After the destruction of America by four years of the Biden-Harris administration, one would think Republican lawmakers would be hellbent to restore order.
Apparently not.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., called for a special legislative session and suggested what measures should be enacted to support President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, state lawmakers — including fellow Republicans — balked.
They accused the governor of trying to usurp the legislature's authority to write laws, and put together its own state immigration bill.
What resulted was a watered-down version of the DeSantis proposal, and made the agriculture commissioner responsible for border enforcement.
The supporters of the bill hoped to gain public appeal by calling it the "Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy," or the TRUMP Act, but others weren’t buying it.
In the interim, the governor cobbled together an executive action that formed a partnership between Florida law enforcement and federal agencies to address the issue.
"I just signed a memorandum of understanding with DHS and ICE with our Highway Patrol," DeSantis announced at a press briefing in Destin, located in the Florida panhandle.
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner said, "It’s giving state troopers and state law enforcement federal powers to enforce immigration laws."
On the following day Republican State Sen. Blaise Ingogila said he believed that his GOP colleagues were throwing away a unique opportunity by pushing for the watered-down TRUMP Act.
"BOTH political parties have neglected illegal immigration for DECADES. With Trump in office, we have a generational opportunity to solve the problem," he tweeted Saturday.
"Repeating talking points by people that haven’t read this weak bill won’t work. Voters are watching. They’re dialed in. They know @GovRonDeSantis’ proposals are the way."
Ingogila concluded, "Send the bill to the Gov so he can veto and let’s get the Gov’s proposals done."
Lake County, FL. Commissioner Anthony Sabatini observed that state Rep. Mike Caruso was another lawmaker on board with DeSantis to tighten up the border.
"DeSantis / Ingoglia / Caruso Vs. Florida’s Amnesty-for-Illegals Legislature," he wrote.
"My money is on the 3 p*ssed off Italians who want MAX deportations—over a state legislature acting on behalf of their ‘pro-amnesty political donors.'"
Here’s a big problem with lawmakers pushing for the weak TRUMP Act: a huge majority of Americans — 66% — support deporting immigrants who are illegally in the United States, according to a recent Axios/Ipsos poll.
Why would Republicans drag their heels getting tough on a popular issue?
Also, if the voters who Ingogila observed were "dialed in" on this issue, don’t see any difference between the parties, they won’t have any reason to vote Republican.
In fact, they may not see any reason to vote at all.
Much the same is happening in Congress getting Senate confirmation of Trump’s cabinet picks. Last week’s hearings were especially tough for Kash Patel’s appointment as FBI director and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary.
Also, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., recently claimed that Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence may be in trouble.
"I'm worried by what I hear from some of my Republican colleagues," he said.
"I'm worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy."
The GOP doesn’t often have control of the White House and both chambers of Congress at the federal level, nor the governorship and a supermajority of both chambers of the legislature at the state level.
When that opportunity arises, Republicans have a responsibility to come together as a body to set America back on the course established by the Founders — not grandstand for public attention.
Florida lawmakers must wake up and demonstrate that their state’s unofficial motto — the freedom state — has real meaning.
And Congressional Republicans must get behind their president.
They can only count on two years of congressional control.
We didn’t come this far to get stabbed in the back by our own party.
Michael Dorstewitz is a retired lawyer and has been a frequent contributor to Newsmax. He is also a former U.S. Merchant Marine officer and a Second Amendment supporter. Read Michael Dorstewitz's Reports — More Here.
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