time.”

O’Reilly reminded the audience that it was not a Trump rally, but a conversation with the former president and that they were “going to talk about very serious things.”

Broward School Board Member Faces State Ethics Complaint

December 13, 2021December 12, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Broward County School Board Member Donna Korn is facing a complaint to the State Ethics Commission regarding showing favoritism to a vendor. Korn and Shawn Cerra, director of student activities and athletics, vacationed and stayed separately at a $1.1 million beach house in Naples owned by Chuck Puleri. Puleri’s company, Chuck Puleri & Associates, has been Broward County Schools’ longtime distributor for Herff Joes caps and gowns.

Florida Judge Rules Against Seminole Tribe, Wants to Hear Lawsuit

December 13, 2021December 12, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Leon County Circuit Judge Angela Dempsey denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against the Seminole Tribe of Florida over whether or not they are working to block petition gatherers for a constitutional amendment that would permit card rooms to operate in casinos.

Las Vegas Sands, who is supporting the lawsuit, launched a political committee entitled “Florida Voters in Charge” and hired petition-gathering firms to get 900,000 petitions before the Feb. 1, 2022 deadline. If they make the deadline, their constitutional amendment would be placed on the general election ballot in November 2022.

DeSantis Announces Plan to Transport Illegal Aliens Out of Florida

December 11, 2021December 10, 2021 Grant Holcomb

At a press conference in Jacksonville yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced his desire to implement an $8 million program to transport illegal aliens out of Florida. Also a part of the plan would be to limit access to state contracts for contractors that hire and transport illegal immigrants “knowingly and recklessly.”

Florida Gov. DeSantis Announces ‘Freedom First Budget’

December 10, 2021December 9, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced his plans for Florida’s 2022 budget, which is expected to come to a total of $99.7 billion. Last year, Florida’s budget eclipsed $100 billion for the first time in state history. The slight decrease in state revenue is due, in large part, to the economy rebounding from the effects of the COVID pandemic.

Department of Transportation Considering Florida Turnpike Northbound Extension

December 9, 2021December 8, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Officials at the Florida Department of Transportation are considering several proposals to extend the Florida Turnpike north, past its current northern-most end in Wildwood, Fla. A project study area is currently in the works for a three-county region.

Florida Commission on Ethics Finds Probable Cause Related to Nikki Fried Complaint

December 9, 2021December 8, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Florida Commission on Ethics announced yesterday it found probable cause that Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) violated state law when she failed to disclose more than $350,000 in lobbying income when she ran for her current post.

Florida Gov. DeSantis Announces Statewide Flooding Infrastructure, Derides Left-Wing Environmental Ideology

December 8, 2021December 7, 2021 Grant Holcomb

At a press conference in Oldsmar, Fla., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a statewide flooding resiliency plan and is asking lawmakers for millions of dollars of environmental spending. In total, DeSantis is seeking $276 million in proposed funding for 76 state projects within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as part of the 2022 Florida budget.

DeSantis said that Florida is a state with flooding issues, and he’s just addressing the need for environmental infrastructure without “a bunch of left-wing things.”

Gov. DeSantis Defends Parental Rights, Criticizes Political Advocacy in Florida Classrooms

December 7, 2021December 6, 2021 Grant Holcomb

After the Florida Capital Star uncovered the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) removed links and resources to LGBT advocacy groups, notable Florida progressives chimed in to criticize the FDOE and the Gov. Ron DeSantis administration.

Seminole Tribe Shuts Down Sports Betting App Amid Legal Disputes

December 6, 2021December 5, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino entrance

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has temporarily shut down their sports betting app as an appellate court in the District of Columbia denied the tribe’s request to continue sports betting while they are appealing a federal ruling shutting that down the Seminole Gaming Compact.

Florida’s AdventHealth Ends Vaccine Mandate

December 6, 2021December 5, 2021 Grant Holcomb

One of Florida’s largest healthcare providers, AdventHealth, has ended their COVID vaccine mandate for employees. The healthcare network cited the recent federal court ruling to block the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate.

Florida Atlantic University Researchers Say Florida’s Republican and Democrat Voters Nearly Agree on Climate Change

December 5, 2021December 4, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Research from Florida Atlantic University suggests that Florida’s Republican and Democrat voters nearly agree on the existence of climate change but differ on the cause. According to the researchers, approximately nine out of 10 Florida Republicans believe climate change exists. Approximately 96 percent of Florida Democrat voters agree.

Regarding the cause of climate change, half of Florida Republicans believe it is a man-made issue, while nearly 75 percent of Florida Democrat voters would concur.

Florida Bill Could Expand Hope Scholarship Access

December 3, 2021December 2, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Sen. Manny Diaz (R-FL-36) is sponsoring legislation that would expand opportunities for students to be able to attend a school of their choice through a voucher program. SB 506 would amend the Hope Scholarship program to permit students who attend school districts who are not complying with state law to apply for the program and receive a voucher.

Florida School Board Association Withdraws from National Association

December 2, 2021December 1, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Florida School Board Association (FSBA) announced they have withdrawn from their affiliation with the National School Boards Association (NSBA). The announcement comes as 26 state school board associations have either cut ties or distanced themselves from the parent organization.

The impetus for the withdrawal stems from the NSBA’s letter to the federal government asking for intervention at local school board meetings. Attorney General Merrick Garland took the NSBA up on their recommendations and announced they would be launching investigations into parents at school board meetings.

Supervisor of Elections Claims Third Party Groups Responsible Florida Voter Registration Forgeries

December 1, 2021November 30, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Last week, the Florida Capital Star reported on two Duval County, Florida men being charged and arrested for fraudulently registering dead people to vote. It was revealed that the two men were working as employees for a petition and canvassing company, Grassfire.

Since the story broke, Grassfire has said they hired the two men in June 2021 to work as petitioners, not to register voters.

DeSantis Proposes Raises for First Responders

November 30, 2021November 29, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Ron DeSantis holds press conference to talk about the support of law enforcement

In a press conference Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is proposing raises and bonuses for law enforcement officers and first responders as part of his budget hopes ahead of the 2022 Florida legislative session.

Florida Lawmakers Looking to Expand Health Insurance for Children

November 29, 2021November 28, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida’s lawmakers are considering expanding state-funded health insurance for children. The idea has gained traction among Republicans and Democrats, and two competing proposals would increase the amount of money beneficiaries can make.

Currently, families making less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the state’s program, KidCare. However, the same families do not qualify for Medicaid.

Florida Supreme Court Calls for Additional State Appeals Court

November 28, 2021November 27, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Florida Supreme Court is calling for creating a sixth state appeals court. One of their reasons for making the call is “serious underrepresentation” of appellate judges from Jacksonville.

“The creation of a new district court, like any other significant change in the judicial system, would be accompanied by some degree of internal disruption, but we conclude that any such internal disruption in the district courts associated with the creation of a sixth district court would be short-lived and would be outweighed by the benefit of enhanced public trust and confidence,” said the Florida Supreme Court’s majority opinion shared by Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Jorge Labarga, Alan Lawson, Carlos Muniz and John Couriel.

Judge Denies Stay on Seminole Gaming Compact Ruling

November 27, 2021November 26, 2021 Grant Holcomb

A federal judge has denied a stay on the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s sports betting compact with the State of Florida. A ruling earlier in the week blocked the agreement between the tribe and the state.

As of Thursday, the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Sportsbook was still operational and accepting sports bets.

Florida Men Charged with Falsifying Voter Registration Forms

November 27, 2021November 26, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Two Jacksonville men have been charged with registering dead people to vote. Devin Deangelo King and Jordan Rayeshaun Daniels have both been arrested, and the motive does not appear to be political, but personal financial gain.

“This was a group working with what we call a third-party organization,” said Duval County Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan. “… We did not see anything political about it. It was, I think, people who were greedy. There’s an incentive there to get as many as you can in.”

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Don Gaetz Extortion Effort

November 26, 2021November 25, 2021 Grant Holcomb

A Florida man, Stephen Alford, has plead guilty regarding his involvement in attempting to extort $25 million from Congressman Matt Gaetz’s (R-FL-1) father, former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz.

The latest development is part of a sex trafficking investigation where Stephen Alford attempted to secure a presidential pardon for Matt Gaetz, as Gaetz continues to face questions surrounding his friendship with former Seminole County, Fla. tax collector Joel Greenberg and Gaetz’s involvement into allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old arranged by Greenberg.

Republicans Overtake Democrats in Florida Voter Registration

November 25, 2021November 24, 2021 Grant Holcomb

For the first time in the state of Florida’s history, Republicans now outnumber Democrats in official voter registration totals. According to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections, there are 5,118,657 registered Republicans and 5,114,039 registered Democrats.

The Florida Capital Star reported as early as September that Democrats weree poised to lose their lead. As recent as 10 years ago, Democrats held a 700,000-voter registration advantage.

Florida Judge Exonerates Groveland Four

November 24, 2021November 23, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Four men who were falsely accused of raping a white woman in 1949 have been posthumously exonerated. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the three-member cabinet also posthumously pardoned the men in 2019.

Prosecutors motioned to vacate the convictions of Charles Greenlee and Walter Irvin and the charges against Ernest Thomas and Samuel Shepherd.

Latest Polls Show DeSantis, Rubio Outperforming Democratic Challengers

November 24, 2021November 23, 2021 Grant Holcomb

In a newest poll from St. Pete Polls, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is outperforming his likely Democratic challengers in a hypothetical head-to-head general election. According to the poll, DeSantis would defeat Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) 50.6-44.8 percent. DeSantis would also defeat Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) 51.2-42.3 percent.

Surprisingly, in the matchup between DeSantis and Crist, DeSantis outperformed Crist among young voters by carrying 57.5 percent of likely voters aged 18-29. The youngest age bracket saw the most swing in favor for DeSantis.

Florida’s Unemployment Rate Drops in October

November 23, 2021November 22, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida’s jobless claims continued to trend down, now reaching 4.6 percent in October. September’s number was 4.8 percent with the number of unemployed people also going down.

Grassroots Parental Rights Group ‘Moms for Liberty’ Began in Florida

November 22, 2021November 21, 2021 Grant Holcomb

A new advocacy group, Moms for Liberty (MFL), was founded by two former Florida school board members who sought a new organization to unite parents against what they see as destructive policies being perpetuated in the public school system.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Investigating Meta/Facebook Marketing Practices Related to Minors

November 21, 2021November 20, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) announced she is launching an investigation against Meta, the company previously known as Facebook before its recent rebrand. Moody is joining seven other attorneys general in launching an investigation into its targeted marketing practices toward children and teenagers.

“We have serious concerns about how social media is impacting the lives of young people in this country, and as a mother, I want to know how Facebook/Meta is targeting youth and what strategies this Big Tech giant is using to entice children and teens to lengthen engagement on its platforms,” Moody said in an official statement. “I am proud to lead these efforts with our partner states to find out if Meta violated any consumer protection laws and put our children at risk.”

Flagler County Book Sparks National Controversy over Obscenity Laws

November 20, 2021November 19, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Flagler County Sheriffs’ Office is investigating as to whether or not obscenity laws might have been violated after social media brought a book to the attention of the Flagler County School Board. The book is entitled “All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir Manifesto” and tells the story of a young adult who is black and queer.

Nikki Fried Says Florida Gov. DeSantis Is Raising Gas Taxes, Others Disagree

November 20, 2021November 19, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) is calling on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to suspend Florida’s gas taxes as gas prices increase.

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bills Requiring Vaccine Alternatives for Employees

November 19, 2021November 18, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed four bills yesterday requiring Florida businesses to accommodate their employees’ alternative to getting the COVID shot. DeSantis used language along the lines of “protecting Florida jobs rather than many supporters of DeSantis using language like “medical freedom.”

Florida House Passes Bill Ensuring Penalties Related to Vaccine Mandate

November 18, 2021November 17, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Florida House passed HB 1B in its special session yesterday, ensuring businesses would be penalized if they require an employee gets a vaccine mandate. The bill was largely passed along party lines, however, one Democrat, Rep. James Bush (D-FL-109) joined Republicans by voting in the affirmative.

Florida-Style OSHA Bill Ready to be Heard on House Floor

November 17, 2021November 16, 2021 Grant Holcomb

A bill that would create a state counterpart to the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) is primed and ready to be considered on the floor of the Florida House. While the bill would not create the new state department outright, it would develop a plan to seek federal approval to create it.

Florida’s Business Community Not Supportive of Vaccine Mandate Bans

November 16, 2021November 15, 2021 Grant Holcomb

As Florida’s special session regarding vaccine mandates began yesterday, Florida’s business community shares concerns and opposition to the prospect of vaccine mandate bans.

Leading Age Florida represents continuing care retirement communities, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Leading Age CEO, Steve Bahmer, said it is not possible for the facilities his organization represents to be in compliance with state and federal law unless there is a carve out.

Florida Special Session Over Vaccine Mandates Begins This Week

November 16, 2021November 15, 2021 Grant Holcomb

After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called for a special session over vaccine mandates and mask mandates last month, the Florida Legislature convened for the first time yesterday and will continue to meet until Friday.

The goal of the special session for Florida’s in-power Republicans is to curb the scale of the vaccine mandates coming from the President Joe Biden administration. DeSantis has remained vocally opposed to Floridians losing their jobs over Biden’s OSHA rule.

Florida Police Union Endorses DeSantis

November 14, 2021November 13, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the largest police union in the state, announced they are endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his 2022 gubernatorial reelection bid. The PBA represents more than 30,000 law enforcement and corrections officers.

PBA President John Kazanjian offered the organization’s support through a formal statement.

First Maps of Florida’s New Congressional Districts Released

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021 Grant Holcomb

The first look at Florida’s new congressional maps have been released, and Florida’s newest district could have Polk County existing within its own congressional district. Florida currently has 27 districts but gained one after the 2020 census.

Congressional District 15, which is currently occupied by Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL-15), represents northern Polk County, southern Lake County, and an eastern portion of Hillsborough County. Franklin could be inclined to run for re-election in the newest congressional district as he is a resident of Lakeland, Polk County’s largest city.

Out-Of-State Corporations Pour Millions into Florida Gambling Ballot Initiative

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021 Grant Holcomb

DraftKings and FanDuel have contributed to more than $20 million to fund a ballot initiative hoping to expand gambling in Florida. The ballot measure would legalize sports betting at all pari-mutuels, professional sports stadiums and arenas, and throughout the state where betters could have access to a mobile sports betting platform.

After the two corporations were left out of the negotiations between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, leading to the Seminole Gaming Compact, the political action committee, Florida Education Champions, is backing this 2022 ballot initiative.

Feds Defends Seminole Gaming Compact, Says It Is Not a Violation of Federal Law

November 12, 2021November 11, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Attorneys for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) have issued a 33-page court document earlier this week saying they did not feel the new Seminole Gaming Compact, signed by the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The new compact allows the Seminole Tribe to be the primary facilitator of sports betting in the state. The betting takes place on a downloadable app for smartphones, leading to questions about its legality since the betting does not have to take place on tribal land.

White House Criticizes Florida’s Special Session on Vaccine Mandates

November 12, 2021November 11, 2021 Grant Holcomb

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre criticized the efforts of Florida’s Republican leadership to ban vaccine mandates in the upcoming special legislative session. The special session begins next Monday and runs through Friday.

Tallahassee Businessman J.T. Burnette Sentenced to Three Years After Public Corruption Probe

November 11, 2021November 10, 2021 Grant Holcomb

Tallahassee businessman J.T. Burnette was sentenced to three years in prison earlier this week over public corruption charges. Burnette will also have to pay a $1.25 million fine.

He was found guilty on five charges including extortion and bribery during his trial in August.