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Florida Governor To Have State's Flags Lowered To Half-Staff To Honor Rush Limbaugh; At Least One State Agency Will Defy Order
February 22, 2021 at 12:56 PM (PT)
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FLORIDA Governor RON DESANTIS told a press conference in WEST PALM BEACH FRIDAY (2/19) that he will have flags in the state flown at half-staff to honor the late RUSH LIMBAUGH once arrangements for LIMBAUGH's interment are determined. The honor conflicts with the state's official flag protocol, which restricts lowering the flag to honoring government officials or members of the Armed Forces from FLORIDA. The governor has, however, also ordered the flags to be lowered for other honorees who did not qualify under the official protocol, including the late SUPREME COURT Justice RUTH BADER GINSBURG and for the police victims of the JANUARY 6th CAPITOL insurrection.
DESANTIS claimed at the press conference that lowering the flag for LIMBAUGH is "what we do when there's things of this magnitude" and was justified because "he was a friend of mine and just a great person."
The announcement, at a press event that was also controversial for the lack of mask-wearing that has resulted in an investigation by PALM BEACH COUNTY officials, was received with condemnation by Democratic Party leaders.
On MONDAY (2/22), at least one stage agency indicated that it will not comply with DESANTIS' order, as Agriculture Commissioner NIKKI FRIED said that her department will not lower flags at its offices, adding that flag lowering "is not a partisan political tool... (it) should always reflect unity, not division, and raising our standards, not lowering them." In a tweet, she also noted that DESANTIS did not issue any order or statement upon the death of Rep. JOHN LEWIS (D-GA).