DeSantis Gives State of the State Address Amid Soaring Approval
Marshall S. Swanson 
Gov. Ron DeSantis opened up Florida's legislative session Tuesday with a full-throated defense of his pandemic response and an outline of conservative policies he wants state lawmakers to pass in the run-up to his re-election campaign next year.
"Friends, lend me your ears. We will not let anyone close schools, close businesses or take your jobs.... One year ago, COVID had not yet been declared a pandemic. But today we have three vaccines," the Governor recounted in an effort to outline the progress that the state has made.
Governor DeSantis also said the state would be lowering the flags to half staff Wednesday for those loved ones "[in hospitals or nursing homes whose families did not get to say goodbye]."
Though the Governor came under criticism by some right wing voices for preventing family access to non-COVID infected patients in nursing homes, the state's record fared much better by far than the rest of the Union, especially in the tragic case of New York's long term care scandal. Indeed, the Sunshine State's leadership executed skillful leadership and brazen decisions in the face of national pressure to keep the state closed.
"Our nation and our state have endured a tumultuous year. Floridians have responded in ways that would make our founders proud," he said. "Because of those efforts, the sun is rising here in Florida — and the Sunshine State will soon reach new horizons."
