Every single day he rolls out another one. Here’s the latest:
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Tuesday that he signed a major piece of legislation aimed at weakening public sector unions by making it harder for them to collect dues from members.
Senate Bill 256 forbids most unions representing government employees from having dues deducted directly from workers’ paychecks. It also requires that affected unions maintain at least 60% membership in their bargaining units, or else they could face decertification and lose their contracts.
The new law will force public sector unions to develop new ways of getting dues from members — such as setting up electronic bank transfers — and will also imperil the existence of those unions that don’t meet the 60% threshold.
Although DeSantis and other Republicans have cast the bill as “paycheck protection” for workers, they excluded unions representing police, firefighters and corrections officers — i.e., the unions that are typically more likely to support Republicans. The unions that are subject to the law tend to represent teachers, sanitation workers and other government employees.
He does these things in the most blatantly partisan way possible for a reason. And it’s not just because he’s trying to avoid pissing off the base. He’s openly appealing to authoritarians who want a strong man to mercilessly kick the shit out of their enemies. He thinks he is that guy.
I don’t know that there are enough people in this country who want that sort of thing to put him in the White House. And I don’t think he has the personality or physical presence to convey that even to the people who are looking for it. But that’s his message and he’s sticking to it.