Fried says DeSantis' call for session to block vaccine mandates is 'political stunt'
TALLAHASSEE – Saying his call for a special session to block vaccine mandates is a “fabricated political stunt,” Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday attacked Gov. Ron DeSantis for summoning lawmakers to the Capitol this month to defy President Joe Biden.
DeSantis wants lawmakers to meet beginning Nov. 15 to prohibit an expected federal vaccine requirement from affecting Florida employers. Fried, however, accused the Republican governor of calling the session primarily to appeal to a conservative voting base hostile to the Democratic White House.
“It is this proxy war that gets a special session?” said Fried, who is among three prominent Democrats challenging DeSantis in next year’s governor’s race.
“Unfortunately, this is just the most recent in a troubling series of taxpayer-funded stunts by the governor, meant to stir up his political base and score political points for his future presidential run,” Fried said.
https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/state/2021/11/02/nikki-fried-calls-gov-ron-desantis-vaccine-mandate-special-session-political-stunt/6250080001/