Politics
Congressman Frost, Stephanie Vanos Defend Public Schools in Heated Debate on School Choice and Vouchers
WASHINGTON, D.C. (FNN) – U.S. Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs, brought Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos to testify before Congress during a high-profile Oversight subcommittee hearing titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees.”
The hearing, led by Republicans, sought to highlight private schools and expanded voucher programs, but Frost and Vanos argued these policies come at the expense of public schools and the majority of American students.
Frost Defends Public Schools Against Voucher Expansion
In his opening remarks, Congressman Frost pushed back on the Republican framing of school choice, warning that taxpayer subsidies for private schools weaken public education.
“Every student’s school should set them up for success—whether through college, trade school, apprenticeships, or the workforce,” Frost said. “But in the richest country in the world, we are failing to deliver on that promise. Their so-called solution of taxpayer subsidies for private schools drains resources from the 90% of students who attend public schools.”
Frost shared his own story of attending an underfunded Florida public arts school where teachers invested in him despite challenges. “That path took me all the way to the United States Congress,” he said, underscoring the value of public education.
Vanos Calls Out $3.9 Billion in Diverted Florida Taxpayer Dollars
Orange County School Board Member Stephanie Vanos warned that Florida’s public schools are being shortchanged. She pointed to $3.9 billion in taxpayer funds being diverted into voucher programs with little oversight or accountability.
“Public school families love public school choices, but these choices cannot be sustained with current funding constraints,” Vanos said. “Parents are frustrated when they see billions drained away into a shadow system of unregulated, unaccountable private schools.”
She urged Congress to prioritize investment in schools that are transparent, accountable, and able to serve all children.
Public Schools Under Pressure Amid Funding Cuts
The testimony comes at a critical moment for Florida schools, which face increasing budget cuts and declining student performance in math and reading. Frost and Vanos argued that public schools are the backbone of education, serving the overwhelming majority of families, and that funding must reflect that reality.
“Let’s fund their choice,” Vanos concluded. “Let’s invest in the schools that 90% of American families actually rely on.”
Florida
DeSantis’ New Florida Congressional Map Could Spark Lawsuits, Legislative Showdown, and Statewide Protests
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposed congressional redistricting map that could significantly reshape Florida’s representation in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The proposal, released Monday, outlines districts that could favor Republicans in 24 seats, compared to four Democratic-leaning districts. Currently, Florida’s congressional delegation includes 20 Republicans and seven Democrats, with one vacant seat.
REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL & POLITICAL IMPACT
The governor said the new map reflects Florida’s population changes and fulfills his commitment to mid-decade redistricting. Lawmakers have been called into a special legislative session to consider the proposal.
The map appears to eliminate four Democratic-held seats, including a Tampa-area district represented by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, an Osceola County district held by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto—the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress from Florida—and a Palm Beach-Broward district that could displace U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.
The proposal also affects a majority-Black voting district spanning Palm Beach and Broward counties, previously represented by former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, raising concerns about the future of minority representation.
Supporters, including Evan Power, say the map could better align districts with voter distribution. Critics, including Nikki Fried, have called the proposal unconstitutional gerrymandering. Florida law prohibits partisan gerrymandering, setting up potential legal challenges.
Rep. Tray McCurdy, D-Orlando and Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville sit on the Florida Seal in protest as debate stops on Senate Bill 2-C: Establishing the Congressional Districts of the State in the House of Representatives Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Rep. Daisy Morales, D-Orlando, joins the protest, holding a sign. The session was halted on the protest. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
LOOKING BACK: 2022 PROTESTS OVER REDISTRICTING
The current debate mirrors tensions from 2022, when Democratic lawmakers staged a sit-in protest on the Florida House floor in opposition to a previous congressional map backed by DeSantis.
Lawmakers including Yvonne Hinson, Angie Nixon, Travaris McCurdy, Felicia Robinson, and Daisy Morales participated in the protest, temporarily halting legislative proceedings.
Morales, a member of the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee and the only Hispanic lawmaker involved in the sit-in, strongly criticized the map at the time.
“Our democracy is being attacked. The governor eliminating two Black congressional seats is a power grab and it’s wrong,” Morales said in a written statement. “Stripping seats from Black representation is the same as saying the Black voice—the Black vote—doesn’t matter.”
She also warned about potential impacts on Hispanic representation:
“With this map passing, I’m deeply concerned it could target the only Puerto Rican representing Florida in Congress, Darren Soto, to benefit partisan interests. We don’t want to disenfranchise the 1.2 million Puerto Ricans in Florida.”
WHAT COMES NEXT IN 2026
As lawmakers prepare to debate the new proposal, Democrats are expected to push back through legal challenges, legislative opposition, and public advocacy.
The outcome of Florida’s redistricting battle could play a pivotal role in shaping control of the U.S. House and influence the national political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
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Crimes and Courts
Florida Creates Public Assistance Fraud Task Force, Appoints Special Prosecutor to Crack Down on Fraud
