DeSantis & the Florida speaker are just getting started. Here’s what’s next.

This week, Florida’s statehouse cleared the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to
sign a six-week abortion ban. The man who shepherded the bill, House
Speaker Paul Renner, joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza for this
episode of Playbook Deep Dive. 

You might not know Renner’s name – but you definitely know his work: 

- A bill to ban surgeries and prescription treatments for transgender
minors, which has passed the state Senate and Renner will soon push
through the House
- One of the most comprehensive new school voucher laws in the country
- Legislation removing books with sexual content from Florida public
schools
- A major tort reform bill, big tax cuts
- And if he gets around to it this session: a bill aimed at
over-turning the 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision, the most
important First Amendment ruling of the last century

All of this is aimed at Renner’s other project: helping Gov. Ron
DeSantis build a record of accomplishments in Florida on which he can
base his presidential campaign. 

While Republicans have created a legislative assembly line that is
spitting out laws to change seemingly every aspect of life in Florida, a
big question suddenly hangs over their project: 

Are they building a record of accomplishments that can launch the
DeSantis rocket to the White House? Or are they weighing down the
governor with so much right-wing baggage that he crashes upon liftoff?

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Paul Renner is the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.

This week, Florida’s statehouse cleared the way for Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign a six-week abortion ban. The man who shepherded the bill, House Speaker Paul Renner, joins Playbook co-author Ryan Lizza for this episode of Playbook Deep Dive. 

You might not know Renner’s name – but you definitely know his work: 

A bill to ban surgeries and prescription treatments for transgender minors, which has passed the state Senate and Renner will soon push through the HouseOne of the most comprehensive new school voucher laws in the countryLegislation removing books with sexual content from Florida public schoolsA major tort reform bill, big tax cutsAnd if he gets around to it this session: a bill aimed at over-turning the 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision, the most important First Amendment ruling of the last century

All of this is aimed at Renner’s other project: helping Gov. Ron DeSantis build a record of accomplishments in Florida on which he can base his presidential campaign. 

While Republicans have created a legislative assembly line that is spitting out laws to change seemingly every aspect of life in Florida, a big question suddenly hangs over their project: 

Are they building a record of accomplishments that can launch the DeSantis rocket to the White House? Or are they weighing down the governor with so much right-wing baggage that he crashes upon liftoff?

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Paul Renner is the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio. 
Alex Keeney is a senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is the executive producer for POLITICO audio.