Republicans continue fighting over immigration, power

Gov. Ron DeSantis has held three roundtables to attack the TRUMP Act* passed by the Florida Legislature over the past two days in Titusville, Fort Myers and Palm Beach. Sen. Randy Fine has estimated that each cost taxpayers about $20,000.

Sen. Fine* has announced he’s calling for an “investigation” into potentially “unnecessary” executive office of the governor positions. DeSantis’ press secretary Jeremy Redfern and communications officials Taryn Fenske and Christina Pushaw have regularly attacked Fine on social media.

On X – Fine posted (to Christina Pushaw): “Thanks for reminding me we need to hold that Oversight Committee meeting on what you do and the rest of Team #RinoRon do all day to justify your six-figure taxpayer checks other than play on social media. Keep your calendar free February 11. Tell your colleagues too.”

Pushaw responded to Fine’s announcement, calling him a “snowflake” and saying Fine wants to “make it illegal to post jokes about him on the internet.”

Earlier this week, Florida Politics reported that House Speaker Danny Perez said funding for the Executive Office of the Governor had increased by 70% over DeSantis’ first six years in office.

“Daniel Perez calling Floridians that see through his weak immigration bill ‘a lot of paid bots’ is insulting,” Jeremy Redfern posted. “Disgusting, childish comment from the Florida Speaker of the House just 24 hours after Wilton Simpson scapegoated law enforcement officers for his failed leadership.”

National politics reporter for NBC News, Matt Dixon, pointed out on X that DeSantis’ social media attack strategy may have run its course.

He posted on Wednesday, “Appears the longtime DeSantis social media strategy might be coming under some scrutiny Beyond this, @JuanPorrasFL yesterday suggested lawmakers might look at whether taxpayer dollars are used to fund campaign-style social media campaigns that have been attacking Florida Republicans.”

BRINGING UP ANOTHER NOTCH

Adding to the tension, Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged to use his PAC to defeat Republicans in 2026.

He posted, “The FL Freedom Fund* was instrumental in raising huge sums of $ to defeat Amendments 3 and 4 in 2024. For the 2026 cycle, the FFF will raise even more resources (1) to ensure support for a strong conservative gubernatorial candidate and (2) to support strong conservative candidates in legislative primaries. We need to elect strong leaders who will build off FL’s success and who will deliver on the promises made to voters.”

The News Service of Florida reports Speaker Perez countered DeSantis’ offensive during an online town hall meeting Thursday afternoon with GOP county leaders, many of whom echoed the governor’s concerns.

Perez was asked why he hasn’t worked with DeSantis to improve the Trump Act.

“It’s tough to want to work with a gentleman that, when he doesn’t get his way, threatens to primary members of the Legislature. That’s a tough place to be in. Instead, have the conversation. Have the conversation, and you can agree to disagree, but threats aren’t going to work in the Legislature. They’re not,” said Perez, who took over as speaker after the November elections.

Offering more details of the meeting, Fine posted:

“House Speaker @Daniel_PerezFL expressed concern to GOP officials on a Zoom call & to POLITICO today that DeSantis’ plan for immigration enforcement wouldn’t work especially bc it called for Florida officials to deport individuals out of the country … Perez said that job is for President Trump and the federal government: “I want him (Trump) to be the deporter in chief, I want him to do a good job. Gov. DeSantis wanted to put all of that under him. That’s not the best way to solve illegal immigration.” Perez cited the recent dispute w Colombia. He said Colombia changed course because of the insistence of Trump, who is President. He said DeSantis would have no power to insist a country accept those deported from Florida.”

*BACKGROUND: The TRUMP Act (Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act), passed by Florida’s Legislature in January 2025, is a comprehensive immigration bill allocating $500 million to support federal immigration enforcement. The act creates a new state immigration office, designates the Agriculture Commissioner as Chief Immigration Officer, and eliminates in-state tuition for undocumented students. It provides $100 million in law enforcement grants and enhances penalties for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Governor Ron DeSantis has criticized the bill as “weak” and threatened to veto it, while immigrant advocates have protested its potential impacts.

Randy Fine serves as Florida State Senator for the 19th district. He recently won the GOP primary for Florida’s 6th Congressional District special election on Jan. 28. Previously, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2024. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Fine holds degrees from Harvard University. He has garnered attention for supporting Israel, restricting LGBTQ+ rights, and sponsoring legislation against Disney’s special district status. Endorsed by Donald Trump, Fine will face Democrat Josh Weil on April 1.

The Florida Freedom Fund was one of two political committees chaired by DeSantis’ chief of staff, James Uthmeier, that targeted the ballot initiatives. The committees collectively raised more than $34 million, including roughly $8.6 million in contributions to the Florida Freedom Fund.

1 thought on “Daily Outtakes: Republicans continue fighting over immigration, power”

DeSantis’s administration will suddenly start getting chance-of-a-lifetime job opportunities and experience a rash of personal/family issues that require their resignations. Fine is quite likely holding the Patronis ledger, and Moodey will start tip-toeing to Team Trump.

If UWF ends up being preserved as one of the academic gems of the southeast, you banging the gong against the tides of fatalism will have helped make it possible, Rick. There is just so much damage from DeSantis’s tenure that needs correction. Please, please let these UWF appointments be one of the battles they pick against him.

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Daily Outtakes: Republicans continue fighting over immigration, power

BRINGING UP ANOTHER NOTCH

1 thought on “Daily Outtakes: Republicans continue fighting over immigration, power”

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