Florida processes more than 10 million votes in a matter of hours.
California takes days — or sometimes even weeks — to count the votes.
It’s pathetic — and it’s corrosive to our civic culture.
TROPICAL UPDATE: Several updates to pass along from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Here are some thoughts as of Wednesday Evening:
1) THE GULF: I'm tracking a flare-up of disorganized showers and storms. A weak low could form from that area as it heads towards Louisiana Friday into Saturday. It'll bring better rain chances to the Northern Gulf Coast, occasional gusty wind peaking between 30 - 40 mph and some coastal flooding. Tropical development chances are currently low. *If* it did try to form, it would be weak due to higher shear and mainly a rainmaker. Nothing to be concerned about.
2) THE PACIFIC: Tropical Storm Amanda has formed, 1st of the season. Will stay in open waters, not a threat to land.
3) LONG RANGE OUTLOOK: Down the road I'll be watching the Central American Gyre. It's basically a broad and seasonal area of low pressure that occurs over the eastern Pacific and western Caribbean that can sometimes spin-off tropical systems. Some models do show the possibility of development in the Western Caribbean or Southwestern Gulf towards Mid-June. If models are consistent run after run, then it will have some legitimacy behind it. Just watching for now, nothing more. I'll keep you posted with no hype, just the facts!
First, it requires the legislature to adopt a schedule to make homesteads fully exempt. The $250k is the initial salvo.
Second, 60% of the Legislature has to vote for it. Many in the Legislature think the current proposal is too aggressive. Very few are saying it’s not aggressive enough. That’s just the reality.
Don’t fall for the scare tactics being used against @RonDeSantis’ Save Our Homes proposal. Critics are claiming it’ll “inevitably” make non-homestead taxes soar, rents explode, and sales taxes balloon. Yet they are conveniently leaving out two key facts:
1. It actually strengthens the current cap on assessed value increases for rentals, second homes, commercial properties & more — cutting it from 10% to 5%.
But most importantly…
2. YOU elect your county and city officials. They work for you. If it passes, watch what they do and hold them accountable at the ballot box. Nothing is inevitable. It’s a choice.
Your vote decides what happens next. Use it.
Florida has a real epidemic going on, and it's time we address it.
It’s the Lottery Boomers.
These old-timers roll up to the Mobil station with a manila folder full of scratch-offs like they’re auditing the IRS. They plant both elbows on the counter—turning it into their personal nursing home standing desk—and prepare to colonize the register for the next forty-five minutes.
You can literally watch the 19-year-old cashier’s soul leave his body the second they lean in.
They’ll occupy the counter, making unsolicited small talk about the local weather like we’re all trapped together at a VFW happy hour. Then, they get personally offended when they blow half their Social Security check just to win two dollars and a free ticket. You can actively watch the blood pressure boil up into their compression socks.
Look, I get it. You’re savoring every scratch-off because the grim reaper is actively checking his watch. I respect the hustle.
But for the love of God, y’all need your own designated lane. Some of us are on lunch break and just want a damn Celsius without witnessing a financial tragedy. 👍
37-year-old Eric Cole turned professional in 2009.
17 years and 50+ mini-tour victories later, he looks for his first PGA TOUR win today.
This is his story.
HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS TODAY 🌀 The current outlook from CSU calls for 13 storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes this season. That would be below average / near average due to higher wind shear from a likely strong El Niño. Greater wind shear weakens tropical systems. That doesn’t mean, however, you still can’t have major hurricanes or US landfalls. Remember, only takes one storm to have a major impact where you live. Always be prepared just in case. You can trust me to be with you all season long with no hype, just the facts! - Matt Devitt Weather
I’m stunned at the amount of people opposed to this.
The local governments have been misusing the big revenue increases they’ve seen over the past few years. @GovGoneWild has shown this. The local governments will be ok.
This is a bold idea to let people truly own their house. Don’t see why there’s resistance.
70% of property tax revenue is non-homestead residential, investment properties and commercial.
Eliminating all homestead revenue immediately would still yield revenue 30% higher than what local governments taxed in 2019.
🚨DEMOCRATS & THE LEFT CRYING ABOUT WHITE HOUSE LAWN DAMAGE AND "WHO'S GONNA PAY" - HERE ARE THE FACTS!
Dana White and UFC are personally footing the $700,000 bill to fully restore the South Lawn grass after the UFC Freedom 250 event.
New sod, professional repair, zero taxpayer dollars.
The lawn will look perfect again by mid to late summer.
While they are melting down over a temporary event, private money is fixing it 100 percent.
FACTS OVER OUTRAGE!
(Share this far and wide)
Florida families are looking for a leader who puts their priorities first. That means focusing on the issues that affect everyday life most: a strong economy, quality education, and safe communities.
DESANTIS: I don't like this idea of governments losing revenue. IT’S NOT THEIR MONEY. It’s YOUR MONEY.
You're getting constitutional protection for your property. That's a good thing. And we got to see it through the lens of the taxpayer and the homeowner.
BOOM! 💥
The only people in Florida who don't want to end homestead property taxes, are people who don't own a house.
They're not thinking about their future.
Vote Yes Florida.
Don't fvck this up.
Broward County
2018 taxes — $1.08 billion
2025 taxes — $1.8 billion
Population growth 2018-2025: 3.5%
51.8% of homestead properties in Broward will be fully exempt under the initial $250k exemption.
Jay Collins was the primary sponsor of a bill to ban China from owning Florida land, and he was able to get it passed!
@JayCollinsFL will continue to protect us as the future governor from our foreign adversaries!
Vote for Jay Collins!!!
@CollinsWarRoom
🚨 NOW: Gov. Ron DeSantis reveals Florida has so much money they will ABOLISH property taxes for primary homeowners, then form a state-level grant fund for local governments who need it for police, fire, and more
BRILLIANT!
Every state should do this! 🇺🇸
"Because we have surplus at the state level, we are creating a fund that will be able to issue grants to local governments. So if you really say, you know, you need help with a fire or a sheriff's department or education, we'll have grants that we're going to be able to do that for this period."
"But what's going to happen is this is going to increase the economic base of all these local areas, because people are going to have more money in their pocket."
"They're going to start getting more revenue from existing taxes without having to add new taxes, and they're going to end up in a very stable situation very shortly."
Florida’s Constitution prohibits an income tax.
Moreover, property tax revenue is local, not state, and has nearly doubled in the past seven years.
Exempting homestead properties from tax would return local property tax revenue to the levels of a few years ago.
Taxing and spending less is a good thing.
Hillsborough County
2018 taxes — $853 million
2025 taxes — $1.6 billion
Population growth: 8%
61.2% of homesteads would have property taxes eliminated under initial $250k exemption.