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Calls for State Probe into State Rep. Rita Harris’s Finances: Allegations of Negative Net Worth, $78,000 IRS Liability, and Suspicious $13,000 Campaign Loan

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ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The 2024 rematch election for Florida House District 44 is heating up as the Daisy Morales Campaign demands a state investigation into the background and financial dealings of incumbent State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris, according to a recent press release issued by the Daisy Morales Campaign.

The Florida Election Commission and the Office of State Attorney Andrew Bain are called upon to scrutinize potential election law violations, which could significantly impact the race, the press release stated.

The Daisy Morales campaign issued a press release regarding a formal complaint filed in early July concerning State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris’ questionable financial background. The complaint highlights Harris’ reported net worth of -$3,511.91 in her current State Finance Disclosure Report, questioning how she managed to loan nearly $13,000 to her 2022 campaign. Additionally, the Morales Campaign pointed out Harris’ history of unemployment, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.

Campaign Highlights Concealed Background

The Morales Campaign has uncovered troubling aspects of Harris’ background, positioning these findings as a liability for her high-profile endorsers, including US Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, US Congressman Maxwell Frost, and Florida State Senate candidates Shevrin Jones and Carmen Torres. Other notable endorsers include Florida State House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida State House Democratic Leader Designate Christine Hunschofsky, Florida State Representative candidate Johanna Lopez, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association PAC, Florida Professional Firefighters PAC, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association PAC, United For Progress PAC, and former Florida State Representative candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago who’s also the current Chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, and among others.

Call for Investigation

The Morales Campaign has formally requested an investigation into Harris’ potential campaign finance and election law violations. The latest financial disclosure report filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics reveals Harris’ net worth is negative $3,511.91, despite loaning her 2022 campaign approximately $13,000.

Questionable Background
The Morales Campaign highlights Harris’ questionable unemployment history, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for approximately six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.

Employment and Business History

  • Kronos Unlimited, LLC
    2012 – 2015: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
    Jennifer R. Harris, Managing Member
    John C. Harris, Managing Member
  • Salesforce.com Overflow Services, LLC
    2013-2018: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
    John Harris, Managing Member
  • Harris Cloud Consultants
    2016-2017: 2022 Company Reinstated by the State (Current)
    Rita Harris, CEO, Sales Executive (LinkedIn profile)
    John C. Harris, Owner (2021 Financial Disclosure)
  • Orlando County Democratic Party
    2018-2022: Rita Harris, Events Chair (Volunteer) LinkedIn profile
  • Valeo Cloud Consulting, LLC
    2021 (Current): John C. Harris, Owner

Raising Serious Questions About Harris’ Background

“Who was the real Jennifer Rita Harris before she moved to Florida and her allies’ disinformation campaign misled voters into electing her to the Florida House?” the Morales campaign asks. It alleges that endorsements from elected officials, community leaders, and PACs were given without proper vetting, leaving voters uninformed.

 

Harris’ Social Media Posts / Vulgar Comments

Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign

Harris’ Medium platform posts (2017-2022) display a pattern of using offensive language and engaging in race-baiting. Her posts show anger towards U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, elderly individuals, white men, and progressive supporters.

Key Issues Highlighted:

  • Stereotyping: Based on age, race, and gender.
  • Ageism: Prejudice against elderly men.
  • Racism: Negative attitudes towards white individuals.
  • Gender Bias: Hostility towards men.
  • Offensive Language: Including 27 instances of the F-word and other offensive remarks.

**VIDEO WARNING: The language in this post is very graphic **
It’s not safe for work or around children.: https://www.facebook.com/DaisyForFlorida/videos/893343599501765

Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign

“Harris has demonstrated abusive, racist, and hateful behavior that has no place in our communities, county, or election process. In her postings, she made it clear that she’s also a part-time ‘asshole,’” the campaign asserts.

 

The Real Jennifer Rita Harris’ Background: A Disaster

Recent disclosures reveal:

  • Negative Net Worth: Harris’ 2024 Finance Disclosure Report shows a net worth of negative $3,511.91.
  • Lack of Paid Employment History: No paid employment history for over 25 years.
  • Significant Federal Debt: $78,000 in federal debt owed to the IRS (2022 report).
  • Struggling Businesses: Multiple struggling and revoked businesses listed under her name.
  • Unpaid CEO: Admitted to being the CEO of her husband’s business without pay for six years.
  • Educational Debt: Approximately $30,000 in educational debt owed without any completed certification or degree.

Deceptive Campaign Tactics

“Harris, her allies, and endorsers’ campaign to whitewash her background from District 44 voters and the public is coming to an end,” a Morales campaign declares. “Voters deserve transparency and honesty from their elected officials and candidates.”

Key Points:

  • Endorsements Without Due Diligence: Endorsements in 2022 and 2024 without proper vetting.
  • Financial Irregularities: Significant debt and business issues.
  • Educational Discrepancies: Educational debt claims without corresponding credentials.
  • Campaign Misrepresentation: Misleading voters about her qualifications.

 

Ruth’s List Florida Endorses “Ineffective” Orange County Lawmaker in HD 44 Race

Democrats: Florida State Representative Daisy Morales (2020-2022) and Florida State Representative Jennifer “Rita” Harris (2022-2024) Source: Florida House

Former Florida State Representative Daisy Morales has a proven track record as a bipartisan lawmaker who effectively passed sponsored and cosponsored legislation into law. She successfully cosponsored over $15 million in appropriation projects. Her campaign focuses on accountability, and tirelessly serving the constituents in the Florida House.

In Contrast

Jennifer Rita Harris’ legislative record is marked by numerous sponsored dead bills and unsuccessful record of over $20 million in appropriation projects in the Florida House. Sponsored bills and appropriation projects all dead in her first term.

This press release seeks to aggressively highlight the concerns and issues surrounding Jennifer Rita Harris’ background, overlooked by local media for years, while reinforcing Daisy Morales’ commitment to effective leadership, the press release stated.

Democrats, Independents and Republicans voters in Florida House District 44 will decide on August 20 whether to give incumbent Jennifer Rita Harris or former State Representative Daisy Morales a second term to represent them in the Florida House.

 

North Florida News

Fentrice Driskell Says 2026 Florida Legislature Session Was a ‘Failure’ as Budget Remains Unfinished

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Members of the Florida House Democratic Caucus criticized Republican leadership Friday, calling the 2026 session of the Florida Legislature a failure after lawmakers adjourned without completing the state budget.

Democratic leaders said the Legislature failed to address rising costs affecting Florida families and seniors, including housing, insurance, groceries and health care.

“Republicans fought among themselves and Floridians lost,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa.

Democrats Criticize GOP Legislative Priorities

Driskell said Democrats repeatedly focused on affordability during the session and filed legislation aimed at lowering the cost of living. She argued Republican lawmakers instead prioritized controversial policy issues that did not directly address household expenses.

According to House Democrats, those issues included proposals related to firearm regulations, voting access, vaccine policy, local government authority over property taxes, and debates surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“Republicans used affordability as an empty buzzword and ignored the problem,” Driskell said. “Florida is becoming too expensive for too many Floridians.”

Driskell also noted that Republicans control the governor’s office and both legislative chambers but were unable to finalize a budget before the session concluded.

House Democrats Highlight Affordability Bills

House Democrats pointed to several proposals they filed this session aimed at reducing costs for Floridians.

Among them were HB 319, designed to lower property insurance costs; HB 687, which sought to cut government waste and corrupt spending; and HB 675, intended to make homeownership more affordable.

Democrats argued those proposals would have provided financial relief to working families facing rising housing and insurance costs across the state.

Democrats Cite Bipartisan Legislation Passed

Despite disagreements over priorities, Democratic lawmakers said they successfully advocated for several measures that passed both chambers during the session.

Approved legislation included measures to enhance child protective investigations, expand a veterans dental care grant program, strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence, and create a uterine fibroid research database.

Other bills addressed human trafficking education for nurses, historic cemetery protections, drowning prevention, support services for people with developmental disabilities, expanded health care access, and improved treatment and education related to sickle cell disease.

Democrats Call for Focus on Affordability

House Democratic Leader-designate Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, said Floridians expect lawmakers to address the state’s affordability crisis and complete their constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget.

“Floridians want, and deserve, a state government that works to make their lives better,” Hunschofsky said. “We were elected to pass a balanced budget and help Floridians with the affordability crisis. Unfortunately, we’re going home without accomplishing either.”

She added that Democrats plan to continue advocating for policies aimed at lowering costs and improving quality of life for Florida residents.

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Politics

U.S. Criticizes Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Hearing on Caribbean Counternarcotics Operations

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WASHINGTON (FNN) — The United States criticized the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) after the commission held a thematic hearing examining U.S. counter-narcoterrorism operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

According to U.S. officials, the commission exceeded its authority by addressing matters they say fall outside the body’s human rights mandate and into areas governed by international humanitarian law.

U.S. ARGUES COMMISSION EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY

U.S. officials said the IACHR acted beyond its competence by convening the hearing, asserting that the issues discussed involve the interpretation and application of international humanitarian law rather than human rights law.

The United States argued that the commission should not intervene in matters currently being litigated in U.S. federal courts.

Officials also contended that the hearing allowed the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to attempt to force the United States to disclose legal arguments and evidence prematurely in two ongoing court cases.

CONCERNS ABOUT IMPACT ON DOMESTIC LITIGATION

According to the U.S. statement, the commission risks becoming entangled in domestic legal strategies when it considers matters already under review in national courts.

U.S. officials warned that using the commission’s hearings to influence ongoing litigation could undermine the integrity of both domestic legal processes and the regional human rights system.

The United States urged the commission to adhere closely to its governing statute and rules of procedure when deciding whether to convene hearings.

CALL TO FOCUS ON PENDING HUMAN RIGHTS PETITIONS

The United States also called on the commission to focus its attention on unresolved petitions already before it.

Officials noted that many individual cases have remained pending for years, and in some instances decades, without resolution.

The United States argued that addressing those cases in a timely manner would strengthen the credibility and effectiveness of the inter-American human rights system.

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North Florida News

Gov. Ron DeSantis Names Alex Peraza to Miami-Dade Judicial Nominating Commission

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN)Ron DeSantis announced Friday the appointment of Alex Peraza to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, which serves Miami-Dade County.

Peraza, of Coral Gables, is a partner at Diamond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A., a law firm based in South Florida.

The Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for reviewing and recommending qualified candidates for judicial appointments within the circuit.

Peraza earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. His appointment term will run through July 1, 2027.

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