• What Happened: Florida just passed its own SAVE Act: proof of citizenship to vote, no student IDs at the polls. DeSantis expected to sign.
  • Why It Matters: Democrats in Washington are still blocking DHS funding, leaving TSA officers unpaid and airports in chaos during spring break.
  • Bottom Line: Florida is leading. Democrats are obstructing. Americans are paying the price at the airport and the ballot box.

While Democrats in Washington hold TSA workers hostage over immigration enforcement, Florida just did something about election integrity.

The Florida Legislature passed its own version of the SAVE America Act Thursday on a 77-28 House vote and 27-12 Senate vote, sending the legislation to Governor Ron DeSantis for signature. The bill requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, increases the role of state agencies in confirming citizenship, and bans college student IDs from being used as voter identification at the polls. DeSantis signaled his support, posting that the bill will "further fortify our state as the leader in election integrity."

The need for the legislation is not theoretical. Florida's Office of Election Crimes and Security identified 198 likely noncitizens who had illegally registered or voted, referring 170 of those cases to law enforcement. The state already prohibits noncitizen voting and enshrined that prohibition in its constitution in 2020. This bill goes further, closing gaps in the verification process before fraudulent registrations ever make it onto the rolls.

Florida Republicans were direct about why. "What is our tolerance for fraud and lack of integrity?" said state Sen. Erin Grall, the bill's sponsor. "Yes, we have safe elections in Florida, but they don't stay safe and secure if we don't pay attention to the large gaps that exist."

Democrats called it dangerous, anti-American, anti-senior, anti-student, and sexist. Prominent Democratic elections lawyer Marc Elias was already online signaling a legal challenge before the ink was dry.

Meanwhile, in Washington, Senate Democrats are blocking DHS funding entirely, demanding new restrictions on immigration enforcement as the price for keeping the agency open. The result is that 61,000 TSA officers are working without pay. More than 300 have already quit. Unscheduled absences have more than doubled. Houston's Hobby Airport saw three-hour security lines over the weekend. Atlanta and New Orleans told travelers to arrive three hours early. Denver International is asking the public to donate grocery and gas gift cards to help TSA officers who cannot make rent.

TSA officers just missed their first full paycheck since the shutdown began February 14. Some are sleeping in cars to save on gas. Some face eviction. The union says morale has taken a severe hit.

DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis put the blame exactly where it belongs. "This chaos is a direct result of Democrats and their refusal to fund DHS," Bis said. "These political stunts force patriotic TSA officers, who protect our skies from serious threats, to work without pay. Democrats must fund DHS now."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it plainly on the Senate floor: "The American people are tired. Lines get longer at the airports because TSA isn't funded. Republicans are at the table. We're ready to work toward a solution. Democrats have walked away."

President Trump has called the federal SAVE America Act his number one priority heading into the midterms. Florida is not waiting for Congress. DeSantis is expected to sign the bill. The proof of citizenship requirements take effect in January 2027, giving election supervisors and state agencies time to implement the new system.

Florida is doing the work. Democrats in Washington are too busy holding spring break travelers hostage to notice.