REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN FLORIDA ARE PUSHING FOR A CHANGE TO THE STATE’S LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT *WITHOUT* HAVING TO RESIGN FROM HIS GOVERNOR POSITION

AND THE PUSH HAS SOME OPPONENTS URGING GOP FRONTRUNNER DONALD TRUMP TO SHOW UP IN TALLAHASSEE TO TRY AND KILL THE EFFORT

FOR CONTEXT, FLORIDA –  LIKE 4 OTHER STATES – HAS RULES IN PLACE WHERE IF YOU’RE AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIAL, YOU HAVE TO RESIGN FROM THAT POSITION IF YOU WANT TO RUN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE *THAT’S THE GIST OF IT WITH SOME ARGUABLY MURKY EXCEPTIONS*

NOW FLORIDA STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE INTRODUCED *THIS* LEGISLATION SO THAT THE RULE WOULD EXPLICITLY NOT APPLY TO QUOTE “PERSONS SEEKING THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES… THE BILL STATES THE PROPOSED CHANGE IS INTENDED TO CLARIFY EXISTING LAW

THE EFFORT IS NOT UNIQUE – IN 2007 CHANGES TO THE SO CALLED RESIGN TO RUN LAW WERE MADE FOR THEN GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST TO SEEK THE VICE PRESIDENCY – BUT WAS LATER REVERSED IN 2018 PER POLITICO  

MEANWHILE DONALD TRUMP SAYS DESANTIS …CAN’T HAVE HIS CAKE AND EAT IT – ACCUSING THE GOVERNOR OF WANTING TO QUOTE CAMPAIGN FULL-TIME FOR PRESIDENT, DURING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHILE COLLECTING A SALARY AND HAVING THE TAXPAYERS PICK UP THE COSTS FOR HIS TRAVEL AND SECURITY

THIS WEEK DESANTIS WAS OVERSEAS SPEAKING WITH FOREIGN LEADERS AS PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE MISSION – HE SAID HE WON’T DECIDE ON A 2024 RUN UNTIL AFTER FLORIDA’S LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY