Good morning A few more notes on yesterday’s email about the Fl Senate bills SJR 2-F and SB 4-F.

This from Krista Storey: “Both Gayle Harrell and Erin Grall are on the Senate Appropriations Committee which starts meeting at 3pm today. In particular they need to hear from us. That Committee is a first stop in the process. I sat in on the League of Cities discussion this morning. Was reminded that to be placed on the ballot in November a measure requires more than a majority vote of each chamber. They advised that in the Senate that number is 24 and in the House it is either 71 or 72. There are currently two vacant House seats and the League representatives weren’t sure what total the number of required House votes would be based on.”

So if you were too busy yesterday to contact your state reps, please try today.

And this from The Capitolist News: “Florida TaxWatch on Monday urged lawmakers to take a slower approach to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed property tax overhaul, warning that the plan could shift costs to businesses and other non-homestead property owners while creating new recurring fiscal obligations for the state. The analysis was released as lawmakers meet in special session to consider a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, while reducing the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. The organization said it supports property tax relief but argued that lawmakers should more fully examine local government spending, replacement revenue sources, special assessments and the cost of a state trust fund intended to help local governments maintain core services. Rather than approving the proposal during the special session, Florida TaxWatch recommended that the issue be reviewed by the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, which is scheduled to be appointed in 2027.”

Now to June 14. RISE UP SING OUT. This from Indivisible: Trump will be marking his birthday once again with made-for-tv spectacle. This time, instead of emulating dictators with a military parade, he’ll be playing Roman emperor with a cage match for his amusement at the White House. The Committee for the First Amendment, with enthusiastic support from the No Kings Coalition, will be counterprogramming his little stunt with a nationally livestreamed concert featuring prominent activists and musicians. But ours won’t be mere spectacle. We’re inviting folks to host house parties around the country to build local power around anti-authoritarian defiance. Lots of Indivisible groups already have events planned, but you don’t need to be a group leader to invite a few friends over and use our organizing toolkit to plan local actions. And for those who tune in on their own, we’ll be offering calls to action around voting, election protection, and defense of our First Amendment rights. You can find more info at the Rise Up and Sing Out website, or sign up to host a watch party here.

Ginger and I are both up north. We have talked with the dem clubs in Martin and St Lucie counties. There is no planned event yet. Can we do something about that? If there are a few of you who want to organize a”house party” that doesn’t have to be at your house but in a park somewhere or just a demonstration sometime during the day, I am pretty sure there are others who will help, including from the aforementioned county groups. And there is plenty of help from the organizers. Let us know your thoughts. You can just reply from this email.

There is one other thing to note today. About that “beautiful” arch Trump wants to build. Tomorrow is the last day for citizens input to The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Members of the public have the opportunity to provide input on Trump’s proposed Monumental Arch near Arlington National Cemetery and along the Potomac River. The location of the proposed Arch will interrupt the highly significant relationship between the Lincoln Memorial, across Arlington Memorial Bridge, to Arlington National Cemetery and Arlington House. One of the most symbolic landscapes in Washington, D.C., the vista was designed to represent the post-Civil War reconciliation of the north and south of the United States.

Submit your comments to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The deadline for public comments is Wednesday, June 3 at noon ET and we encourage you to submit early.

I know. Another long email with lots to do. But we are winning. So much winning.

Barbara & Ginger