As tensions simmer, Andrade tells DeSantis, ‘Just don’t be a jerk’

The recent passage of Florida’s immigration bill has exposed growing tensions between state lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis, with some legislators suggesting the governor’s public opposition to the initial bill was more about political theater than substantive policy differences.

In a candid interview, State Rep. Alex Andrade, who has served alongside DeSantis since both were elected in 2018, revealed that the final bill signed by DeSantis was less than what he would have preferred. He argued the first bill passed by the Florida Legislature, the TRUMP Act, was much stronger.

The main differences? Less funding for law enforcement and a restructured immigration oversight committee.

• The revised bill halved the funding for local law enforcement from $500 million to $250 million, potentially shifting costs to county taxpayers who fund sheriff’s offices.

• One of the governor’s main objections to the original bill was the designation of the Agriculture Commissioner as Chief Immigration Officer, which DeSantis characterized as “the fox in the hen house.” The compromise created a committee that included the Agriculture Commissioner, Attorney General, CFO, and governor—though Andrade points out that each member, including the Agriculture Commissioner, has veto power over committee decisions.

Mounting Frustrations

Andrade expressed frustration with what he views as political posturing, noting the legislature’s consistent support for DeSantis’s agenda. “Every time DeSantis does a bill signing as some celebratory visit to a different part of the state… that means the legislature gave him something to sign,” Andrade said. “He’s the hundred-first house member, he’s the 41st senator, he’s the legislator in chief.”

• The lawmaker also highlighted the governor’s inaction on existing immigration tools, particularly E-Verify enforcement. “He’s had the authority to enforce E-Verify and require employers to use E-Verify for four years… and he’s done zero.”

Despite the tensions, Andrade respects DeSantis and his team, emphasizing that the final bill represents “the strongest legislation policy implementation of any state in the country on illegal immigration.” However, he expressed concern about the rhetoric dividing conservatives, stating that DeSantis “ran out of people to fight, and so he turned the gun inwards.”

He talked about how the legislative process – no one gets everything that I want in a bill. “There’s stuff in most bills that if I was king for a day, I’d want in there. The difference is, as a legislator, I know I can’t let perfect be the enemy of good, and there is some kind of give and take.”

Andrade said he agreed with “95%-plus of everything in what the Governor’s Dream Bill,” the TRUMP Act bill passed in the first special session and the current bill that the governor signed.

• “Just don’t be a jerk. Don’t be an ass, and instead, celebrate the fact that we’re moving and rowing in the same direction,” Andrade said. “And I think what’s been lost in a lot of this is the very next day after this stuff was passed, Gov. DeSantis came out and said, ‘Hey, we should look at eliminating the property tax.’ And I said, ‘Absolutely, great idea, governor. We should keep working on that.’

He added, “Hopefully, we can get back to business now and rack up some more wins for the folks that put us in office.”

• While Andrade remains optimistic about the governor’s last two years in office, the public disagreement over the immigration bill suggests that state lawmakers may be less willing to quietly accept the governor’s characterization of their work as they consider Florida’s political future beyond DeSantis.