On Friday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a likely gubernatorial or U.S. Senate candidate in the near future, called for conservatives to make a stand in Florida.
Putnam spoke to members of the Federalist Society -- a right-of-center group focused on legal reform and interpreting the U.S Constitution as the Founding Fathers intended -- at Walt Disney World on Friday night and rallied conservatives.
We share the commitment to limited government, Putnam told the more than 250 attendees before ripping into President Barack Obamas administration and Congress for bringing dysfunction to Washington. Noting the mess in the nations capitol, Putnam, who served in the Republican leadership during his time in the U.S. House, planted much of the blame on the legislative branch for allowing an aggressive executive branch to set the agenda.
They are allowed to fill a void because the legislative branch has retreated on public policy and therefore public service, Putnam said about the executive branch.
Putnam slammed the coalition between federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and activist judges on consent decrees, noting they have added additional, burdensome regulations on Florida and other states.
Calling Florida fortunate," Putnam contrasted things in Washington to the leadership in Tallahassee which he said backed a solutions-oriented approach" while other states like New York, Illinois and California have fallen behind.
We have to fight fiercely to protect it," Putnam said about Tallahassees approach to problems.
Insisting the lack of a common sense of identity" in the Sunshine State presents a special challenge in terms of public policies," Putnam called on Floridians to continue to fight to make the state a great place to start a business and raise a family.
Its about being emotionally invested in (the) good of Florida," Putnam said, noting he is a fifth-generation Floridian and urging his listeners to remain involved.
There is a battle looming in your branch, Putnam told the Federalist Society, noting liberal lawyers and activist judges continue to remain a problem in Florida. We desperately need the philosophy ... of the Federalist Society at the table.
Putnam closed the speech by praising the Founding Fathers and their political legacy, calling the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution timeless documents our founders put forth as a gift to the world as they were written.
Active for more than 30 years, the Federalist Society has more than 200 chapters and more than 10,000 members across the nation. Before Putnam spoke, Federalist Society VP Leonard Leo was honored by Florida Federalist Society members with a bust of James Madison. The event also featured a video in which U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts; U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito; former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese; former U.S. Sen. Spence Abraham, R-Mich; the late conservative jurist Robert Bork; and Nadine Strossen, the former president of the ACLU, praised the Federalist Society.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
