DEMOCRATS’ ELECTION TAKEOVER
H.R. 1, which passed on an almost entirely party-line vote Wednesday evening (with one Democrat voting no), is Democrats’ attempt to take over America’s elections once and for all.
For all their accusations about Republicans harming Democracy, House Democrats have jeopardized the legitimacy of every future U.S. election by passing H.R. 1.
It erodes the verification process in voting, literally banning state-enacted photo ID safeguards.
House Democrats apparently think voting is less worthy of identity protection than boarding aircraft or buying cigarettes.
Election fraud should be investigated, not legitimized through the provisions of this legislation, which legalizes ballot harvesting and ensures an ever-growing, unmanageable universe of mail ballots.
If Democrats were serious about cleaning up Washington, they would not have blocked a vote on my amendment to ban campaign contributions from lobbyists and special interest PACs.
My friend and colleague Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois put together this list of the worst provisions in H.R. 1. It’s worth a read!
BACK THE BLUE? DEMOCRATS SAY NO
This week, the House was scheduled to debate and vote on H.R. 1 on Wednesday, then debate and vote on H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, on Thursday.
Democrats decided to change the rules in the middle of the game, and brought H.R. 1280 up for debate and a vote on Wednesday night instead. (They announced this change Wednesday afternoon).
And, much like H.R. 1, this bill passed almost entirely on party lines, with two Democrats voting no.
Much like other bills this Congress, Democrats rejected Republican attempts to develop bipartisan legislation; instead, they chose to ram through a bill that makes our communities less safe, and fails to protect the men and women who protect us.
This bill will hurt the police and negatively affect public safety. Among other things, H.R. 1280:
- Subjects police departments to millions of dollars worth of onerous mandates (a back-door way of defunding police);
- Eliminates qualified immunity protections for federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, opening them up to endless lawsuits;
- Lowers the mental standard for federal civil rights lawsuits, allowing officers to be convicted even if the officer had no specific intent to deprive a person of a federal right;
- Limits police departments’ ability to access surplus equipment through the Department of Defense, and more. Much, much more.
H.R. 1280 was developed without any Republican input. It is the exact same bill the Democrats sent to the Senate last year. Rather than working with Republicans to improve last year’s bill, Democrats are doubling down on its bad policies in their rush to get bills passed as quickly as possible.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
OPEN GAETZ DAY
I am excited to announce that on Monday, March 29, I will be holding an Open Gaetz Day in the district. Please see the flyer above for more information, and to RSVP, please visit https://gaetz.house.gov/opengaetz!
VACCINE APPOINTMENTS
On Friday, January 29, the State of Florida announced the launch of a statewide preregistration system to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointment for eligible individuals. On March 1, 2021, the list of eligible individuals has been expanded, and now includes:
- Long-term care facility residents and staff;
- Persons 65 years of age and older;
- Health care personnel with direct patient contact;
- K-12 school employees 50 years of age and older;
- Sworn law enforcement officers 50 years of age and older; and
- Firefighters 50 years of age and older.
Individuals can pre-register for vaccine appointments and be notified when appointments are available in their area by visiting myvaccine.fl.gov.
Additionally, as part of the statewide registration system, each county has a designated phone number that individuals can call and pre-register if they do not have Internet access. The complete list of numbers is available here, and local numbers are below:
- Escambia County: 866-201-1025
- Okaloosa County: 866-200-3599
- Santa Rosa County: 866-201-7110
- Walton County: 866-201-3054
- Holmes County: 866-201-3925
GAETZ IN THE NEWS
Newsweek — March 3, 2021
Matt Gaetz Leads GOP Charge Against ‘Bigot’ Russel Honoré, Head of Capitol Security Review
“Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is leading the Republican backlash against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to appoint retired Lieutenant General Russel Honoré to lead the security review into the U.S. Capitol following the January 6 riots. Gaetz and his Republican colleagues on the House Judiciary Committee wrote to Pelosi on Tuesday, citing Honoré’s comments about Capitol Police officers who he suggested were supporters of former President Donald Trump and sympathizers of those who stormed the building.”
On Tuesday, March 2, I appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss this same topic. Video is below:
 |
| Click to play! |
Spectator USA — February 28, 2021
Florida Rules
“Never mind the ‘Florida Man’ stories of debauchery and idiocy. As Florida congressman Matt Gaetz opined in a Clubhouse room on Saturday, it just means that Floridians are a lot less judgy than their Nor’eastern counterparts. Not once did I feel embarrassed for my terrible dance moves, a cocktail shrimp hanging out of my mouth and my feet bloody from wearing high heels for ten hours at a time. There’s something really beautiful about the shared sense of live-and-let-live.”
Washington Examiner — February 28, 2021
Matt Gaetz: States key to resisting Biden agenda
“Rep. Matt Gaetz says people looking to oppose President Biden’s liberal agenda will have to turn to state leaders to resist a leftward federal drift. The Florida Republican told Fox News host Jeanine Pirro that America’s federalist structure will be critical in combating liberal policies as the Democrats control both chambers of Congress and the White House.”
Western Journal — March 1, 2021
Nationalism Is on the Rise and We Shouldn’t Apologize for Putting America First
“Though there will not be a third party, this weekend proved the Republican Party is the party of the new renegades, the misfits, fighting against the establishment and questioning authority. Outspoken congressmen like Matt Gaetz and Josh Hawley are proof the GOP is changing.”
Northwest Florida Daily News — March 4, 2021
LETTER: Gaetz came to family’s rescue
“Every American has faced some form of trial and tribulation this past year. With the coronavirus pandemic pausing life as we knew it, I look for hope and graciousness wherever I can find it. And when we needed a blessing the most, Congressman Matt Gaetz and his office delivered on a promise to help my son…On Feb. 3, Gustavo was released from an ICE detention center after Congressman Matt Gaetz’s office called the agency and requested his release. Thank you, Congressman Gaetz, for swiftly bringing my son home. Our family will never forget his office’s advocacy that reunited us with Gustavo.”
WHAT WE’RE READING
Florida Office of the Governor — March 2, 2021
Governor Ron DeSantis’ State of the State Address
South Santa Rosa News — March 4, 2021
Pensacola Bay Bridge Repairs Hit Snag — Bridge Will Not Reopen to Any Traffic In March
United States Coast Guard — March 2, 2021
Coast Guard Cutter Decisive returns home after 56-day patrol
Washington Examiner — March 5, 2021
Democrats hide radical ideas behind rosy bill titles
New York Post — March 4, 2021
The new border chaos: a crisis of Biden’s own making
American Greatness — March 4, 2021
Democrats and NeverTrump Are Now Just the Party of Racial Tribalism
Los Angeles Times — March 4, 2021
Cuomo and Newsom, once pillars of the Democratic Party, now look for paths to survival |