By Roger Caldwell
Many Floridians have no idea what a supermajority is and why it is extremely powerful. Since 2022, the Republicans in Florida have had a supermajority and the Democrats have not been able to stop Governor DeSantis with any bill he/they want passed.
A supermajority is when there is two-thirds or three fifths of a legislature, and is greater than a simple majority. When this happens, the party that is in control is able to get their agenda passed, and the other party has nothing they can do about it. Politics is about numbers and the Republicans and the governor are in control, because they have the numbers.
As the Florida State Legislature begins its 60 day session, there are conservative and destructive bills that will be passed. Many Floridians will express their disfavor with many bills, but when you have a supermajority, you win.
While many Blacks in Florida are upset with the ban on books, it is because of the supermajority. While many Floridians are upset about the concealed carry law without a permit, it is because of the Republicans with the supermajority.
It is very easy for the Democrats to go to Tallahassee and talk to many of the legislators, but when they are in the committees there is nothing they can do, but lose. Since most of the Democrats are used to losing, so many times they work with the Republicans just to get some crumbs.
In the 2024 election session in Florida, the Democrats will not get much from the Republican supermajority. Since the majority of Blacks in Florida will vote as a Democrat, it is important that Blacks have a Black Agenda. This agreed Black Agenda can be used as a negotiating tool in the legislature for both parties, and Hispanics.
In 2024, Blacks must register more Black and young people than ever before, by working together, and supporting each other. The Florida NAACP this year will go on a 15 city tour to get the vote out for our communities, and everyone should be talking about how we can help.
The Black newspapers, the Black radio, and the Black media should be pushing the plan, and doing interviews. Every Black organization should have a plan for registering more Blacks and youth, and everyone should have goals, financial support, and numbers.
Since the Florida Legislature has a supermajority, the Blacks and Hispanics should be working together to try and stop the bills that hurt the Black and Brown communities. A good example is SB1752, which would cancel all Vote-by-Mail requests and require a reason such as disability or being absent during early voting and Election Day. This bill is intended to suppress votes from Black and Brown people who voted by mail in large numbers since 2022.
Also HB-549 would increase penalties for retail theft/shoplifting to a felony, increased penalties for criminal offenses. This bill seeks to further criminalize Blacks and Brown, and White working class people.
Florida lawmakers are considering extending the state’s child labor laws. This would encourage more youth to work longer and dangerous hours, to shore up the state’s labor shortages. Let’s not forget guns where the bill would lower the age to 18-year-olds to buy long guns and rifles. There is also a plan to eliminate the three day waiting period for those types of guns.
It also appears that the 6-week ban passed last session will go into effect after the Florida Supreme Court Review on Feb 7 and now has enough signatures for the ballot to go through. Everything appears to go in the favor of the Republicans, because they have the numbers.
Supermajority can only be stopped with the other side having more votes. There should be more Democrats than Republicans at the polls. Where is the Black and Brown vote, and why are they not registered to vote in local and state election in Florida?
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