Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 30, 2024

MEDIA CONTACT

[email protected]

FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESPONDS TO TRUMP’S ABORTION BAN COMMENTS

Tallahassee, FL — In an interview with NBC News, Donald Trump indicated that he does not support Florida’s 6-week abortion ban. In response, the Florida Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“Floridians know exactly how we got here,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried in response to Donald Trump’s comments about Florida’s extreme 6-week ban. “Trump has repeatedly bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade and now, he’s attempting to run away from his record on reproductive rights because he knows that abortion bans are extremely unpopular.

“Because of Donald Trump, Floridians are living under one of the most restrictive 6-week abortion bans in the country. It’s a dangerous ban with virtually no exceptions, which puts women’s lives at risk and threatens doctors with prosecution. The majority of Floridians opposed the 6-week ban, yet Ron and Florida Republicans were quick to sign it into law.

“Florida voters won’t be fooled by Donald Trump’s lies. It’s time to hold every Republican accountable for enacting Florida’s extreme 6-week ban and the only way to do that is to vote yes on Amendment 4 and send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House in November.”

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CONTACT

Troy Gras

Legislative Aide to Senator Lori Berman

(954)893-0083

Senator Lori Berman Calls Out the Rejection of Federal Money to Feed Needy Children

Boynton Beach, Fla. – For the second straight year, Governor DeSantis has refused to apply for $250 million in Federal “SUN Bucks,” which would provide food over the summer for children who typically receive free or reduced lunch. State Senator Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) is disappointed and frustrated by the decision to not apply for funds, which all but 13 states are accessing.

SUN Bucks, or Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SEBT), provide grocery-buying benefits to income-eligible families when schools are closed for the summer. SUN Bucks benefits come in the form of a pre-loaded card with a one-time $120 benefit for the summer that families can use to purchase groceries.

While 2.1 million Floridian children would have benefitted from the program, officials for Florida’s Department of Children and Families say existing programs are enough — and argue that the federal program came with “strings attached” in the form of operational costs that would be shared with the state. The cost would amount to around $12 million, only 4.8% of the amount the state would be set to receive.

“I cannot understand why our state would choose to leave so much money on the table while families are having trouble putting food on theirs,” Sen. Berman said. “Governor DeSantis spends so much time complaining about the price of food and how hard it is to raise a family, but when faced with a real opportunity to help struggling families in our state, he decides to play politics and turn down the help. This decision shows the governor is out of touch and mean spirited.”

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Florida House Democratic Legislators Join Nearly 200 Advocacy Groups Urging the State to Accept Federal Funding as 2025 Summer EBT Deadline Nears

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to reject federal food aid to help Florida’s families keep food on their tables this summer has left countless families struggling to make ends meet. Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) officials have said in multiple media reports that the State of Florida does not intend to participate in the 2025 Summer EBT program due to “federal strings attached” to the federal funding.

While DCF officials have yet to explain what “federal strings attached” to the federal funding means, Florida would only be required to contribute approximately $13 million in state funds to cover half of the costs of administering the program, which represents a minute fraction — .076 percent — of the State’s projected $17 billion budget surplus that Governor DeSantis frequently highlights.

With the 2025 Summer EBT program deadline rapidly approaching on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, Florida House Democratic legislators sent a letter to Governor DeSantis, DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris, and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Commissioner Wilton Simpson earlier today asking them to reverse course and notify the United States Department of Agriculture of Florida’s intent to participate in the 2025 Summer EBT program.

“Florida has an opportunity to correct the egregious error made by DeSantis in 2024 when he decided to politicize food insecurity,” said Leader Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa). “Floridians have had to suffer through political stunt after political stunt by this governor while they’re trying to address their affordability crisis. Struggling families can’t eat political stunts and don’t deserve to suffer the consequences imposed by the governor’s limited view of freedom. In a state that purportedly prioritizes parental rights, Governor DeSantis must allow Floridians the freedom to access the federal benefits their tax dollars paid for.”

The letter sent to Governor DeSantis, Secretary Harris, and Commissioner Simpson is attached.

Summer EBT Caucus Letter Final

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 1, 2024

Contact:

Jennifer Fennell

(850) 597-0057

[email protected]

Florida Society of Ophthalmology Launches Annual “Amblyopia Awareness Month” Educational Campaign

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Society of Ophthalmology (FSO) and the For Eye Care Foundation (FECF) have launched an educational campaign recognizing August 2024 as Amblyopia Awareness Month. The goal of the education campaign is to bring awareness to the importance and need for early vision screenings, which can detect serious vision problems like amblyopia.

Amblyopia (sometimes referred to as “lazy eye”) is the most common, yet preventable, cause of permanent vision loss in children. Early vision screenings are critical in detecting amblyopia and other vision threatening disorders like retinoblastoma tumors, cataracts, and strabismus. Screenings improve treatment outcomes, especially if the disorder is detected before a child reaches five years of age. Unfortunately, more than 80 percent of Florida students do not receive vision screenings prior to enrollment in preschool.

“Early detection of vision disorders like amblyopia is key in preventing permanent visual loss. We are committed to shining a light on the importance of early vision screening to ensure every child gets the best start in life,” said FSO President Raquel Goldhardt, MD, FACS.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends vision screenings conducted by a pediatrician or ophthalmologist starting at 12-months. Additionally, the AAO has released a recommended age appropriate schedule of screenings that parents and guardians can follow.

“Early childhood is a critical period in a child’s development, with sight being one of most important senses children utilize to see and experience their world. I encourage all parents and guardians to have their child’s eyes screened for vision disorders, particularly as we approach the new school year,” said Laura B. Sims, MD, Chair of the For Eye Care Foundation.

Along with their annual education campaign, the FSO and FECF work with community partners across the state to ensure parents and guardians have access to free and easy vision screenings.

To learn more about the FSO’s efforts, visit: mdeye.org/amblyopia.

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About the Florida Society of Ophthalmology
The Florida Society of Ophthalmology is the state’s leading advocate for providing Floridians the highest standard of eye care. The FSO’s mission is to promote and protect the medical specialty of ophthalmology through active participation in legislative advocacy and providing continuing medical education and responsible information to its members, physicians and the citizens of Florida. Please visit www.mdeye.org for more information.

About the For Eye Care Foundation, Inc.
The For Eye Care Foundation, Inc. is the charitable arm of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, an organization of ophthalmologists devoted delivering the highest standard of eye care throughout the state of Florida. The For Eye Care Foundation, Inc., formed in 2010 by the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, assists other eye care organizations with community outreach and delivers important public service messages regarding eye care and disease. Please visit www.mdeye.org/foreyecare for more information.

Florida Democrats Slam Rick Scott’s Plan to End Medicare on the Programs 59th Anniversary

Tallahassee, FL — Today, on the 59th anniversary of Medicare being signed into law, the Florida Democratic Party released the following statement on Rick Scott’s signature plan to end Medicare and Social Security as we know them:

“Rick Scott has a long record of lining his pockets while he makes Florida seniors pay the price. Scott got rich overseeing the largest Medicare fraud in history and then wrote the plan to put Medicare on the chopping block and jeopardize affordable health care for five million Florida seniors,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “Florida has a higher percentage of seniors than any state in the country, and they deserve a Senator who will fight to protect affordable health care – not rip it away.”

What to know about Rick Scott’s record of working to enrich himself while Florida seniors pay the price:

Rick Scott’s signature plan to end Medicare and Social Security as we know them would spike costs for seniors and families and rip away hard-earned benefits.

• Mitch McConnell on Rick Scott’s disastrous signature plan: “A bad idea.”

Rick Scott plans to raise taxes on the middle class while lowering taxes for corporations and the wealthy, like himself.

• Fox News: “…that would raise taxes on half of Americans and potentially sunset programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.”

• Scott’s plan would raise taxes on 40% of Floridians, including working families and active-duty military.

• Gainesville Sun: “Florida Gov. Rick Scott was in Washington this week not to seek to improve the legislation for most Floridians, but to fight for the tax cuts benefiting a small sliver of the state population — including himself.”

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