Ron DeSantis Signs New Laws Into Place
Gov. DeSantis has recently received considerable backlash from climate change activists after signing three laws into power in May that they claim impact climate policy.
Source: Wikimedia
One bill signed into power by the governor aims to remove the phrase “climate change” from most state laws. Another law plans to overrule a 16-year-old law that made climate change a priority when discussing new energy policies.
Republican Claims the Laws Are Protecting Consumers and Pricing
According to Republican Rep. Bobby Payne, the new laws will help state residents. He said, “We’re protecting consumers, we’re protecting consumer pricing, we’re protecting them with great reliability, and we’re protecting to make sure we don’t have a lack of energy security in our state. That’s where we’re moving as far as our policies.”
Source: Wikimedia
The new laws will also prohibit offshore wind farms, which the governor plans to implement near coastlines. DeSantis also signed a bill that aims to protect Floridians against any possible gas appliance bans.
Politicians Criticize DeSantis’ New Laws
Not everyone agrees with the new laws, including Charlie Crist. The former Florida governor claims DeSantis’ laws are a step backward for the state.
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“It’s disappointing to see a continuing lurch in the wrong direction, particularly when Florida, with our coastline, is probably the most vulnerable to rising sea levels; I mean, if we don’t address it, who’s going to?” Crist said. “It breaks my heart.”
NBC6 Meteorologist Goes on on DeSantis New Laws
Crist wasn’t the only one who had words for DeSantis’ new laws. Steve McLaughlin, NBC6’s meteorologist, took to social media to openly criticize the governor’s recent bills in a video.
Source: @SteveMacNBC6/X
“As Florida is on fire, underwater, and unaffordable, our state government is rolling back climate change legislation and language,” NBC6 meteorologist Steve MacLaughlin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Laws Come at a Bad Time Says, MacLaughlin
During the short video posted to his X account, MacLauglin shared his thoughts on DeSantis’ new laws, claiming they couldn’t have come at a worse time.
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The meteorologist said the legislation comes “in spite of the fact that the state of Florida, over the last couple of years, has seen record heat, record flooding, record rain, record insurance rates, and the corals are dying all around the state.”
The Power is in the Hands of the People
MacLaughlin went on to suggest that the people of Florida have the strongest solution to the state’s current climate change problems: the power of their vote.
Source: Freepik
“Please keep in mind the most powerful climate change solution is the one you already have in the palm of your hands: The right to vote,” said MacLaughlin as he addressed his viewers. “We implore you to please do your research and know that there are candidates that believe in climate change and that there are solutions,” he added.
DeSantis Defends the New Laws
Speaking in defense of the new laws, the Florida governor explained that they will ensure the beaches remain free of windmills and, most importantly, China’s influence will remain outside the State.
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“The legislation I signed today…will keep windmills off our beaches, gas in our tanks, and China out of our state,” DeSantis said last week.
Restoring the State's Sanity
DeSantis explained that the new laws are a way for the state to maintain “sanity in our approach to energy and reject the agenda of the radical green zealots.”
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At a later date, DeSantis’ camp shared a post on social media highlighting MacLaughlin’s comments and calling him a “media activist.”
Climate Change Problems Worsen for Florida
According to some climate change experts, however, Florida is considerably vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The sea level could rise significantly in the coming years, and the Sunshine State may be exposed to severe weather.
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Despite the projected consequences of DeSantis’ new bills, the Florida governor claims the legislation is a big step in the fight against radical activists.
MacLaughlin Receives Praise
Several other TV meteorologists personally thanked MacLaughlin for his stance on DeSantis’ new laws during a time when other media personnel were reporting an increase in harassment for their stance on climate change.
Source: @SteveMacNBC6
“This is not an easy statement for a meteorologist to make, as there is a lot of pressure to not wade into these climate waters,” said Jeff Berardelli, a meteorologist for WFLA.
Meteorologist Forced to Resign After Threats
In 2023, Chris Gloninger left his job as a TV meteorologist at an Iowa news station after reviewing numerous harassing and threatening emails from viewers.
Source: @ChrisGloninger/X
Gloninger was under the impression and often spoke of how he believes extreme weather is linked to climate change. “It is mentally exhausting, and at times, I have not been ok,” Gloninger tweeted at the time. “The threat, of course, was concerning, but the stream of harassing emails is even more distressing.”