On Tuesday, May 11, surrounded by Catholic school students, parents and elected officials, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participated in two ceremonial bill signings where he signed into law, House Bill 7045. In the morning, the Governor was at St. John the Apostle School in Hialeah, followed by a visit to Christ the King Catholic School in Jacksonville that afternoon.
On May 17-19, the Florida legislature gathered in a special session to give approval to a 30-year gaming compact recently negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The deal would lead to the state receiving $2.5 billion over the first five years. The tribe would operate sports betting and would receive other benefits, including being able to offer craps and roulette at its casinos. In a statement released earlier this week, the FCCB urged the legislature to put a pause on the proposed expansion of casino and internet-based gambling.
This May, during National Foster Care Month, please consider providing a loving home for a child who has been separated from his or her parents. Over 20,000 children in Florida have been removed from their parents or guardians; however, only 5,000 families are certified to meet their needs. Find contact information and learn more on two related Catholics Across the Aisle podcasts.
On May 17, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. A decision by the high court is expected by June 2022 and could, for the first time since 1973, greatly diminish the ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.